No matter what activity we engage in, our motivation is very important. According to the tradition of Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism, the motivation we must cultivate is boddhichitta - the turning of the mind towards supreme enlightenment. One way to accomplish this is first to consider our parents in this present life and then to extend the love and compassion we feel for them to all sentient beings, including our enemies. For, in fact, all sentient...