Shariputra encounters the dharma.

Assaji was one of the Buddha's first students. He was among the five present when the Buddha gave his first teaching on the four noble truths, when Kondanna's Dharma eye was opened. Assaji was rather unsure of his practice. He was committed to the practice of the Dharma under Gotama Buddha's direction, yet he lacked the confidence in his experience in order to actualize the resultant state.

At one time, Assaji was in the city of Rajgir going out for alms after his morning meditation session. He walked the city streets graciously, his gaze was steady, his every step intentional, consummate.

Nearby, the ascetic Shariputra, a disciple of the skeptic Sanjaya, witnessed Assaji going for alms. He witnessed him moving graciously through the streets, his steady gaze, his every step intentional, consummate. Inspired by Assaji's presence, he felt compelled to question him, to find out how his teacher was, to learn the dharma that he was practicing. Not wanting to disturb Assaji during his alms round, he followed him from a distance.

When Assaji finished going for alms, Shariputra approached him, asking him, "Bright are your eyes, my friend, and radiant your complexion. Who is your teacher? What is the dharma that you practice?"

"My friend, there is a great contemplative who has gone forth from the Sakyan family named Gotama Buddha. He is my teacher. It is his dharma that I practice and rejoice in."

"What is his teaching? What does he proclaim to be the true dharma?" asked Shariputra.

"My friend, I am new and just beginning to practice this Dharma. I cannot explain it in detail."

Shariputra continued to press Assaji for the teachings of Gotama, asking "Tell me a little or a lot, I just need to know the essence. What use is there in a lot of explanation?"

Assaji, composed, present, spoke to Shariputra:

om ye dharmā hetu-prabhavā
hetun teṣāṃ tathāgato hyavadat,
teṣāṃ cha yo nirodha
evaṃ vādī mahāśramaṇa soha

Whatever phenomena arise from a cause, 

those causes have been taught by the Tathagata,

and their cessation too,

has been proclaimed by the great practitioner of virtue.

Shariputra, the wanderer, the ascetic, heard this Dharma from Assaji. His dharma eye opened, "Whatever is subject to arising is subject to cessation. Even with just this Dharma, you have penetrated to the deathless state, unseen and overlooked by us for countless ages."

This is how Shariputra became a student of the Buddha. Shariputra became one of the Buddha's foremost students, known for the breadth of his wisdom and understanding. 

Adapted from the Upatissa-pasine.

Don't worry about the result.

You try to be compassionate and kind to others. You train yourself to be more present and receptive with others. You practice generosity and patience. You do all these things, and none of them seem to make a difference.

The world is still in turmoil. Everywhere we turn there is another injustice. Things seem to be getting worse, not better.

What good is our practice in a world that seems to care less?

Don't worry about the result.

Don't focus on the result of your compassion. Don't wonder how your generosity paid off. It is of no concern if your effort made an impact.

Focus on the practice. Stay engaged. Work on the cause. 

The goal.

The goal of life is to be happy. 

What is difficult is making choices that support happiness.

It is hard to act on circumstances that are conducive to happiness.

It is challenging to deal with our thoughts and emotions in a way that leads to happiness.

It is really rare to surround yourself with people that promote your happiness.

It is even more rare to come across teachers who teach you methods that produce happiness.

So much of what we do for the sake of happiness leads us down the rabbit hole of suffering and dissatisfaction. 

The goal of life is to be happy, but the purpose of life is to act on the causes of happiness.