Effort

Here is a great quote I just came across on the San Francisco Zen Center's website that really resonates within me:

Our effort is to awaken in ourselves the bodhisattva spirit, the spirit of kindness and realistic helpfulness. This is how we offer our understanding of Buddha's Way.

I like this a lot, it gives a real meaning to my practice. Sometimes, little teachings like this pop up which help define and focus what it is I'm trying to achieve.