We say often that practice is simple: direct the attention to the life we wish to have and it is ours. But easy? Lately I have heard a theme running through a number of practice conversations—the radio show, email class, groups at the Monastery—that, in fact, practice is also easy. Yet how can one say practice is easy when there are times when suffering seems so real and unavoidable?
In the recent email class a participant asked if practice ever gets easier. Cheri’s answer: “No, it will never get easier until you stop giving your attention to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate.” There it is. It feels easy when we are aligned with Life, when our attention is here in the present moment, and it is difficult when we are confused about who we are and believe we are the illusion of a separate self.
The commitment to choose Life over the conditioning is a moment-by-moment practice. My current favorite focus to assist in that endeavor: NOT looking to ego for an assessment of how I am doing, figuring I am doing just great all the time no matter what. Life will course correct as needed. Nothing to do. Very relaxing, joyful and, yes, easy.
In gasshō,
Jen