It is still two weeks to go but If we get to live till March,
I think it would be good to keep 8 precepts and meditate more than usual.
We can have this thread to help eachother become willing and to get back on the path if straying away.
We are helping eachother to think and understand the Dhamma so i think it is only right that we encourage eachother to make an ExertionDhp Verse 172. The Diligent Illumine The World
Whoso was heedless formerly
but later lives with heedfulness
illuminates the world
as moon when free of clouds.
Time to reap the fruits"Exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth, Bharadvaja. If one didn't make an exertion, one wouldn't finally attain the truth. Because one makes an exertion, one finally attains the truth. Therefore, exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth."
"But what quality is most helpful for exertion? We ask Master Gotama about the quality most helpful for exertion."
"Contemplating is most helpful for exertion, Bharadvaja. If one didn't contemplate, one wouldn't make an exertion. Because one contemplates, one makes an exertion. Therefore, contemplating is most helpful for exertion."
"But what quality is most helpful for contemplating?..."
"Being willing... If one weren't willing, one wouldn't contemplate..."
"But what quality is most helpful for being willing?..."
"Desire... If desire didn't arise, one wouldn't be willing..."
"But what quality is most helpful for desire?..."
"Coming to an agreement through pondering dhammas... If one didn't come to an agreement through pondering dhammas, desire wouldn't arise..."
"But what quality is most helpful for coming to an agreement through pondering dhammas?..."
"Penetrating the meaning... If one didn't penetrate the meaning, one wouldn't come to an agreement through pondering dhammas..."
"But what quality is most helpful for penetrating the meaning?..."
"Remembering the Dhamma... If one didn't remember the Dhamma, one wouldn't penetrate the meaning..."
"But what quality is most helpful for remembering the Dhamma?... "
"Hearing the Dhamma... If one didn't hear the Dhamma, one wouldn't remember the Dhamma..."
Sign up, belowMuch though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others—he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life.
Little though he recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing of this or any other world—he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life.