Unpleasant Pursuits

Zen Buddhists subscribe to the avoidance of what is often referred to as unpleasant pursuits. I think this subject is something of a novelty because it seems so obvious, doesn't it? What kind of fool would pursue unpleasant things? This author, as an example, but so to do many people either willingly or unwillingly. The path is a bit more difficult than you may expect. The goal in terms of this line of practice is to identify suffering, become one with the suffering, and hopefully take remedial actions against the suffering.

Unpleasant pursuits refers to the pursuit of anything that creates suffering whether to the self or another. I suppose an example may help elucidate the practice and lets go as far as to use a personal example; after all, the point of practice is to identify suffering and become one with it. I pursue the affection of a woman and do quite often receive the desired affection. The unpleasant portion is that albeit the affection is in and of itself pleasant the pursuit really isn't due to the social status between us and what that means. Essentially, the affection and relations cannot culminate into any greater blossoming of intimacy and passion. Thus, the pursuit of affection regardless of the outcome creates suffering through the denial and objective way we disavow each other.

The remedial action is to stop the pursuit or at least come to terms with it. Holding in the sorrow or the suffering bequeaths suffering. To me the cure is to approach this woman and be honest and upfront about the turmoil inside.

Zen Buddhism from the way I understand it and practice it is not only to help assist with life and its many trivialities but to enjoy life wholly. Another type of unpleasant pursuit comes across on an everyday instance to all people. Consider the smallest of internal struggles such as to buy a coffee or to buy orange juice. Coffee will wake you up in the morning but may (at least in my case) make you feel guilty for consuming something that is not all that wholesome especially in respect to the orange juice! Being a health nut I do tend to feel guilty for partaking in certain food stuffs. Of course, coffee isn't all that unhealthy, truly, it still generates guilt - suffering.

How to cope: bring attention to it, be with the moment. When I feel my suffering I am at peace with it. I am immediately and wholly in the moment and I explore how I feel. A small bit of tightness in my chest, a shameful feeling in my head, tension in the back... this is the moment and this is my suffering. To me, being in the moment relieves the suffering as I realize "hey, this is trivial, what am I doing?"

I suppose the result of any unpleasant pursuit is to simply identify the pursuit this way the pursuit itself does not become an abstraction of what it truly is and is clearly in view. Keep in mind that unpleasant pursuits are wholly self created.

Sometimes unpleasantness cannot be avoided especially in some pursuits. As previously mentioned, I am a health nut. Today and yesterday as an example the days have been bright and sunny exceeding some pretty high temperatures. Yet, for some reason, I went for a long bike ride each day that spanned many miles. Of course I was hot and working hard, which isn't really pleasant. I was drenched in sweat and my muscles were cramped. Throat became dry and my clothes were sticking to me.

"This is precisely the moment for practice!" I thought. Being one with the moment and being present with my suffering (such a harsh word for such menial unpleasantness) I was able to really truly enjoy my time out. I was able to come to terms with being hot, sweaty, sticky, thirsty, and crampy then do something wondrous; set the suffering aside and enjoy what the day had to offer. The day was warm and sunny. I had a nice wind in my face from the ride and heard the birds and bugs. The sun made my skin warm and the wind tingled me. The birds and bugs were a nice tactile-auditory experience while the scent of summer was in the air. How could I complain, how could I possibly not fall in love - with the moment.

As I ride along I smile. I smile and wave to anybody and all. This is my zen and this is my paradise. It is this moment and it is here and now. This is my life with my suffering acknowledged and pushed aside while I clear my mind and enjoy right now.