Not Being Drawn By Appearances

 I notice that in many of Santideva's verses, he is exhorting his audience to live a life of solitary virtue. In fact, one of the key messages in his texts is that the practice of achieving merit is based one's own diligence and virtue, rather than the approval and likes of others. What Santideva says effectively is: one can only walk the path themselves. This path requires tremendous work and dedication. I am also starting to respect the fact that one must form one's own convictions about life and suffering, as well as the need to practice in a spiritual way. If that conviction is not deeply grounded in one's being, it can easily become just passively admiring the power of others in the practice.
    This whole point reminds me a bit about Ananda, in Surangama Sutra, where he explains his reasons for following the Buddha. In the first part, after Ananda is seduced and then rescued by the Buddha, Buddha asks Ananda why he wishes to follow him. Ananda remarks on his admiration for the Buddha on every point: beautiful face, golden aura, handsome complexion, etc. But the Buddha points out to Ananda that none of these are genuine reasons for practice. They are like being attracted to a beautiful dress in a store, or one of those flashy Air Force advertisements which are designed to recruit people into the army. In both cases, one is not really attracted to something deep, but is rather interested in the superficial aspect of it. It's like an easy way, I suppose, and it doesn't require too much stability of mind and emotions, to be attracted to a spiritual practice in this way.