Buddha told his disciples: whoever makes an effort can attain enlightenment in seven days. If he can’t manage it, certainly he will attain it in seven months, or in seven years. The young man decided that he would attain it in one week, and he wanted to know what he should do: “concentration” was the reply.
The young man began to practice, but in ten minutes he was already distracted. Little by little, he began paying attention to everything that distracted him, and thought that he was not wasting time, but was getting used to himself.
One fine day he decided it was not necessary to arrive at his goal so fast, because the path was teaching him many things.
It was at that moment that he became an Enlightened one.
From Issue No 195 of Warrior of the Light, a www.paulocoelho.com.br publication from Paulo Coelho.
I was particularly struck by the teaching of it not being necessary to arrive at a goal so fast. And then there is going beyond and dropping all goals, efforts and striving! But while I am still striving towards goals at least I can slow down.
Thursday 2 April 2009
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3 comments:
The path ~ so easy to understand, so craaaazy difficult to do. Slowing down is already miles (over there, kilometers) into practice. You're good!
@Alice yeah simple is not always easy! Miles over here too by the way ;-)
I listened to a programme on BBC Radio 4 this am that is linked to this . http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00c11h1 .
I followed to link to Carl Honore, author of In Praise of Slowness which I hadn't heard of before.
I like the idea of taking time, and exploring the distractions rather than beating myself up over them.
Thanks for posting this. I needed to hear it.
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