Zen awareness practice is hard

Spiritual practice will never be popular.

I’m not talking about reading spiritual books, watching spiritual videos, listening to spiritual podcasts, or hanging out in spiritual groups.

That's easy.

That’s what most people think the sum total of spiritual practice consists of.

No, I’m talking about taking the steps required to LIVE a spiritual life.

The day-to-day practice.

The practice you do no matter what.

The practice you do after the spiritually intoxicating honeymoon period is over.

The “late at night, clinging to the meditation cushion for dear life in fear of being swallowed whole by the universe” spiritual practice.

My teacher used to say there’s a reason large crowds of people aren’t trying to break down the Zen monastery gates to practice with us.

It will never be the rage. It will never go viral. It will never catch on.

You see, there’s nothing in spiritual practice for the ego.

Most people stop at “I do it because it makes me feel good,” “I get to be a better person,” or “I get to make the world a better place.”

After, “I do it to fix myself and get rid of all my problems.”

But that’s just the beginning.

You see, that “I” is getting a rush of something for itself.

And as long as it’s motivated to act from that place, practice will forever be in its hands.

Because it will call the shots and encourage the person to quit and go do something else when practice ceases to be “sexy,” “fun,” or “rewarding.”

It will end the romance when there’s NOTHING to reflect it and give it the attention it craves.

The next shiny object.

The next new spiritual teacher/guru/practice/group for more, better, and different.

Zen practice is hard.

The ego can’t stand it.

And, you see, the ego is fully in charge for most folks.

That’s why would-be monks were discouraged from pursuing their desire for training.

Obstacles were put in their way.

They really had to step forward and say (not with words but with actions), “Practice is more important than anything else in the world.”

They had to prove to their would-be teachers (and themselves) that they were ready to give it everything they had (and a little bit more).

Because it would certainly be required of them.