Comments on: “Stage Zero” – the importance of a sense of purpose http://www.wildmind.org Explore Meditation Online Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:56:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-116133 Bodhipaksa Sun, 08 May 2011 16:18:17 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-116133 You might want to check out <a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/the-paradox-of-having-goals-in-the-moment" rel="nofollow">this article</a>, Patricia. I can't really tell you how to have goals without having expectations. That's something you have to work out for yourself. I'm sure in fact that you do it all the time. The measure of how much expectation (or grasping) is tied up with attaining a goal is how you feel when you don't attain the goal. If you feel disappointed, frustrated, angry, or despondent, then that indicates that you were clinging to the idea of attaining the goal. If, however, you fail to meet a goal and you simply take it in your stride, or appreciate the progress you've made, or simply feel that the work you've done toward meeting the goal was a reward in itself, then that suggests that there was no clinging or expectation. You might want to check out this article, Patricia. I can’t really tell you how to have goals without having expectations. That’s something you have to work out for yourself. I’m sure in fact that you do it all the time. The measure of how much expectation (or grasping) is tied up with attaining a goal is how you feel when you don’t attain the goal. If you feel disappointed, frustrated, angry, or despondent, then that indicates that you were clinging to the idea of attaining the goal. If, however, you fail to meet a goal and you simply take it in your stride, or appreciate the progress you’ve made, or simply feel that the work you’ve done toward meeting the goal was a reward in itself, then that suggests that there was no clinging or expectation.

]]> By: Patricia Hughes http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-116131 Patricia Hughes Sun, 08 May 2011 16:09:46 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-116131 I'm wondering how I integrate "seeking" a particular goal with my meditation. I thought that meditation was partly about letting go of expectations. How do you have a goal without having expectations? I’m wondering how I integrate “seeking” a particular goal with my meditation. I thought that meditation was partly about letting go of expectations. How do you have a goal without having expectations?

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95414 Bodhipaksa Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:58:17 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95414 Yes, I'm doing a tour of North America to launch Living as a River. But about two weeks from now the second edition of <em>Wildmind</em> is coming out. Lots of book activity going on here! Yes, I’m doing a tour of North America to launch Living as a River. But about two weeks from now the second edition of Wildmind is coming out. Lots of book activity going on here!

]]> By: Ashley. http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95404 Ashley. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:33:38 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95404 You're launching "Living as a River"? Or have you written something recently that I should know about! You’re launching “Living as a River”? Or have you written something recently that I should know about!

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95342 Bodhipaksa Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:01:09 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95342 I was just looking at Ricard's book in Banyen Books tonight before doing a book launch. It looks really excellent. I was just looking at Ricard’s book in Banyen Books tonight before doing a book launch. It looks really excellent.

]]> By: Ashley. http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95332 Ashley. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:44:00 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95332 Fabulous, thankyou! :) That really does answer my question. Fabulous, thankyou! :) That really does answer my question.

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95290 Bodhipaksa Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:15:33 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95290 And thanks for your kind comments, by the way! And thanks for your kind comments, by the way!

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95289 Bodhipaksa Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:14:59 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95289 Hi, Ashley. Funny you should ask, but I just noticed an excellent article by Mathieu Ricard today, in which he says the following: <blockquote>Why meditate? Sometimes I wonder why we need to ask this question. Nobody who admires a talented artist, or pianist and would like to become one would say, “Why should I train? Why don’t I just go on stage and play Mozart?” However, when it comes to the basic human qualities that we might admire and hope to acquire—altruism, inner strength, inner freedom to deal with whatever comes our way, emotional balance, not being swayed by hatred and craving and jealousy— we think that they come up just because we want them to, without any training. Or we think that they are fixed, permanent, and that we can’t change them. It is absurd to think that we do not need training to nourish these kinds of positive qualities. We have the potential to be more kind, to practice mindfulness, and to experience well-being, but we only use a small fraction of the potential we have. So that’s what meditation is about: to cultivate the qualities that we have the potential for but that remain dormant, latent, unused, and to develop them to the best of our own potential.</blockquote> I think Ricard puts it better than I ever could. The article's from <a href="http://www.tricycle.com/feature/why-meditate?page=1,0" rel="nofollow">Tricycle</a>, by the way. Hi, Ashley.

Funny you should ask, but I just noticed an excellent article by Mathieu Ricard today, in which he says the following:

Why meditate? Sometimes I wonder why we need to ask this question. Nobody who admires a talented artist, or pianist and would like to become one would say, “Why should I train? Why don’t I just go on stage and play Mozart?” However, when it comes to the basic human qualities that we might admire and hope to acquire—altruism, inner strength, inner freedom to deal with whatever comes our way, emotional balance, not being swayed by hatred and craving and jealousy— we think that they come up just because we want them to, without any training. Or we think that they are fixed, permanent, and that we can’t change them. It is absurd to think that we do not need training to nourish these kinds of positive qualities.

We have the potential to be more kind, to practice mindfulness, and to experience well-being, but we only use a small fraction of the potential we have. So that’s what meditation is about: to cultivate the qualities that we have the potential for but that remain dormant, latent, unused, and to develop them to the best of our own potential.

I think Ricard puts it better than I ever could. The article’s from Tricycle, by the way.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-95224 Ashley Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:26:27 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-95224 Bodhipaska, I've started meditating recently and at first I thought it was just a good thing to do for my health and wellbeing but after doing it a little while I've realised as you're saying here that I need a sense of wider purpose: What's the goal in practising buddhism and buddhist meditation, do you think? Why do we do it? I've been wondering lately why I'm doing this and what the ultimate goal of all this cultivation is... Do you have any insight to offer? Thankyou, Ashley. :) Your site is lovely, by the way. Very helpful, with grounded and clear articles. Bodhipaska,

I’ve started meditating recently and at first I thought it was just a good thing to do for my health and wellbeing but after doing it a little while I’ve realised as you’re saying here that I need a sense of wider purpose: What’s the goal in practising buddhism and buddhist meditation, do you think? Why do we do it? I’ve been wondering lately why I’m doing this and what the ultimate goal of all this cultivation is… Do you have any insight to offer?

Thankyou,

Ashley. :)

Your site is lovely, by the way. Very helpful, with grounded and clear articles.

]]> By: Janusz http://www.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/comment-page-1#comment-82413 Janusz Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:32:14 +0000 http://test.wildmind.org/mindfulness/introduction/zero-purpose/#comment-82413 Yeah:)you`re actually right about that thanks a lot and again, all the best!! Yeah:)you`re actually right about that thanks a lot and again, all the best!!

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