What is enough?

At one time a student of mine was also a student of psychology, taking a degree course in this subject. She had to write an essay entitled ‘A satisfactory relationship.’

She asked me what would be the Dhamma perspective on this subject, I answered simply, ‘Don’t accept satisfactory.’

When we aspire to excellence in our spiritual practice, everything is possible. If not, we stand still and accept that which is only satisfactory.

Our effort falls away and we stay in one place, talking about Dhamma and enlightenment as though we know what they are, but never moving forward. Being comfortable in our practice, but still asleep.

This easy, satisfactory sentiment is often the understanding of the Buddha’s great teaching of the eightfold path, before we realise its true depth and profundity.

Traditionally, the teaching of the Buddha is known as the Middle Way, the way between extremes. However, this is not really accurate for it only implies only a life of moderation – a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Not completely angry, only irritated, not completely happy, only pleased. Not completely wise, only intelligent.

The Middle Way of the Buddha is a gift to the world, for it shows the path to the complete realisation of the Truth and so the way to complete peace. This Middle Way is not a way between extremes, but the way beyond extremes.

It is the transcendent way.

The understanding of this path is very important if we want to go beyond religion, and blind faith, personal views and opinions.

Talking about it won’t help much, but applying it to our moment to moment life will change everything.

The transcendent path that the Buddha revealed to his disciples at the Isipatana deer sanctuary is the way to no longer be a prisoner of the mind, which is the sole cause of our suffering and unhappiness.

Through the practice of Vipassana meditation we can see the very nature of this mind, and by seeing, be free from its influence. By letting go of our attachment to the mind as being who and what we are, we can enjoy it when it presents something pleasant, and not suffer when it changes. But also, we can be with this mind peacefully when it presents something unpleasant, knowing intuitively, that that it too will pass. Impermanence is the nature of all things. To harmonise and flow with this impermanence is to be one with the Truth itself, and is the nature of enlightenment.

Each life deserves to be more than satisfactory, and it can be when we apply ourselves to excellence in every moment and every situation.

If we don’t aspire to complete illumination how will our suffering ever end?

May all beings be happy.