I’ve been doing a series of Dharma talks on the six paramitas.  
The six paramitas are: 
 
• Generosity 
 
• Ethical behavior/Virtue 
 
• Patience 
 
• Effort 
 
• Concentration/Meditation 
 
• Wisdom 
 
Last week I talked about the paramita of “patience” this week I’d like to talk about the paramita of “effort.” Paramita is usually translated as "perfection" but a literal translation is "to carry across." Because it is believed that practicing and actualizing these will carry us across the vast ocean of suffering - to the other side - which is enlightenment.  
 
Effort in this context is referring to effort for spiritual practice to overcome unskillful ways that keep us stuck in suffering. 
 
So I ask you: Do you have a daily practice?  
 
If not, then I’ll ask you, “If not now, when?” 
 
Many people put off developing a daily practice and it doesn’t seem important to them until they have some major drama in their life. A love one leaves them – or they leave a loved one, or illness strikes – perhaps it is a chronic illness that leaves them debilitated. Or it might be the death of a loved one – or it could be them facing their own death. And THEN spiritual practice becomes suddenly very important. And it will be of some limited value – but it is kind of like shutting the barn door after the horse has run away. It would have helped and aided them much more if they had been cultivating a daily practice for many years before the drama in their life unfolded. 
 
A spiritual practice developed NOW will help you through the difficult times like the ones I’ve just mentioned. Then instead of bouncing around emotionally from one moment of joy to the next moment of despair – you can develop some stability of mind. You can develop, what we call in Buddhism, “equanimity” – which is a centered and stable mind – so you aren’t bouncing around all over the place. 
 
Lama Surya Das’ in his book “Buddha Is As Buddha Does” he refers to this paramita not just as “effort” but rather as “heroic effort.” I like that and think it gives it a special meaning.  
 
What do you think of when you think of a hero? Do you think of someone continuing on against all odds? I think of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. As you know a knight is chivalrous and heroic. He/she fights until the end regardless of the odds or consequence to him/herself because it is the right thing to do. 
 
I am sure all of you are familiar with the character Don Quixote in Cervantes "The Adventures of Don Quixote" which he wrote while in prison. Don Quixote believed himself to be a knight, and so consequently he lived his life as one. He was heroic and chivalrous – he fought on despite the odds. I love this story so much because in it Don Quixote meets the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. When he first encounters her he falls to his knees “My lady, what is your name?” He asks. “Off your knees, you fool. My name is Aldonza, and I’m no lady.” Indeed she’s not. She is the lowest of the low – a prostitute who waits on the mule drivers who stop at the inn, by day and by night. Don Quixote says, “No, my lady, your name is not Aldonza. Your name is Dulcinea. Don Quixote is passionately devoted to his own imaginative creation, the beautiful Dulcinea. "Oh Dulcinea de Tobosa, day of my night, glory of my suffering, true North and compass of every path I take, guiding star of my fate..." She curses him and he leaves. Several times in the story he returns, each time calling her Dulcinea and treating her as a lady - the only one who does. She responds angrily each time. Near the end of the story, she hears that Don Quixote is dying, delirious and distant from her. She makes her way to him and forces her way inside. “My lord,” she says. “Who is it?” He asks. “Why you know my name. You called me by name and changed my life.” “No, my lady. Who is it?” And she says, “It’s Dulcinea.” So finally she now sees herself the way he has seen her all along. She has become the refined lady that he saw in her.  
 
So that is what I think of when I think of “heroic effort.” The point is he never gave up. With heroic courage he continued on his quest with only two possible outcomes. Either she saw herself as he saw her, or he died trying. No other outcome was acceptable. Do you think it is possible to have that kind of heroic effort with your spiritual practice? 
 
When I think of heroes I think of the mother of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks. Here was a little woman who on Dec. 1, 1955 refused to move to the back of the bus. She knew to do so was morally wrong – and she also knew she would be arrested and put in jail. But she persisted anyway – no other outcome was acceptable. That is a hero, and it takes courage. Likewise it takes heroic courage to develop a daily practice. 
 
In the his seminal book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell wrote: 
“ A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”  
 
Isn’t this what we talk about in Buddhism when refer to the Bodhisattva? Being of benefit to your fellow sentient beings? This is only possible through diligent spiritual practice. 
 
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche coined the termed “spiritual warriorship” to indicate this kind of heroic spiritual effort. 
 
Again I ask you about your spiritual practice: If not now, when? 
 
Yesterday, I lead an all-day retreat along with Gabbi Otto at Crossroads Prison. This was a first for the prison – and a first for all of the Buddhist inmates. It was a long day of meditation – from 9 until about 4. Some had asked me beforehand if they found it too difficult if they could leave early – and I told them that was OK, but that I would like to see if they could “tough it out.” After all – they are tough convicts – aren’t they? Well, only one of them left early – and he had a legitimate health issue. 
 
At the end of the day I asked each them how the day went for them – did they find it difficult – or did they feel like leaving early. Craig responded that it was hard – but what he noticed most was how his thoughts were all over the place. It was if he couldn’t control his mind. And he concluded if he couldn’t control his thoughts – then how was he going to control his actions – his behavior. So he concluded that he needed to do a LOT MORE spiritual practice. 
 
How about you? If not now, when? 
 
This is what this paramita of “effort” is all about – spiritual practice. You need to develop it NOW to help you through the life’s difficult times – which I guarantee you will experience. 
 
So, finally I ask you when are you going to develop a spiritual practice? If not now, when?