Saturday, March 05, 2005

For its own sake

Here's a really wonderful passage from Find a Quiet Corner by Nancy O'Hara entitled "Who's Looking?"

Awards ceremonies, diplomas, honor rolls, first-place medals, promotions, pay raises, scholarships. These are just some of the ways that our society recognizes and rewards achievement. It is often what motivates us, the carrot at the end of the stick. When we search for a quiet corner, there is no tangible carrot awaiting us. And we're not being graded. No one is watching.

We enter the stream alone and report back only to ourselves. The rewards are quiet, subtle ones - no marching bands. When we keep at it, those we love will share in the benefits without perhaps even knowing how or why. And there's no need to share the specifics of your transformation with others. Let it be your secret. Let your quiet corner be a place where you commune with yourself and, if it works for you, with your higher power. No one is watching. But everyone gains.

Meditation is, indeed, a wonderful antidote to achievement addiction. Results do happen. But cultivating an attachment to results ends up sabotaging our efforts. So just meditate for its own sake. And then let the results unfold and emerge as they will without striving or strain. Not only will our meditation be more effective, we will enjoy it more. And if we enjoy it more, we will meditate more. And if we meditate more we will truly reap the benefits we long for.

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