Determination

To achieve any worthwhile goal, we must first decide, "I will do this, whatever it takes". Then we start doing it without hesitation or expectation. This may or may not come to a conclusion. Determination, that is to say the commitment to doing it, is a standard blueprint for any work or success.

We can see that, without exception, all successful people out of necessity follow this blueprint. Even the Buddha, who is regarded as the longest religious teaching teacher in the world, had to fulfill these two requirements: determination and commitment to doing the task.

Every big project must go through such a process. For instance, when in 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed to put a man on the moon "before this decade is out", he had no idea how it would be done - and NASA didn't know how either. More than a million technical problems had to be solved. What kind of rockets, engines, landing craft, space suits, underwear do you take to the moon? And if you get to the moon, how do you make sure you don't land in a hole? How do you get home?

The Americans solved each problem, one by one, and in July 1969 the world watched Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. The Apollo project was like any successful project. Your commitment is the glue that holds it together. First you set your heart with determination and then commit yourself to doing it. Then you solve the problems, one at a time.

Even with small projects, such as when you want to set up a business, you first determine and commit yourself to doing it, and then you figure out how to get the customers.

Or if you want to write a book or get a degree, you determine and commit to it, and then you figure out how to finish it. The same is true when you decide to marry – you determine and commit to it, and then day by day, you figure out how to make it work.

In conclusion, things are not easy to achieve, but if we determine and commit ourselves to doing them, this is a good start that may result in success. On the contrary, if we don’t have intention to work, even it is a small job, we will fail to do it. Therefore, the Buddha taught the world to have good determination in the four factors of working, learning and practising, e.g. a good teacher, a good teaching, a good determination and good practice. Learn from a good teacher and determine to put right knowledge into good practice and then the result is success. Determine to do your job and you will be successful in your life.