Six Perfections

I'm reading a facebook advertisment about the course in Sydney that will be presented by the Dalai Lama. He will be teaching about The Six Perfections that provide the basis for the Bodhisattva's Way of life – generosity, ethics, patience, zeal, meditative concentration and wisdom.

From my messy kitchen desk in Sydney Australia I'm thinking.... that's OK for a globe-trotting budhist monk superstar. Don't get me wrong - I like the guy and think he is cool - but I reckon it's way easier for for those at the top of the trees who would have assistants, minders and PR team to live one heck of a centred life and tell everyone else how to do it.

My question is this.
Could it be possible for anyone who is not living the budhist monk lifestyle - living in our consumer society to master the Six Perfections?

With my schedule and all the responsibilities I have in my life - let alone trying to fulfil my dreams - it's darn near impossible to get an 30 minutes a day to reflect and meditate.

But I'm certainly open to trying it out to see how far I can get - and moving one step up the rung of each Perfection would be nice.

One thing I have noticed though - as soon as I put it out there to be a better person in any of the perfections the next thing I can usually expect is adversity - both internal and external.

Eg Generosity - the first perfection on the list - I find myself swinging between Mother Theresa moments where I draw out a big chunk of cash and donate to any cause that takes my fancy - and tight fisted miser moments like Ebenezer Scrooge. It's SO difficult to be consistent. Especially when there are SO many causes that other mean mouths would refer to as 'Bleeding Heart Appeals'.

Or I do decide to give and the recipient is either ungrateful (or doesn't show me the gratitude I was expecting) - or they somehow demand too much of my giving

I seem to be wrestling with a multiple personalities all jostling for power. At any given moment one of these personality disorders rises up to overthrow every good intention I have. Then I'm left with guilt that I'm a bad person - deep down a hypocrite.

But I want to be generous with my time. talents, words, actions and yes my money too. Because it feels good while I'm doing it when it's smooth sailing. As soon as advertisty comes - either internal personality struggles OR a teacher comes along in the disguise of a taker - a user - a bludger or a bottomless pit of requests - I swing over to Scrooge again.

It's a circle that I repeat over and over again I'm ashamed to say.

Now that I've been around in my 55 years I've learned this about myself. I swing between personalities.

Maybe a seventh Perfection could be introduced - CONSISTENCY.