“Superficially it would seem like non-striving is primarily a way of stress-free and recovering properly. However understood extra deeply we see that it’s a manner of changing into more practical in the way in which that we exert effort in our life”
Expensive Integral Meditators,
This week’s article continues to think about completely different elements of conscious effort, interior energy & what that basically means. My January course on Effortless effort, will likely be exploring this in some element!
Head’s up for the free Winter solstice balancing & renewing meditation (On-line solely) this Wednesday twentieth December 7.30-8.30pm SG time. It’s a pleasant approach to carry the yr to a conscious shut!
Within the spirit of wings,
Toby
Practising non-striving along with your ego
What’s non-striving?
In a previous article on non-striving I outlined non-striving as:
“A refusal to be in battle with your self and your life. Put one other manner, fairly than seeing your self in an adversarial relationship to your self and your circumstances, you follow accepting and dealing with what’s there.”
Non-striving in relation to effort
Non-striving as a mindfulness follow is designed to assist us develop into environment friendly in the way in which we apply effort in our lives. It appears for areas the place one a part of us is locked in a battle with one other half, and seeks to diffuse that battle. Having subtle the battle non-striving seeks to align the completely different parts of the self with one another, in order that they’re directed in direction of a typical objective.
If the self is singular and pointed in a single path, then effort towards a selected objective tends to really feel straightforward and naturally highly effective. The extra division throughout the self, the extra effort it takes to do one thing, as a result of there are parts of you which can be pulling in numerous instructions.
So then, superficially it would seem like non-striving is primarily a way of stress-free and recovering properly. However understood extra deeply we see that it’s a manner of changing into more practical in the way in which that we exert effort in our life. It allows us by serving to our interior vitality to harmonize and unite.
Non-striving & the ego
Our ego (each the constructive, unfavorable & impartial variations of it) is commonly very pre-occupied with achievement, and in evaluating our achievements to others. Very often the way in which through which the ego conceives of effort in attaining is to try effortfully in opposition to the competitors, in opposition to our interior laziness, in opposition to the obstacles. Non-striving seeks to reframe this effort, creating a way of co-operating and dealing with what’s, each inwardly and outwardly, in order to maneuver ahead as seamlessly and effortlessly towards our objective. It looks like non-striving is making an attempt to work in opposition to the ‘battle’ of our ego, they’re opposing one another. That is value dwelling on somewhat.
“Who’s it however the ego that should overcome the ego?” – Chuang Tzu
Let’s say we’re in meditation, and we are attempting to get right into a state of non-striving. However there are particular interior conflicts that simply hold popping up, so we hold making an attempt more durable and more durable to allow them to go. One key understanding right here is to see that the a part of you that’s making an attempt to ‘let go’ can be the a part of you that’s stopping the non-striving. All non-striving asks you to do is settle for and work with what comes up in a non-conflicting method, to calm down with what’s. It’s solely your ego that should ‘let go’ and, irony of ironies ‘overcome your ego’!
Utilizing Chuang Tsu’s quote above as an object of sitting meditation may be an effective way of actually refining your non-striving follow, and eliminating a few of the delicate ego-conflicts that get in the way in which of deeper follow.
A ultimate quote that additionally ties fairly carefully into non-striving, targeted round struggling:
“There are two sorts of struggling. There’s the struggling you run away from, which follows you in all places. And there’s the struggling that you simply face instantly, and so develop into free” – Ajahn Chah
Wishing you properly in your path and exploration of non-striving!
Associated article: Three levels of non-striving
Article content material © Toby Ouvry & Integral Meditation Asia 2023. you might be welcome to share, however please cite the supply, thanks! Contact data@tobyouvry.com
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