October 2, 2026 Buddhism is like an immense mountain
with 84,000 paths leading to the peak.
Choose—and remain on—one path.
To attain the summit of a mountain in the most effective and enjoyable manner, climbers choose one route. Depending on their abilities, some will prefer a more cautious approach, others a more challenging one. Having chosen their route, they do not deviate from it. The climbers do not keep trying different ones for they know they’ll end up wandering around the mountain instead of climbing it, their time and energy wasted.
Our practice is the same. With the summit of enlightenment as our goal, we choose the path that best suits our conditions and abilities. Like the climbers, we also want to stick to our chosen route. Should we take our eyes off our goal, we can become enthralled by other paths.
This one looks easier! That one looks more challenging! I’ll try it!
Enamored with exploring myriad options, we will end up circling the mountain. And our goal of climbing it and reaching enlightenment? Forgotten.
Chapter 32: Infinite Lifespan and Joy (10)
One may appear to be moving calmly and slowly, but actually be making progress. For example, we know from the Buddha that the bodhisattvas in the Pure Land move slowly and leisurely. They appear at ease as if nothing is happening. Their focused diligence does not show outwardly. Actually, they are working hard to make progress. It’s just not readily apparent that they are doing so, that the buddha-name in their mind is never interrupted. True diligence is inner progress, joyfully made, not an outward ritual.