These days, more people are looking to gain insight into their lives. For a long time, many in the West were skeptical about whether achieving such awakening was realistic. Thoughts like “Maybe we’re too messed up,” and “Maybe the modern world isn’t conducive to awakening,” were common.
However, as more practitioners experience insights, it has become encouraging for others. Now, more individuals believe that not only is awakening possible, but they themselves can achieve it. This is a positive shift! But is there a downside?
Lately, I’ve noticed that many people set narrow goals for themselves. Often, the ultimate aim of practice is seen solely as gaining insight into the concept of non-self. While this is crucial, just having insights doesn’t transform you into the ideal person the Buddha envisioned. The Buddha’s ideal person has insight but is also an all-around excellent human being.
In one discussion, the Buddha described qualities of the ideal person: calmness, freedom from craving and attachment, absence of fear, anger, and pride, speech restraint, no longings for the future or regrets about the past, honesty, transparency, freedom from envy, lack of disdain for others, refraining from insults, and not viewing oneself as superior, inferior, or even equal to others.
The Buddha also emphasized gentleness, kindness, and compassion. He encouraged us to avoid actions that could harm others and be good friends to each other.
Our practice should lead us toward these ideals. The goal isn’t just about losing the delusion of self or gaining insight; it’s about developing ethical qualities and positive emotions. This is why the Buddhist path typically starts with training in ethics, then meditation (including cultivating kindness and compassion), and finally, insight.
For a few people, insights can be distressing, leading to loss of meaning or despair. These cases are rare, and usually, any initial disorientation is temporary. In the rare long-term problematic cases I’ve heard of, there was often a narrow focus on mindfulness and insight without enough emphasis on loving-kindness and compassion. Some meditation teachers tend to ignore these potential issues, but thankfully, they are being studied more now.
Modern neuroscience shows that as we learn new skills, the brain physically changes, similar to how muscles grow with exercise. The goal of practice isn’t just cognitive insight into impermanence or non-self but strengthening kindness and compassion. Developing insight helps remove barriers to skillful qualities, but it takes effort to foster their growth.
I encourage you to cultivate these qualities both during meditation and in daily life. When insight arrives, it can be a liberating and joyful experience rather than a disorienting shock.
Balancing practice with energy and enthusiasm, but without desperation, is always a challenge. It’s important to avoid grasping too tightly after insight.
Thanks, Ed.