Effortless effort.

 ‘Lazy’ is not a word we want to hear! But let’s face it, we spend a third of our life asleep, and most of our (so-called) waking period either occupied, or vacant (not knowing, staring blankly). And, if we do meditate for twenty minutes or an hour, we probably only experience a couple minutes in stillness. So one could say, this is a lazy, dreamy world, due to distractions.

 One of our problems in studying spirituality is intellectualisation: the acquisition of scholarly fact. A philosophical understanding is important, when the mind is unconvinced of a certain aspect. However, it can also cloud genuine ‘ordinary’ experience.

 Sometimes, this results in not bothering to actually practise, or practising mechanically, or trying too hard. If we find that we have to make an effort (which, on one hand, is good discipline), this will become tiring, and will create an obstacle to merely letting be. There are two obstacles to stillness – agitation and dullness – which create a laziness, when we have lost the point of what we are about.

 If we forget why we are practising (practice is merely being aware), we will fall into dullness. We can think that we are being aware, but that is not awareness: that is being caught in a mental pre-occupation.

 Quite often, we hear politicians argue about a topic – they don’t do anything, they just argue, putting over valid-sounding points…and that’s all. We all get caught up in this type of activity. If we are over-active, we lose control, we lose the point, we lose the clear view.

 If there was such a thing as a devil, he’d be saying, “Oh, goody!”

 ‘Effortless effort’ is understanding the experience of barely being aware. Too much effort and it becomes conceptual. The real reality, the real magic, is not just merely resting in awareness: it is the awareness itself. Be aware of awareness and do nothing…do nothing…do nothing. Whatever arises, merely be aware, and drop all attachment. Drop being aware, and merely be aware.

In a 90 year life

30 years will be in sleep.

Throughout a working day

we are occupied (involved)

or entertained (vacant)

So when are we?

A couple of minutes a day?

 Most of the time we are knackered. The more we get involved (agitated), the more tired (lazy) we get.

The more we notice

the more we practise

the deeper we go.

The more we notice

the more we practise

the deeper we go.

Liberation is in the awareness, and we feel brighter. There may be all sorts of distractions: that will never change. Just know that awareness is always present. It’s all about recognition. Nothing else.

 Make sure you take time out during the day – apart from formal meditation sessions – to just be…pause. It’s your life.