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Aimlessness vs. motivation
I found this quote discussing the concept of aimlessness, written by Thich Nhat Hanh, on a website:
"Does the rose have to do something? No, the purpose of a rose is to be a rose. Your purpose is to be yourself. You don't have to run anywhere to become someone else. You are wonderful just the way you are. This teaching of the Buddha allows us to enjoy ourselves, the blue sky, and everything that is refreshing and healing in the present moment. We already have everything we are looking for, everything we want to become."
I am very new to buddhism but I believe there is a teaching that there is "nothing to attain."
I find this concept incredibly beautiful and liberating. It allows me to see my life with clarity. I'm opened up to the beauty of the surrounding world, and I just smile. I can be, and I am, perfectly content with where I am and who I am.
The only problem is that when I live this way, I lose some motivation in my studies, especially in classes that are not personally fulfilling (that I'm taking to fulfill requirements).
Is this bad? Is this how it should be? Having "nothing to attain" is so drastically oppositional to the qualities in people the mainstream US society values (fame, wealth, power). I am almost afraid that by accepting myself I will doom myself to some sort of failure.
"Does the rose have to do something? No, the purpose of a rose is to be a rose. Your purpose is to be yourself. You don't have to run anywhere to become someone else. You are wonderful just the way you are. This teaching of the Buddha allows us to enjoy ourselves, the blue sky, and everything that is refreshing and healing in the present moment. We already have everything we are looking for, everything we want to become."
I am very new to buddhism but I believe there is a teaching that there is "nothing to attain."
I find this concept incredibly beautiful and liberating. It allows me to see my life with clarity. I'm opened up to the beauty of the surrounding world, and I just smile. I can be, and I am, perfectly content with where I am and who I am.
The only problem is that when I live this way, I lose some motivation in my studies, especially in classes that are not personally fulfilling (that I'm taking to fulfill requirements).
Is this bad? Is this how it should be? Having "nothing to attain" is so drastically oppositional to the qualities in people the mainstream US society values (fame, wealth, power). I am almost afraid that by accepting myself I will doom myself to some sort of failure.
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Comments
It does photosynthesis.
Its root constantly search for and absorb water and nutrients in the soil, growing itself in the process.
It secretes honey to attract pollination insects, followed by whole list of reproduction activities.
But when a goat comes along to chew it, it lies there doing nothing....
it is accepting to say NO and accepting to say YES.
contentment isn't apathy or passivity. it is ACCEPTING the inevitable.
also it is accepting the fact that if there is a problem one must change.
sometimes you are just okay as you are. sometimes there is a problem, so you fix it.
if you are stuck you are clinging. if you are always moving you are clinging. when you don't cling what happens?
there is only infinite potentiality.