Generating realizations and actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, from guru devotion up to enlightenment, all comes from having received blessings. Each time we generate a realization in our mind, we have received a blessing. Each time we generate a realization or our mind changes and becomes more subdued, at that time we are receiving blessings. Before, the mind was completely empty of understanding karma, not knowing the cause of happiness and the cause of suffering at all. But now, we find a little bit of faith slowly arising as our understanding grows. That means many blessings have been received.
As I mentioned yesterday, the selfish attitude, anger and other disturbing thoughts become weaker and smaller by doing the preliminary practices. The practice of refuge and bodhicitta, mandala offerings and prostrations, are all methods for accumulating extensive merits. Also, doing Vajrasattva and Chenrezig mantras are powerful methods to purify unimaginable obscurations. When our mind gets better and better, that is a sign of having received the blessings of the merit field, the guru and the Triple Gem.
If you cannot think in the elaborate way that I explained with the first prayer—particularly the method and the result, the rupakaya, from the beginning of guru devotion up to enlightenment—then just think about the merit field. If you cannot think in such detail about the path—about method and wisdom, the resultant rupakaya and then the rest of the complete path, particularly wisdom and the result, the dharmakaya—first purify all the obstacles and on the second repetition generate all those realizations through a replica of the merit field that absorbs into oneself and all sentient beings. If you cannot think in such detail about the path, just visualize the merit field whose holy names are mentioned and think that this absorbs into oneself and all other sentient beings. Think that you and all sentient beings have received whatever realizations they have—the infinite excellences of their holy body, holy speech and holy mind. In short, it is very important to think or to feel like this.
via Blessings of the Merit Field by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.