On his journey to enlightenment, the Buddha-to-be spent many years avoiding pleasure and building his tolerance for discomfort. During this time, he practiced austerities, or ‘tapas’, which literally means “heat.” One intense form of this practice involved meditating under the hot noon-day sun, sometimes even surrounded by four fires.
While this may seem strange to us now, it was quite popular among spiritual seekers of that era. They believed that pleasure and happiness were tied to bodily weaknesses and thought that the mind needed to completely master the body to achieve liberation. For a while, the Buddha-to-be embraced this approach, doing things like holding his breath until he was in pain, pulling out his hair and beard by the roots, sleeping on a bed of thorns, and fasting extensively. According to his own account, these practices nearly brought him to death without yielding significant results.
Realizing the futility of these extreme practices, he started to reflect on his mistakes and consider alternative methods. A childhood memory came to him, where he had experienced a natural meditative state of calm and joy while sitting under a tree watching his father plow a field. He realized that the pleasure from this meditative state was wholesome and not something to fear.
This realization struck him as powerful. He wondered if this state of non-grasping happiness might be the path to the spiritual awakening he was seeking. His intuition affirmed this, guiding him to see this as the path to enlightenment.
Even though the ascetic practices of ancient India might seem odd to us today, there are parallels in modern habits, such as working long hours and depriving ourselves of rest to be more productive. Both ancient ascetics and many people today believe that enduring current discomfort will lead to future rewards. However, self-denial often leads to long-term suffering without the expected payoff.
You might wonder about the contradiction: the Buddha and his monastic followers led austere lives, eating leftover food, wearing rags, avoiding music, sleeping under trees, and owning only their robes and begging bowls. The aim wasn’t self-punishment but simplifying life to focus on spiritual practice. They weren’t against pleasure, but they avoided sensual pleasures that could distract them from mindfulness and meditation.
The Buddha had realized that pleasure and joy from meditation were key to awakening. From personal experience, the happiest times often come from living simply, with minimal communication and responsibilities, allowing more time for meditation and nature.
Despite meditation being intended as an enjoyable practice, many contemporary meditators don’t experience it that way. It’s important to question if ascetic attitudes affect our meditation. Viewing it as a duty devoid of joy might hinder our practice. Instead, relax and be mindful of any tension or seriousness that suppresses joy. Often, joy is readily available when we allow ourselves to notice it.
Consider joy as always present, waiting to be found. Ask yourself, “Is there anything I’m doing right now that’s suppressing joy?” This question can be applied both in meditation and daily life for a more enjoyable experience.