Categories: Other Meditation Teachings
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, I wish to reflect on a common obstacle many of us face on the spiritual path. Many people are drawn to meditation, or Bhavana, as we refer to this practice of mental cultivation. There is a deep-seated desire for inner peace, spiritual nourishment, and personal growth. Yet, despite this beautiful aspiration, many allow external factors to become reasons or, more accurately, excuses for not beginning or deepening their practice. They create roadblocks for themselves.
I want to explore these common excuses for not meditating, not to judge, but to illuminate them with clarity and compassion. I hope that by seeing them for what they are, you can set them aside and begin the rewarding work of cultivating your mind.
The Call to Practice, Not Just to Listen
Through our teachings, such as the ‘Third Eye Practical Meditation Program,‘ we offer a step-by-step path for practice. Many people read these articles and listen to our talks. Some engage with the practices diligently, with great effort and dedication. Others proceed more slowly, doing what they can. And some simply listen to the words without ever putting them into practice.
No matter which groups you fall into, it is crucial to understand that these teachings are meant to be practical. They are not just words or intellectual knowledge. If you only accumulate knowledge without applying it, the teachings remain inert. To avoid this, I encourage you to engage with these concepts practically.
See for yourself. This is essential, otherwise, the deepest wisdom becomes just another collection of ideas, and that would be a great loss. The goal is to be as practical as possible.
“My Body is Impure from a Vaccine”
So, what are these external reasons that people use as excuses for not meditating? One that has been presented to me frequently relates to the recent global pandemic. Many have asked, “Venerable Sir, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. Will this prevent my meditation from developing? Will it stop my Third Eye from opening, prevent me from reaching deep meditative states (Dhyana), or even block my path to liberation (Nibbana)?”
Some people believe the vaccine is a significant obstacle. I must be direct here: this is a misguided belief. Let us think about it clearly. Whether the vaccine was good for the body or bad for it, where was it received? It was received by your physical body. The injection and its effects are confined to the body.
Many of you who received it have already done so. It is in the past. Your body may or may not be experiencing some effects, but what about your mind? Is your mind not still functioning well? You are reading this article, and you are understanding these words. Your body has not aged to the point of collapse; you are still living with a sound mind. Even those with physical ailments can possess a clear mind.
The simple fact that you can comprehend these teachings is all the proof you need. If your mind can understand the path, it can walk the path. Do not use a physical injection as one of your excuses for not meditating. That ability to understand is enough to begin.
“My Past Habits Have Damaged My Body”
Let’s extend this logic. Think about things we know for certain are harmful to the body, like alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs. These substances are not good for the body. I have often encouraged those struggling with addiction to begin meditation. Over years of use, their bodies have certainly sustained damage to the liver, the lungs, and the nervous system. This is not a possibility; it is a certainty.
Now, if that person were to think, “My body is already damaged, so what’s the point in meditating?”, would they ever be able to progress? Never. The principle is the same. Never use the state of your body as an excuse. You may have made mistakes, used harmful substances, or followed poor advice. The body may have been affected. But I ask again: can your ears hear these words, and can your mind grasp their meaning? Can you understand the system of practice we are explaining? If the answer is yes, that is all that is required.
Put the past aside, whether it’s an injection you took or a habit you once had. It’s done. Set it down and begin your meditation practice now. Start cultivating mindfulness. Do not linger on these thoughts, creating sorrow and paralysis for yourself.
These are merely external factors. Do not allow them to become a barrier that halts your journey towards inner peace, spiritual nourishment, and the profound states of awareness you seek, be it cultivating energy like Kundalini or opening the Third Eye. If you let these things stop you, you will never develop spiritually.
“I Am Too Busy with Work and Family”
Another of the most common excuses for not meditating is, “I am too busy.” People point to their demanding jobs and hectic schedules. To this, I can only say that you must find the space. Nature and the universe do not accept the excuse of being busy. The universe simply tells us to create the time for our own spiritual development.
Even if you cannot sit for a formal meditation session, you can practice mindfulness at any time. We have given teachings on how to maintain awareness even during a busy day. Your work life will never end; this is the nature of worldly existence. Who are you telling that you are too busy? Yourself? The universe? It is a fruitless declaration.
You must understand that on this journey, you walk alone. Your parents, children, spouse, and friends are with you in this life, but they cannot save you from the endless cycle of existence, the journey we call Samsara. They are not the reason, nor can they be your salvation.
Understanding this, do not use your job, your husband, your wife, your parents, or your children as an excuse. Be strong, be diligent, and create the opportunity for yourself. Even five minutes a day, if you are truly that busy, is a start. Mindfulness can be practiced at any moment. Do not let busyness prevent you from stepping onto the path.
“I Cannot Meditate During My Menstrual Cycle”
I must also address a concern raised primarily by women. Some believe they cannot meditate during their monthly cycle (menstruation). This is used as a reason to stop their practice for several days each month. Please understand, this is not a valid barrier for the kind of meditation we teach.
Notions of ritual impurity, or kili, do not apply here. Those concepts might be relevant for other practices, like certain rituals involving mantras, but they have no bearing on cultivating your own mind through Bhavana. Never use this natural bodily process as an excuse.
Continue your practice on those days just as you would on any other. I will not speak at length on this, as the point is simple: do not let this misguided idea stop you. Just continue your practice.
“My Diet Is Not Pure Enough”
Similarly, many people create excuses around food. I have seen many claims that to open the Third Eye, you must avoid this food or that food, no meat, no fish, certain types of vegetables, or things containing fluoride. Let us look at this realistically. For a long time in Sri Lanka, we have been consuming food with many toxins we were even ranked number one in the world for it at one point. Yet, have people been unable to develop concentration, or Samadhi?
Have they not felt the pressure between the eyebrows that signals developing focus? Of course, they have. We monks meditate, we develop our minds to deep levels, and many laypeople have developed their practice too, all while eating the available food.
Don’t let any external dietary rule become a barrier. Your body will naturally weaken with age and circumstances. The only time meditation becomes truly impossible is when the body is so weak it cannot be sustained, or more importantly, when the mind itself fails. This is the key point to remember.
The Only True Barrier: The Clarity of Your Mind
Even if your body is extremely weak, if you are bedridden from an accident, an illness, or the results of past actions (kamma), you can still meditate as long as your mind is clear. I speak with many people who are confined to their beds, and they can practice. Why? Because their faculty of mindfulness is strong. Their mind is well. If they can understand these practical teachings, they can do the practice right where they are.
The true obstacle is when the mind itself collapses when one falls into a state of unconsciousness or dementia (asihiya), where there are no mindfulness and no ability to comprehend. There are people with healthy bodies but minds that cannot grasp these concepts; they can stare blankly but not understand. For them, the teachings are inaccessible.
So, regardless of your body’s condition, whether it is healthy or sick, whether it has been impacted by diet, accidents, or anything else, if your mindfulness is intact and you can clearly understand these teachings, then your task is simple: practice meditation.
Do not let external reasons become your excuses. I repeat some of these points because it is vital that you grasp them fully. These mistaken views, these self-imposed frames and limits, must be identified and set aside.
Your Invitation to Begin
I have mentioned the most common excuses: work, family, environment, health, and diet. You may have others that you hold in your heart. I invite you to reflect on them. If you feel comfortable, you can share them in a discussion so that others may also learn and see that no external reason is truly a barrier. Understanding this, you can finally step onto your spiritual path and begin your practice.
I believe these points are more than enough for you to understand. Do not be foolish by using external factors to avoid starting your spiritual life. Such avoidance comes only from one’s own ignorance. I hope that after this, you will let go of these misguided excuses and begin your journey.
May the power and blessings of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha be with you all. May you receive this blessing to develop your meditation and your spiritual life without making external things an obstacle. I conclude this teaching for today.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
