Is this procrastination...or what is it?

[Myotai]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

The timeline seems to be, find a practice/tradition/Sangha....immerse myself 100%....then start to feel the grass is somehow greener...then get cold feet and feel I have to move into another.

Its a repetitive and now irritating process that has been there for decades now.

Though on a positive note I never allow it to stop me practising. Its the colour of the practice that changes and its bvery uncomfortable!

Thanks in advance!

M...

[Caodemarte]

My ill informed advice is: Do not quickly join anything. Take your time. Don't immerse yourself in anything, except patiently, calmly, and firmly in the act of practice while you are practicing. If you are too enthusiastic about the other stuff and cultutal accretions you may suffer a reaction or find that you are just entertaining yourself and grow bored. Step slowly in the water; don't seek the exotic.

[Myotai]

My ill informed advice is: Do not quickly join anything. Take your time. Don't immerse yourself in anything, except patiently, calmly, and firmly in the act of practice while you are practicing. If you are too enthusiastic about the other stuff and cultutal accretions you may suffer a reaction or find that you are just entertaining yourself and grow bored. Step slowly in the water; don't seek the exotic.

Thanks...thats really helpful. Though I suspect I might have waded in a little too soon into something already. Nothing sinister or anything. But I think the lesson is that I cannot actually commit to anything, because this is what happens.

Almost like falling in love, to the exclusion of all other women. Getting engaged to be married only weeks later to find your head turned by another woman.

Tricky!

[Mkoll]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

The timeline seems to be, find a practice/tradition/Sangha....immerse myself 100%....then start to feel the grass is somehow greener...then get cold feet and feel I have to move into another.

Its a repetitive and now irritating process that has been there for decades now.

Though on a positive note I never allow it to stop me practising. Its the colour of the practice that changes and its bvery uncomfortable!

Thanks in advance!

M...

Hi M,

Do you find you do something similar (grass is always greener) in other areas of your life? Job, field of study, relationships, residence, etc.?

[Caodemarte]

I suggest that In terms of sanghas practice with several if available, not to flit around but to examine carefully over time. In any case, remember that there are no gold stars for blind belief in anything.

[Goofaholix]

In terms of mental process I'd say it's craving, aversion, and delusion.

There is also an assumption there that there is one perfect practice/teacher for you, I don't think that is the case for everybody, some people never settle down to one.

Also I'd say there is probably an assumption that the path is about technique or particular practices, it's not it's about the mind, it's good if you can find a framework that can be relied on to awaken the mind but the mind is still the mind whatever you do or however you practice, just work with the mind.

[SarathW]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

Not having faith.

[Myotai]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

The timeline seems to be, find a practice/tradition/Sangha....immerse myself 100%....then start to feel the grass is somehow greener...then get cold feet and feel I have to move into another.

Its a repetitive and now irritating process that has been there for decades now.

Though on a positive note I never allow it to stop me practising. Its the colour of the practice that changes and its bvery uncomfortable!

Thanks in advance!

M...

Hi M,

Do you find you do something similar (grass is always greener) in other areas of your life? Job, field of study, relationships, residence, etc.?

Hi,

Thats a really interesting question. But no, I'm tediously loyal in all other areas of my life. Why do you ask?

M....

[Myotai]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

Not having faith.

In?

[SarathW]

Particular practice.

[Mkoll]

I am looking to establish exactly what the mental process is that stops me 'committing' to a particular practice.

The timeline seems to be, find a practice/tradition/Sangha....immerse myself 100%....then start to feel the grass is somehow greener...then get cold feet and feel I have to move into another.

Its a repetitive and now irritating process that has been there for decades now.

Though on a positive note I never allow it to stop me practising. Its the colour of the practice that changes and its bvery uncomfortable!

Thanks in advance!

M...

Hi M,

Do you find you do something similar (grass is always greener) in other areas of your life? Job, field of study, relationships, residence, etc.?

Hi,

Thats a really interesting question. But no, I'm tediously loyal in all other areas of my life. Why do you ask?

M....

I asked because I guessed that it might be part of a pattern. But I guessed wrong! Here's are some ideas anyway, some mutually exclusive and some naturally combining with others. Hope something provides some food for thought.

1) Just forget about it, ignore it. It doesn't stop you from practicing and thus purifying your mind and that's what's important, isn't it?

2) Pay less attention to the distinctions between practices and more on what they have in common.

3) Recognize this is just your conditioning and don't make a problem of it, continuing to switch things up.

4) Recognize this is just your tendency and stick with one thing, knowing that you've conditioned yourself to look elsewhere. But this impulse will change and fade.

5) Reframe your switching things up in a more positive light. You're learning more about different traditions and practices and this can only be helpful in the long run.

6) Maybe you just haven't found the right thing that resonates with you? Keep looking.

[Myotai]

Thanks....some good advice there - I particularly like the idea of being conditioned - as it were!

[Myotai]

Particular practice.

Ah!

[Mkoll]

No problem. And on that note are these wise words from Ajahn Chah (Collected Teachings, pp. 410-411).

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[Myotai]

Thanks so much or this!