Do Not Decline Continue the Struggle

Two things, Monks, I have realized: To never be complacent with skillful qualities; and not to shrink back from the struggle.

Without shrinking back, Monks, I struggle on thus:

Gladly would I have my skin and sinews and bones wither and my body’s flesh and blood dry up, if only I may hold out until I win what may be won by human strength, by human energy, by human striving.

It was by diligence that I achieved awakening, and by diligence that I won the supreme freedom from bondage (Enlightenment).

And you too, Monks, do not decline the contest, but struggle on, saying to yourselves: Gladly would I have my skin and sinews and bones wither and my body’s flesh and blood dry up, if only I may hold out until I win what may be won by human strength, by human energy, by human striving; then you too, Monks, in no long time shall win that goal for which the Householders rightly leave home for the homeless life, even that unmatched goal of righteous living, realizing it for yourselves even in this very life; and having reached it you shall reside therein.

Wherefore I say unto you, Monks: Thus must you train yourselves: We will not decline the contest, but will struggle.

(Reference: AN 2.5)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how it can be a struggle, at times, to attain Enlightenment. But through the struggle, there is much wisdom that is acquired that ultimately liberates the mind.

The Buddha shares “two things” that he realized, or learned, during his journey to Enlightenment.

“To never be complacent with skillful qualities; and not to shrink back from the struggle”.

To never be complacent with skillful qualities: The Buddha explains that one should never allow the mind to become complacent thinking that the skillful qualities acquired are enough. Instead, continue to grow and develop throughout this entire life thinking “gladly would I have my skin and sinews and bones wither and my body’s flesh and blood dry up, if only I may hold out until I win what may be won by human strength, by human energy, by human striving”.

A Practitioner should never convince the mind that its Enlightened. Instead, continue to grow and progress on The Path to Enlightenment even once all discontentedness is eliminated at which time, you will know the mind is Enlightened. Never convincing the mind it is Enlightened means that you will continue to develop ensuring that you reach the ultimate goal - “the supreme freedom from bondage (Enlightenment)”.

The ego is going to constantly be telling you that you are more Enlightened than you truly are. The ego is not interested in leaving. It is like a bad tenant that does not want to get evicted from the mind. It provides no benefit yet it continues to convince you to stick around.

The ego will continually attempt to convince you that you are Enlightened which can put the mind into a state of complacency. This allows the ego to stick around and inhibits you from progressing to Enlightenment.

If the mind convinces itself that it’s Enlightened, because that’s what the ego is going to attempt to do, then a Practitioner can easily fall short of Enlightenment while thinking and believing they are Enlightened. This is detrimental to one’s life practice and progress to Enlightenment.

Instead, never convince the mind that it is Enlightened and continue to progress further and further on The Path to Enlightenment. As soon as complacency, arrogance, pride, or ego arises in the mind, it’s not Enlightened. So convincing the mind that it is Enlightened, only opens the door for complacency, arrogance, pride, and the ego, thus, defeating you in the ultimate goal of liberation.

A wise Practitioner would continuously reside understanding “to never be complacent with skillful qualities” because then they can continue to grow and progress on The Path to Enlightenment. While we might conclude that a certain Practitioner has attained Enlightenment, if that Practitioner themselves never convinces the mind that it is Enlightened, they can continue to progress experiencing higher degrees and higher qualities of Enlightenment.

While there is the fourth Stage of Enlightenment described as an Arahant, a being who enters and resides in the fourth Stage of Enlightenment as an Arahant can continue to experience increased benefits through never convincing the mind it is Enlightened while staying dedicated to their practice. The danger would be to convince the mind that it is Enlightened, when its really not, and the Practitioner falls short of the ultimate goal to then experience rebirth all over again.

Instead, do “not shrink back from the struggle” and continue to be determined, dedicated, and diligent to your growth. For a Practitioner to attain Enlightenment, they would have needed a well developed life practice of continuous improvement. Rather than halting the improvement once the mind experiences the elimination of discontentedness, it will be relatively straight forward and with ease that a Practitioner can continue to focus on development of the mind experiencing continuous benefits as the mind becomes even more focused, concentrated, clear, and wise with deep memory.

While the elimination of discontentedness is the ultimate goal, there are multiple benefits experienced as the mind gradually awakens to Enlightenment. These benefits only heighten as one continues to develop their life practice even once the mind has attained the fourth Stage of Enlightenment as an Arahant.

Attaining Enlightenment is like the beginning of the rest of your life.

All the way up until the mind attains Enlightenment, a Practitioner will have been experiencing discontentedness. In certain times during your life, there might have been significant discontentedness.

But, through determination, dedication, and diligence, a Practitioner who attains Enlightenment will eliminate 100% of all discontentedness. The mind and your life will be completely peaceful where one has fully understood and is fully practicing The Natural Laws of Existence. The mind will have focus, concentration, clarity, wisdom, and deep memory. Therefore, anything that you choose to do in your life can be a resounding success.

No matter what an Enlightened being chooses to do in their life, it will be highly successful. There is nothing holding an Enlightened being back from massive success in their life, whatever success means to you.

Success is not necessarily the accumulation of wealth, but an Enlightened being will already know that. It is possible to be wealthy and Enlightened, but the mind will first need to eliminate its craving/desire/attachment to wealth.

An Enlightened being can embark forward on any aspect of life they choose and with the qualities of mind they have cultivated, they will experience massive success in all parts of their life - both personally and professionally. An Enlightened being is a problem solver who solved the most significant problem they have ever faced throughout countless lives.

They have figured out how to eliminate the discontent feelings that plague the mind. If they can resolve this challenge, there is no challenge they cannot overcome.

Their determination, dedication, and diligence to solving this challenge surpasses all other challenges that they will ever face. An Enlightened being has deep wisdom to face any challenge that presents itself because they know that the challenge is impermanent and its only a matter of applying the appropriate wisdom to overcome the challenge.

Attaining Enlightenment is the beginning of the rest of your life. Your last life. The very best life. The life where all discontentedness is eliminated and the mind resides completely peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.