Dear Friends,
Joseph Goldstein poses some questions about viriya: “What is effort? When is it balanced? When is it counterproductive?” (Mindfulness, page 242)
He highlights how effort can sometimes be unskillful, such as when there’s a forcing of the mind, what he calls an “in-order-to” mindset. Joseph shares a story of his own experience with this, recounting how he once had a profound meditation involving a “body of light” and then spent years unsuccessfully trying to recreate it. “I was always wanting something other than what was there,” he reflects.
I can relate! Like many, I started meditation with an expectation. When I first began practicing MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction), I meditated “in order to” reduce stress–which was sometimes stressful in itself! Fortunately, Jeanne’s wise guidance helped me shift toward more skillful effort, such as exploring the underlying causes of stress and meeting this with openness and receptivity.
At the same time, if effort is too loose, it can lead to distraction. Effort becomes skillful when it is balanced–grounded in openness and aligned with the present moment. Joseph describes this as an art: “We always need to see the present circumstance, then understand it with wisdom–“Is the mind too tight? Is it too loose?”–and then make the proper adjustment.” (page 243)
How do you notice when your effort in practice is too tight or too loose? What helps you find balance and bring the right quality of energy to the present moment? I invite you to share your reflections.
With good wishes,
Andrea