I lost my path very badly recently, partly because I started to take things a little too seriously and in doing so let them get me down. I was amazed at how a situation like that sneaks up on you and before you know it, you’re stuck. Luckily I’ve started reading The Way of Zen by Alan Watts, which is helping me move back on track.
It really brought home to me how right the Buddha was that our problems stem from our grasping at things, our attachment to things. I’d become too preoccupied with results at work, then I’d stressed out and my mental state suffered, followed by my performance. It’s a timely lesson, and I suppose really, the hard way is the only way to truly learn it, if you’re going to get too attached to the results of your actions, you run the very real risk of ruining those results.
In my case because I diverted time, effort and attention into worrying which would have been better used elsewhere.
October 6th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Ah. You’re not alone. Struggle with it myself all the time. Easy to know; difficult to Know.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Hope the principles and teachings found in this Buddhist website can contribute to your well being and happiness: http://www.cttbusa.org/
October 16th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
The problem for me has been: where does the energy comes from, which enables one to resist worry and attachment?
For me I cannot muster the energy out of nowhere…it has to come from a wellspring of uplifting experiences.
These uplifting experiences, of course, are difficult to generate, recognize, and appreciate when in a state of worry. That, for me, is where meditation comes in. It is sometimes the only thing that can get me back to that neutral plane where I can begin to appreciate and participate in the wonder around me.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post and best of luck
October 16th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Richard,
Please check out the challenge at the bottom of this post, I’d love your participation.
PaL
http://thebuddhadiaries.blogspot.com/2007/10/teaching-part-ii.html
October 16th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
The problem for me has been: where does the energy comes from, which enables one to resist worry and attachment?
For me I cannot muster the energy out of nowhere…it has to come from a wellspring of uplifting experiences.
These uplifting experiences, of course, are difficult to generate, recognize, and appreciate when in a state of worry. That, for me, is where meditation comes in. It is sometimes the only thing that can get me back to that neutral plane where I can begin to appreciate and participate in the wonder around me.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post and best of luck.