Cure for STRIVING: a Relaxed Approach

Mirka Knaster, Inquiring Mind (Vol. 24, No. 2, Spring 2008); Wisdom Quarterly
Catholicism, born-again Protestantism, and lack of religion found to shrink brain. Religion and atheism should improve brain and heart not damage them (integral-options blog).

Taking a Relaxed Approach with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

In 2007, Sayadaw U Tejaniva, a Burmese [Theravada] monk, made his second visit to Western Dharma centers in the US. I had the opportunity to hear his teachings in several places, to interview him and his excellent translator, Ma Thet, and to speak with teachers and yogis about their experience of his transformative approach to Dharma practice.

Sayadaw’s particular way of teaching is now influencing a number of Western vipassana [insight] teachers. He emphasizes:

• practicing in a relaxed but continuous manner rather than forcing one’s effort;
• opening the field of awareness to all experience rather than beginning with a primary object to establish concentration;
  
• walking at a regular rather than slow pace on retreat;
  
• not imposing a fixed retreat schedule; and
  
• focusing on one’s relationship to objects rather than on the objects themselves.
  

Insight or vipassana as a supportive group effort (findameditationclass.com)

The integration of these elements appears to strengthen the five spiritual faculties (indriya) -- faith [confidence in the practice], energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom -- and deepen practice in everyday life.

Practicing with Ease

“At this point in the Dharma’s unfolding in the West, there seems to be a ripeness for Sayadaw’s relaxed and open approach,” says Myoshin Kelley, teacher-in-residence at the Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts.

For people who have done many years of practice, like herself, subtle levels of striving, wanting or trying to create something get exposed. That exposure of yet another layer of holding or attachment allows a certain ease to occur as well.

“Natural awareness is recognizing everything that’s happening without using a lot of effort,” says Sayadaw U Tejaniya. “You need to watch all day long, but you can’t be concentrating all day long. Meditation is for all the time -- now, always, everywhere -- not just to enjoy a stay in the forest on retreat.”

Meditation with headphones (binaural beats, Holosync induction, or recorded instructions) are far more preferable than straining or boredom (Image: soulpancake.com).

He compares vipassana [insight practice] to running a marathon, not a 100-meter dash. We need to keep at it relentlessly, but in a relaxed manner. Instead of excessive mental and physical energy, a sense of patience and perseverance will build up natural momentum and further our practice.

Natural is a word that comes up a lot with Sayadaw and those who have practiced with him. Alexis Santos, who practiced long-term at Shwe Oo Min Meditation Centre, employs it when referring to what he learned:

It’s natural -- practice Dhamma, understanding who we are and what reality is -- it’s a natural event, and it’s always happening. So there is nothing really to control. There’s never an opportunity that is not open for reflection or engagement, for learning, for opening the heart and mind to what is arising, for listening deeply. There’s a total sense of allowing this life not to be broken up into agendas.

Santos describes an image from nature, the sunflower, that helped him to establish awareness with the right attitude: “It just rests there and faces the sun and, in this very open way, receives everything it needs to grow and flourish as a flower. It doesn’t require straining to get light into itself.”

“Don’t see something as a problem,” Sayadaw advises. “Just see it as it is.” Allan Price reflects on how he had always perceived his practice as a problem. That has changed through his work with Sayadaw’s approach on a retreat with senior vipassana teachers Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters:

I’ve tended to have striving in my personality, so if I was supposed to feel the breath, then come hell or high water, I’m going to feel the breath. It was very typical for me on a retreat to go into one of my interviews and say, “I’m not getting it.”

I just found the new instructions so helpful because it was much easier to be with the experience. With this approach, I can really sit with anything that comes up because it doesn’t matter what comes up. I don’t feel like there are experiences that are more or less valid now.

Strengthening the Faculty of Wisdom

“If you only want peace, understanding won’t come,” Sayadaw says. “And the other danger is, if you only want peace, then you’ll get angry more easily.”

He laughs as he remembers learning this himself as a young man. He tells a story about a time when he was so concentrated and blissed out all day that he decided to keep practicing and not sleep that night. His energy was great for hours and then, around 2:00 am, a bedbug bit him and broke the samadhi [deep concentration].

Annoyed, he groaned, but he also thought he could get it back. Because he didn’t see the mind’s attitude -- craving bliss -- the harder he tried, the more irritation and tension he generated.

After three days, he was worn out. “I give up,” he said. “Never mind if it doesn’t come back. I’ve got a headache. I’m not going to try anymore.”

Suddenly, there was samadhi again. By over-focusing, he had zoned out and couldn’t use his intelligence; the faculty of wisdom had become weak. More

• INSET PHOTOS: indoor meditation (sevenchakrasmeditation.com); outdoor meditation (gaynerdlife.blogspot.com)