Conative Practice: Do What's Most Beneficial

This conative practice, or practice of intelligent intention-setting, is centered around the simple idea of "always doing what's most beneficial": working on always choosing what's most wise and compassionate. Through repeated cognitive training, we will find it easier to make optimal practical choices in situations that we encounter and thus experience less afflictive doubt, while also practicing intelligent self-inquiry.

Transcript

This brief conative practice,

Or practice of intelligent motivation setting,

Is best done in a stationary position,

Where we can somewhat relax our body.

So taking a few moments to notice the stillness of the earth,

We allow our breath to move naturally,

Releasing all physical tension with a child breath.

We then think of the general context of our life,

Where we might be facing some choices right now,

But where we also always have situations that allow us to express ever greater levels of wisdom and compassion.

To be better prepared to make optimal choices,

Right now we generate a strong aspiration,

May I always do what's most beneficial.

Thinking,

Wishing,

Desiring,

Intending,

Aspiring,

May I always do what's most beneficial.

May I always do what's most beneficial.

May I always do what's most beneficial.

At this point in practice,

We can also think of the role models in our life,

Whether historical or modern,

Spiritual or secular,

And thinking of these examples of wisdom and compassion,

We find inspiration and generate the same intention,

The same aspiration.

May I always do what's most beneficial.

May I always do what's most beneficial.

May I always do what's most beneficial.

Every time I have to make a choice,

May I always do what's most beneficial.

Coming back to our state of normal awareness,

We carry this aspiration with us.

As we continue practicing it mentally,

Every day or at least occasionally,

It will have greater and greater effect on our life and thus on the very fabric of interdependence around us,

The whole of life.

With this,

We conclude this cognitive practice and invite the bell.

Reviews

Thank you.

I am surprised at how taking 3 minutes before I walk out the door in the morning can refocus my day and my intention to do what is beneficial to all beings

Thank you for the valuable lesson and moment of mindfulness.

Many thanks for this

🙏🙏

Thank you Michael 🙏🏾☀️

this has been already part of my morning practice but to hear it spoken (I just found you) adds another quality ☸️📿so beneficial., may you be happy 🙏🏼 thank you

This was incredible... Exactly what I needed for this moment. Wow.

A good starter for the day

Great conative practice to start a day!