Take on the three principle causes. These are like three ingredients we need to do this work well. The first is having a spiritual friend or teacher. It’s interesting that while many of the commentaries mention a guru here, the earliest teachings refer to a kalyanamitra, which is more like a spiritual friend and confidant. That can be a teacher, and often is. But it can also simply be a fellow traveler on this path. We need someone to bear witness to us, to hear our stories and our hearts. We need soul friends who encourage us to live into our deepest selves. (This is why I love my job as a spiritual director so much! It’s such an honor to walk with people as they seek a deeper path to meaningful life.)

The second cause is the teachings themselves, and the goal here is simply to realize that we need them. And of course, the person through whom we learn them also matters. We do best when we find teachers who guide us in the teachings from a place of integrity. Patrul Rinpoche says,

Just as the trunk of an ordinary tree

Lying in the forests of the Malayan mountains

Absorbs the perfume of sandal from the moist leaves and branches,

So you come to resemble whoever you follow.

Another part of the second cause is just realizing we need some kind of instruction to help guide us. The dharma is the collection of teachings Buddhists use, but this really applies to all spiritual traditions. Stick with the teachings that guide you into better versions of yourself, and more awakened forms of awareness and action.

Third, to do this work well we need a supportive environment. We don’t do well when we’re surrounded by toxic people, or an environment that keeps us from positive change. We aren’t going to thrive if our environment works against us at every turn. So this might be a good time to inventory your influences and see what comes up. Do you have people and places in your corner?

At its most basic level, though, this third thing is about the opposite reality: it emphasizes how little we really need to do this work. We need food and shelter. If we have that, we have what we need. Ask any monk!

Norman Fischer also uses this third cause as a good reminder to remember that we have basic human goodness. Within us lies the very qualities we want to make stronger. We can feel empowered that we are actually meant to live graciously and compassionately.

Which of these three principle causes feels most relevant for you today? What might you most need right now?