Paramita – Diligence 1

We are continuing our exploration the six transcendental virtues, focusing now on Virya: diligence, joyous effort or enthusiastic perseverance.

The virtue of Diligence is that it supports our practice of all the other virtues we have studied: Generosity, Ethics, and Patience. Our challenge is to see how we can support our practice with Joyous Effort and Enthusiastic Perseverance; engaging our spiritual practice with a sense of lightness and joy, rather than approaching practice as a heavy burden we have to carry or a duty we have to fulfill. So, how is that possible? How do we engage with the complexity and depth of the practice to achieve our goals?

There are three ways we support our spiritual practice: Study (learning), Contemplation (reflection), and Meditation (application).

Study can include all forms of learning about our spiritual path: reading books and articles, listening to talks, watching video teachings, or receiving direct teachings from established teachers. All these forms of study help us understand the foundation of our practice and why we would want to enter into a spiritual practice, as opposed to continuing the default material practices that society typically presents to us, continuing our suffering.

Contemplation involves a time of reflection on what we have learned, how it applies in our lives, and coming to the understanding that there is choice of how we lead our lives. The possibility of being able to choose actions that support and benefit ourselves and others becomes clear and results in a heartfelt desire to follow a path that leads in that direction.

Meditation practice (both on and off the cushion) is the practical application of our studies and reflections. We learn from our sitting practice to recognize the states of mind that produce suffering for us and we work with ways to let go of those habitual patterns of thinking and reacting. We see new ways to relate to our thoughts and emotions that allow us to live with less suffering and more joy, being a benefit to all those we meet.

Of course, this is not a linear path: study -> contemplate -> meditate. We can engage with all three modes at the same time. One mode may take the lead at certain times, but all three are essential components of maintaining our commitment to stay on a spiritual path. When we are active with all three, we recognize that we seek to relieve our own suffering and the suffering of others. We have an understanding of what is causing our suffering and how to relieve it. And, we learn practices that we can use, by ourselves, and when we are engaged with our daily life to bring us back to the path whenever we find ourselves lost or confused.

This is the joy of Diligence. We make the aspiration to lead ourselves out of suffering; we have confidence in the path from our study and contemplation; and we develop faith and stability in the path with our meditation practice on and off the cushion. We are working towards our Goal!

Now, forget about the Goal. Follow the three steps of supporting your practice as the Path and you will see the “goal” appear in your life in small blessings every day.