Things You Need for Your Journey
SOMETIMES A PATH can be blocked by things that are there—like barricades or piles of rubble—and sometimes by things that aren’t. Think of a gaping hole cutting across a road: you’re missing the ground you need to get across. In the same way, the path of practice has its prerequisites. If they’re lacking, that can block your way.
The Buddha lists two principles as most useful in the practice: externally, there’s admirable friendship; internally, there’s appropriate attention. If you lack either of these, it’s
