Master Jianyin????You have to do a set course every day so that you won't slack 你必須每天做定課, 這樣你才不會懈怠

(English subtitles) 你必須每天做定課, 這樣你才不會懈怠 Master Jianyin, 鑑因法師 (1937-2024) , Talks Dharma.
Subtitles:
Let's continue the lesson about paying tribute to the Buddha. When we ordinary people practice, sometimes we make progress, sometimes we regress, and we tend to slack off. The Buddha clearly said those who practice the Pure Land Sect won't regress. The so-called regressive people are those who do not have firm beliefs and strong wills. The so-called regressive people are those who do not have firm beliefs and strong wills. Because we mortals all have a very strong ego.
1:00
You have to figure out how to break through by yourself. The sutras teach us many ways to work hard and break through. In practice, we must break through many mental and physical barriers along the way. You have to find a way to break through by yourself. If you don't have the aspiration, you won't succeed no matter what you do.
So is worshiping buddha, you can set a course and have to follow it. For example, 300 times is 300 times. Absolutely no cutting corners. When you have such a vow, no matter how busy you are or how late it is,
2:00
you will achieve your goal of 300 prostrations. If you make this vow, you definitely will find time to prostrate. If you can't achieve it the first day and the second day, you will figure it out and get up earlier the next day. You will reduce sleeping, and you can achieve this goal. You can try it. If you know you will be busy tomorrow beforehand, you may get up early and finish all the 300 prostrations. It doesn't matter how busy tomorrow is. So, you must make this vow, which is a motivation, a force that enables us to succeed in practice. The more you practice, the more you will be compatible with your faith. So vows are essential. If you don't have such vows, you will slack off soon.
3:00
If you don't have such vows, you will slack off soon. It's said that flowers won't be red for 100 days, and people won't be good for 1000 days. How could people be sound every day? That's impossible. People tend to regress when they are sick, encounter disasters, or have troubles in their family. However, as long as you have volition to support you, you will not back down, and you can break through. So, how long will you practice? As long as you practice for a long time, you won’t regress. It's unbelievable..
4:00
I've experienced so many inspiring things along the way when I recall. There are many interesting things after I became a monk. After I became a monk, many temples strove to invite me to practice together or enlighten them. I've counted and there are a dozen temples, which are not mine but ask me to join their practice. A dozen temples outside asked me to join their practice every month. Some I go four times a month; some twice a month, some once a month. The more temples are there, the less often I visit them. The longer I instruct them, the less often I will go. Nowadays, for some temples, I only go once a month.
5:00
For a dozen temples, it will be 20s days if I go twice. Not to mention those I go 4 times. If you look at my schedule, I can say that I have a pretty full agenda. Our Yuanlin Lotus Society has been arranged only one day on Wednesday. Otherwise, it would be unfair for the others. How unbelievable is it? For more than a decade, I've never missed one day due to illness. It never happened. I have never been absent from an illness for more than ten years.
What are the reasons I didn't go? I couldn't go back because I was out lecturing or doing a seven-day Buddhist practice in a far place,
6:00
and I took a leave and the party was canceled. Once, it was canceled. Back then, I was going and someone came to pick me up, but they said that there was no audience, nobody came to the sermon. It was Puyen Lotus Society. I often told them that was a border land. It's tough to set up in the border land. Although I have supported them for two years, they are still not on the right track, and nobody came to the sermon. I once made a vow that even if no one came, I would still go to preach. I do have this volition, and it drives me to endeavor and not slack off. Then I won't make excuses not to go, absolutely not.
7:00
Even if there is a typhoon or heavy rain, I will go and will not back down. It's incredible. I haven't been sick or missed the preaching in over ten years. That is unbelievable and interesting. So, when practicing, having volition is essential. You must set a course so that you won't slack. I wonder if you’ve felt it's great to get a little extra sleep in your bed? After he wakes up, he tosses and turns but can't get up, and keeps staying in bed. He feels like bearing a 100-kilogram weight and can't get up. He even set the alarm because he couldn't sober up. He was woken by the alarm clock, but went back to sleep after turning it off.