How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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purple planet
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How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by purple planet »

How important is the part of motivation in the whole process of walking in the "path" in your opinion ?
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TheNoBSBuddhist
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by TheNoBSBuddhist »

Surely, without some form of Motivation, you would not be walking the path at all....?

What is the point of going for a walk if you have no destination - even if it is back home, in time for supper....?
:namaste:

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Peter
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by Peter »

Without samma vayama (right effort, the 6th step on the path) walking is not possible.
If you gain it, it is great.
Motivation might be the little brother/sister of effort which will lead you to samma vayama, the big motivation.
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purple planet
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by purple planet »

And to add : how you cultivate that motivation ? or how you manage without motivation ?
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TheNoBSBuddhist
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by TheNoBSBuddhist »

purple planet wrote:And to add : how you cultivate that motivation ?
Through study and practice. learning and understanding are motivation.
or how you manage without motivation ?
This question is not logical.
At least, to me, it is not....


:namaste:
:namaste:

You will not be punished FOR your 'emotions'; you will be punished BY your 'emotions'.



Image

Pay attention, simplify, and (Meditation instruction in a nutshell) "Mind - the Gap."
‘Absit invidia verbo’ - may ill-will be absent from the word. And mindful of that, if I don't respond, this may be why....
santa100
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by santa100 »

purple planet wrote:And to add : how you cultivate that motivation ? or how you manage without motivation ?
By developing samvega(sense of urgency) as described in SN 3.25 and AN 5.57
culaavuso
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by culaavuso »

purple planet wrote:how you cultivate that motivation ?
It can be helpful to be aware of stress and the potential for stress to repeatedly arise. This can result in the motivation to search for a solution and to implement that solution once found.
AN 6.63: Nibbedhika Sutta wrote: Stress should be known. The cause by which stress comes into play should be known. The diversity in stress should be known. The result of stress should be known.
...
And what is the result of stress? There are some cases in which a person overcome with pain, his mind exhausted, grieves, mourns, laments, beats his breast, & becomes bewildered. Or one overcome with pain, his mind exhausted, comes to search outside, 'Who knows a way or two to stop this pain?' I tell you, monks, that stress results either in bewilderment or in search. This is called the result of stress.
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: How important is motivation in the "path" ?

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Motivation is essential — at least to get started. I find that the works of Venerable Ledi Sayādaw are helpful.

A Manual of Profound Verses (Also known as Saṃvega Gāthā).

Once concentration is well-established, and insight begins to arise, that will provide the driving force to continue. It is like starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together — it takes a lot of effort to get it going, but when it's well alight, all it needs is to add a bit more fuel now and then, and protect it from rain-water.
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