Just Show Up Zen Sangha

The Five Foundations

CLARIFY YOUR ASPIRATION

To clarify your aspiration means knowing exactly what it is that your spiritual life aspires to, not as a future goal but in each mo­ment. In other words, what do you value most in your life-not in the sense of moral values, but in the sense of what is most im­portant to you. Contemplate this question. Do not assume that you know what your highest aspiration is, or even what is most important to you. Dig deep within, contemplate, and meditate on what the spiritual quest is about for you; don't let anyone else define your aspiration for you. Look within until you find, with complete clarity, what you aspire to. The importance of this first Foundation cannot be over­emphasized, because life unfolds along the lines of what you value most. Very few people have Truth or Reality as deep val­ues. They may think that they value Truth, but their actions do not bear this out. Generally, most people have competing and conflicting values, which manifest as both internal and external conflict. So just because you think something is your deepest value does not mean that it actually is. By deeply contemplating and clarifying what you value and aspire to, you become more unified, clear, and certain of your direction. As your realization and spiritual maturity deepen, you will find that some aspects of your aspiration remain steadfast while others evolve to reflect what is relevant to your current level of insight. By reflecting on and clarifying the issues relevant to your current level of understanding, you stay focused on the cutting edge of your own unfolding.