Cattāri Brahmavihārā

The term “acceptance” is a difficult one for me especially in light of its frequent use in so-called spiritual discourse. Much of it had to do with my own vote of the path as a necessarily difficult one that requires a lot of effort and a definite rejection of complacency.

And yet, in my clearer moments, I can see the necessity of acceptance and hope it can function as a support to the path of striving. Much of the restlessness I have been feeling I believe can be attributed to a sense of discontent with my progress and the quality of my meditations as well as feeling slightly ill for the last week or so. Finding fault with the quality of concentration, with the quality of my effort and with just about everything has left me running from the present and into I know not what.  Lack of acceptance had become a real sense of desperation that is poison to my practice.

May I learn to accept the place where I find myself with love and kindness so that I may push onwards in pursuit of happiness and not out of aversion.