HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT OUR ICHINEN / DETERMINATION IS CHANNELED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION?
"When you begin to practice Buddhism, all the infinitesimal angles of inclination—all the ways you relate to the universe—subtly change. You are positioned differently in life. The way you look at things, and the direction in which you stand in relation to things, changes. The ichinen or moment-to-moment determination, which comes bubbling up inside you when you chant, seeks a direction or an object or a goal, just as water seeks its own level. Beginning early in your practice, there are five steps to take to ensure that your ichinen/ determination is channeled in a positive direction:
1) Chant with courage.
2) Make a strong determination or vow.
3) Develop a concrete goal or goals.
4) Offer resolute prayer.
5) Take action until you see clear actual proof.
"In the morning, it is a good idea to chant for the specific goals you want to accomplish that day, as well as the specific causes or actions you want to take in order to achieve those goals. So the day begins with determinations.
"In the evening, you should take stock of how the day went. Report back to yourself on how well you did in terms of making your determinations come true. If some of the goals were not clearly achieved, perhaps only partially realized, then you should re-determine to accomplish them tomorrow. Each morning, make determinations and chant with determination. Each evening, re-determine to do what you need to do. When you do this over and over again, day after day—determining and re-determining to achieve your dreams—you become, in essence, a more determined person!
"When you summon the inner will or ichinen to accomplish an objective, everything about you shifts in the direction of that goal. It is as if the 'differential' of your entire being has been altered or moved a degree or so."
—The Buddha In Your Rearview Mirror; Chapter 3: How to Practice; p. 117-118
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