“If you know that you’re going to get a very high salary, then you’ll be highly motivated.”

“If you know that you’re going to get a very high salary, then you’ll be highly motivated.”

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Question (M2):  I’m the kind of person who is very lazy. I would like to do meditation every day but I think I’m very lazy. How do I overcome my laziness so that I can keep meditating every day?

Than Ajahn:  You have to know what you will get from meditation. It’s like you have to know how much salary you’ll get from your work. If you don’t know how much salary you’re going to get, you might not be motivated to work hard. But if you know that you’re going to get a very high salary, then you’ll be highly motivated.

It’s the same with meditation. You have to know what you’re going to get from meditation. If you don’t know what you can get from meditation, then you may have to go and live close to a meditation master. He can explain to you what you can get from meditation and show you how to get it.

Or you can read the teachings of the Buddha. When you study the Buddha’s teachings, you will appreciate and understand what you will get from following his teachings. Then, you’ll become motivated to practice. So first, you have to study his teachings. Because to practice without studying will not give you any sense of value. You may then wonder, ‘What am I doing? What am I going to get from this practice?’ So, you have to study the Buddha’s teachings, i.e. study his biography – why he left the palace. All these things will give you the motivation.

Once you’re motivated, then the energy will come by itself. For example, if you know you’re going to become a prime minister if you stay here for 7 days, would you do it? You would do it, right? You stay here for 7 days and you go back and become the prime minister.

Layperson (M 2): My motivation is very ambiguous. That’s my problem.

Than Ajahn: Yeah because you don’t know what you’re going to get from what you do. So, you have to study first.

Do you remember the California Gold Rush? Why did people rush to California? It’s because there’s gold there, right? People knew if they went there, they could dig gold. So, everybody rushed to California for gold. It’s the same thing with meditation. You have to know what you’re going to get from your actions. If you don’t know what you’re going to get, then you may say, ‘Why should I bother doing it?’

Layperson (M2): Thank you.

Youtube video: “Dhamma in English, Aug 15, 2018.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g