As we work towards our goal of unconditional happiness, it is imperative that we do not allow ourselves to be seduced by distractions. Anything that grabs our attention and directs it away from the tasks that we need to achieve in order to progress is not worth much of our time. Sometimes, however, it can be very tempting to get involved in petty interpersonal squabbles that are more about satisfying our egos then they are about quenching our thirst for well-being.
The method the Buddha taught to ensure that we don’t stray too far away from our intended destination is elegant yet profound. When we activate momentary concentration through the effort to be mindful, this corrects the way we view and think about the world. We are able to perceive clearly what we need to accomplish in order to move towards true satisfaction simply because we are observing. We then choose more often to act, speak and work in ways that are not harmful because we know, wisely, we don’t want to create more obstacles for ourselves by making enemies.
To makes this adjustment is not always easy, particularly if we have put a lot of energy in the opposite direction. That is why we offer training in mindfulness. By committing ourselves to practice insight meditation, we are building our capacity to identify and quickly overcome the various spiritual pitfalls we encounter in our daily lives.