This is a repeat of what I discussed in Chapter 6, "the true goal". I will continue discussing why we meditate so much and listen to the lessons of many famous monks, yet remain the same. Except for being able to show off to people who don't understand Buddhism that I meditate at the pagoda and such, have we done anything? The answer is no. When we meditate, we still need to be aware of things around us, we still set rules and time limits. If we only do it conditionally and not from our bodhicitta, then we will never get better at Buddhism. Instead of always setting limits and listening to lessons without focusing on the main point, why don't we try doing the opposite?
Why don't we try to do it the way the first Buddha did it? One of the most important reasons why the first Buddha succeeded in becoming one is because all of it was from his bodhicitta. He awakened it himself and meditated endlessly until he found the answer. Why don't we try to do it that way instead of always setting a timer for ourselves to follow?
You have to be aware of your path and discover it yourself. You can't follow other people's paths, nor can you follow your teacher's path. They can't spoon-feed you your bodhicitta. You have to awaken it yourself, and after doing so, you will start to see the change. You will start to understand the lessons, and you will know your goal. But this progress isn't easy; it takes a lot of dedication and hard work.