“If one didn’t make an exertion, one wouldn’t finally attain the truth. Because one makes an exertion, one finally attains the truth. Therefore, exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth.” The Buddha.

“With mindfulness, strive diligently.” The Buddha.

. . . effort is a strife or a struggle to transform that which is into something which you wish it to be. — JK
Therefore:
Effort is a distraction from what is. JK

Which of the myths do you think selling CDs conflicts with? Is it the “technological shortcuts” one? If so, it’s not the CD itself that helps you meditate, it’s the guidance it contains. What I meant by saying there are no technological shortcuts is that no technology can do the work for you. Meditation is something we do for ourselves. You can listen to instructions, but you actually have to follow those instructions — you have to do the work that the instructions are pointing to. Otherwise it’s not meditation — it’s just kicking back and relaxing.

I like the article otherwise.

who says you have to think about negative things? what actions performed by others demand a negative inner response? this is the field of effort, and the goal, as proclaimed by the original buddha, is to via effort (over aeons) become independent of negativity. in fact, negativity never carries its own reality, so by means of willpower, the buddha is said to have managed to conquer negativity, or mara.

enlightenment has nothing to do with light, willed-conciousness nor willed-awareness but a steady transformation into a positive way of thinking. this might involve several aspects in your life, where a dose of positivity is desperately needed. the goal is a warm hearted way of being wich will fulfill a need to help and to give, actions and intents that are solely benificial to all. this will be more satisfying to our mind (than being cruel, wich shuts us off from a non-afflictive way of being/thinking).

the key is noticing afflictive emotions, and how they rise. this might reveal that they also dissipate within, and that in fact, no afflictive thinking/emotion was needed. present, sure, but needed, no. through will of intent, the buddha said that cessation is possible. so is it? i think we can all agree that less affliction is better than more, thus this goal seems reasonable. but is it attainable? well that depends on what ur goal actually is, if you one day find urself satisfied with your mind and outlook on life, is that enough? if you want to become enlightened (after having read some heavy british propaganda or spiritual quackery) youll never be satisfied. imagine the thought and desire of becoming enlightened reveals itself to have an afflictive effect on your self. is then the goal to become enlightened? yes, but if the search (upon investigation) itself is afflictive, how can this goal lead to a non-afflicted mind? the wise men say that willpower and positive thinking/effort through years of practice may lead to an enlightened mind, but when is this goal reached?

easily, the mind, when under right circumstances works perfectly. this in turn affects the body/organism in a benign way and thus genuine content may arise yet again. this state can be perfected through will power and various ways of thinking, and in the end, pure positivity is said to be possible.

so, enlightenment, if sought out as a mean to solve some dilemma or problem, it might turn out to be a negative influence or afflictive way of being, it all comes down to personal experience. enlightenment may mean happiness and contentedness to some, and loss and meaninglessness to others. the truth is that inner negativity (afflictive thinking, action, intent) is a personal “enemy”. no advice could ever fix that for you. the clue is effort, as the writer points out in the text.

meditation is a shortcut to get rid of negativity, as soon as the meditative practice is over, negativity arises, so what has happened here? well, a new depth in your perception has occured and is being built upon a firm ground of positivity. its organically imperative to be without pain, but how to maintain a non-afflictive way of percieving daily life? well, the peace felt by even a beginner of meditative practices should be understood as a “taste” of how the fully funtioning mind is meant to work.

a functioning mind is bound to have a positive impact on whatever aspect of life you might be occupied with. be it math or relationships. with this, no one can disagree.