Norman Fischer simply translates this slogan as: don’t lose track. As a continuation of the 45th lojong slogan “Take on the three principle causes,” the 46th adds, “Pay heed that the three never wane.” In other words, keep it up!

So first, pay heed that you continue to feel a sense of connection and appreciation to your kalyanamitra, your soul friend, your teacher. It’s probably a good idea to find another one if you don’t feel grateful for them. You want to have respect for the person who teaches you! And you want your teacher to be someone who can really guide you where you want to go. The best guide for this is to find someone who is living in a way that inspires you, or in a way that you value. The best teacher is the person who is walking just ahead of where you are, and walking in the same direction you want to go.

Secondly, remember to take time to enjoy this practice! Experience the joy of having a clear mind. Feel good about the ways you’re getting more aware of your habits and responses. Be glad that you keep showing up to this work! It might be encouraging to take a little inventory of the ways you’ve felt positive change from this work. How does your heart feel more open and compassionate? Have you gotten more gracious with yourself and others? Where do you most joyfully see the fruit of this work?

Third, just stick with it. Don’t lose track. Keep it up! As you’ve probably noticed, Buddhists talk a lot about commitments and vows because they help us stick with it. When we feel a sense of ownership and responsibility, we’re more likely to keep going. So the most basic way to keep yourself from waning is to keep putting one proverbial foot in front of the other.

How can you find joy this week in your soul friend, in these teachings, in this work?