Meditation, and "Getting Better"
The delusion of "getting better" is prevalent
through school, and life.
In school we work for degrees,
later we work to get homes, and support families.
We hope and seek
for advancement, distraction from suffering, or escape.
Despite meditational practice or therapy,
getting better in terms of healing is uncertain
since bad habits, and neurosis, may not be resolved
nor may poor relationships, and roles.
A psychologist writes that, in trying to get better,
meditators more readily attain some realization of absolute truth
than actualizion of the basic religious principles:
compassion, sharing, and love in relationships.
When faced with students needs and problems
even meditation teachers may fail in compassion and love
due to the teacher's psychological or emotional problems
inherited from childhood, parents, and social situations.
Students and teachers may ignore their personal problems
adhering instead to principles of non-attachment, emptiness, and oneness.
Then they may accumulate guilt and shame for failing to love,
much less to attain the principles and ideals.
Despite realization, personal problems frustrate actualization
through stored depths of unresolved emotional and mental problems
that contaminate teachings and practice
particularly in relationships, leading to isolation and alienation.
Through meditation we can awaken
only to find ourselves neurotic and miserable.
We need to learn to be more deeply aware
of our personal problems, limits, and habits.
Back to Right Effort
Basic Buddhist guidelines are listed in my Buddhism in a Nutshell
Back to Preface
Back to Mind and Meditation