Question asked by Sirius
Dear Pastors, I would like to get advice on my current situation. I'm going through a spiritual depression that is hitting me really badly, my spiritual practice started to decrease and I feel lost and overwhelmed about it, I try so hard to not stop my daily practice and keep it up but I'm not being able to. I'm from Argentina, wich is not a Buddhist country and I'm the only practitioner in my area and that makes me feel lonely and it does not help. I would really apreciate some advice on this. Greatings.
Dear Sirius,
I’m sorry to read about your current spiritual depression. It happens to all of us on the spiritual path at some point or another. And I understand that things are hard for you spiritually speaking, because you are the only pracitioner in your area.
There are some things that you can do to help you get out of this and make you feel less lonely, because you are not alone. We may be very far from you physically, but in we are standing right next to you in our hearts. And more than that, the enlightened beings are always there, with you, seeing what you are going through and they are waiting for you to know that they are there with you.
There are certain things that you can do to help you through this difficult time:
> If you don’t already have an altar, and are able to, set up and altar to the Buddhas. Whichever Buddhas you like or are drawn to. You put an image of Buddha Shakyamuni or Lama Tsongkhapa to start off with. You can print out an image and frame it. We have many different images available for download here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/downloads/buddha-images.html.
> Make offerings daily. This can be a full set of water offerings, or just a simple drink, food, fruit, incense, candles, whatever you like. The key is to make at least one offering a day, even if it is small. This will help you generate merit. This merit can help you break through the situation so things improve.
> Even though you don’t feel good about spiritual practice, make it a habit to engage in daily prayer. Even if at first it’s just like a robot, keep doing it. The Buddhas will help you improve.
> You can engage in the practice of Dorje Shugden to help clear the obstacles that are creating you to feel this way: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/new-simplified-daily-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html
> You can also read the Lamrim teachings and contemplate/meditate on them, especially the teachings on impermanence and death. This will help you overcome the spiritual depression you are going through.
I hope all this helps. Do keep us informed about how you are doing. We are here. You can also email Care@Kechara.com if you would like to talk more.
Thank you