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I started out talking about perfectionism in creative work, but the same question applies to Dharma practice — to being a Buddhist. Back in the day, in Triratna (the sangha I belong to), we used to talk about meditation retreats and study retreats — a clearer distinction than now, when most retreats combine both. I’d often hear people say, “I love meditation retreats, but next year I’m just going to do study retreats — they’re so hard.” Practice is supposed to be hard, isn’t it? Or… is it? On a recent retreat, I joked that my speciality was “Buddhism for hedonists.” It was the same retreat I wrote about last time, the one someone described as a cross between a retreat and a holiday — a Dharma holiday. Quite a few people responded to that newsletter — some resonated, one or two disagreed. “A retreat shouldn’t be like a holiday,” they said. Fair enough. We each have to work with our own tendencies, our own samskaras, and find what serves us best. For me, a touch of hedonism helps. The Cambridge Dictionary defines hedonism as “living and behaving in ways that mean you get as much pleasure out of life as possible, according to the belief that the most important thing in life is to enjoy yourself.” On the surface, that sounds like the opposite of Dharma practice. But perhaps it can also be a skilful means — a way to practice more wholeheartedly. Maybe we can reframe it: Living and behaving in ways that help me get as much pleasure out of practice as possible — according to the belief that the more I enjoy my practice, the more wholeheartedly and authentically I can engage in it.
Try this: take an area of your life and ask yourself, how could I enjoy this more? It could be your work, your Dharma practice, your relationships — even your bedtime routine. See what comes up. For my work, I have a few strategies that make it more enjoyable. For example, simply not rushing. It’s easy to move through life with a “getting things done” attitude (there’s even a book with that title). But that mindset can make it feel as though I’m trying to get past whatever I’m doing. When I notice that, I consciously pause — sit back, stare out the window, and remind myself: you don’t have to rush this. When it comes to Dharma practice, I recently heard that the Dalai Lama meditates for around five hours each morning — with his books. With his books! I loved that image — dipping into texts, sitting a while, letting the teachings unfold in meditation. That feels like a treat to me. What kind of practice would feel like a treat to you?
Walking meditation as the sun rises? Sitting quietly among autumn leaves? If enjoyment is the doorway to wholeheartedness, what would it be like to enjoy your practice more?
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