Take, for example, four people reciting the same Buddhist prayer. The first recites it with the motivation of achieving enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. Because of this motivation, the recitation does become a cause of enlightenment, not only for the person doing the recitation but for all sentient beings.

The second person recites the prayer motivated by the desire for his or her own liberation from samsara. This action does not become a cause for the enlightenment of all sentient beings but for the everlasting happiness of liberation of that person alone.

The third person recites the prayer with the motivation of receiving happiness in future lives. The result of this is neither enlightenment nor liberation, but simply happiness in a future life.

The fourth person, however, recites the prayer motivated by attachment, clinging to the happiness of this life. Even though it is a Dharma prayer, a teaching of the Buddha, this person's recitation is not a Dharma action, not a spiritual practice. It is a worldly dharma, the cause of suffering. Why? Because the motivation of attachment - clinging to this life - has the negative effect of disturbing the mind, making it unpeaceful. Therefore, such motivation is labelled non-virtuous, as is the action itself. They are non-virtuous because they result in suffering.

Every single action can become a cause of either enlightenment, liberation, happiness in future lives, or rebirth in the suffering lower realms. It all depends on our motivation.

This teaching is given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

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