When we build a house,
If we don't try to build it well,
It will fail.
How can we get the most out of meditation and mindfulness if we don't try?
If you don't try,
You will fail.
If you don't try,
How can you make a difference in your life?
So when you say you try,
There are two different ways of describing what that means.
One is make an effort.
And making an effort leads to attention.
So when kids engage in computer games,
We don't tell kids,
You know,
Make a better effort to do better at games.
Since they want to play computer games,
So it's not making an extra effort to play better.
So when you say you try,
You are not trying to make a difference.
So making an effort is often used in situations you don't really want to do it,
But you have to do it anyway,
So you make an effort to overcome that resistance.
So when we are saying that's how we describe making an effort,
That's not what's desired in practice.
So in a way,
What we are saying is that when kids are really into the game,
Can focus and pay attention for a long time in their games,
Because they like it,
Because they want to do it,
I guess that's analogous to the type of effort that we require in spiritual practice.
So more like making an effort in a constant,
Consistent way that you want to.
So in Korean terminology,
Lexicon,
How we describe the effort associated with spiritual practice is 정진,
Which really refers to constant and consistent attempts.
So to bring another knowledge into this,
If you are a basketball player and you are practicing shooting free throws,
You shoot free throws despite whether it goes in or not because you are practicing.
So it's not as important for the ball to actually go into the basket.
The important part of that is that you are focused and you are consistent and constant in your practice.
So if you are a player practicing free throws and you want to be there because you want to get better,
Then there is no tension involved because there is no mental resistance to practicing because you want to do it.
So if you are doing meditation with me today and you want to do well and you try,
You make an effort to gain a certain result,
That's not the right approach to meditation.
So just as a kid plays computer game with that focus,
If you can be focused to be mindful of the breath as it goes in and out in a consistent and constant way,
That's the right approach.
So when I use the expression try,
What I'm trying to avoid is giving you the impression that you need to make an effort in order to achieve something.
But I do mean that you need to try to be constant and consistent in your practice and in your approach.
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