Effortless being

In an earlier issue I wrote about how we are all “on a path” of different sorts. Life is a path. I also spoke about two quite different approaches to being on a path. In one approach we look to the future. We experiment with different practices or try to refine one particularly practice, like mindfulness, in order to improve the overall quality of life. We give attention to our communication and relationships. We learn through our mistakes and seek to improve ourselves—to be less selfish and be more compassionate. When we live “the path” in this way, it’s inevitable not to judge where we are on the path in terms of being fundamentally fulfilled and less prone to suffering. This approach is sometimes called the “causal way.” Most people relate to the path in this way. When I am teaching in different places, people very often introduce themselves to me with a story about where they are on the path to enlightenment. They’ll tell me about the practices that have been really useful to them, the major insights or awakening experiences they’ve had, and what they are now looking for. A few people are really upbeat about their progress and accomplishments, some others feel hopeless and depressed. But overall many people feel that they haven’t been sufficiently rewarded for the work that they’ve put into their spiritual development.

The other approach is called the “non-causal way.” Some people call it, living at the “results level.” In this approach the whole idea of “being on a path,” making progress, going backwards, peddling but not moving, all drop away. Instead of trying to improve ourselves we discover that ultimately there is nothing and no one to improve.

In my teaching I emphasize the non-causal approach, mainly because this lets people really taste the fruit of all their ……