Practice Without Gaining Mind

The Ultimate Koan for Westerners

If we work on Wall Street, the idea of doing something without gaining anything is likely counterintuitive. Even if we don’t work on Wall Street, as Westerners, we have deep conditioning in doing (to get results), not being.

“Practice without gaining mind,” from Buddhism, reminds us to meditate without attaching to the results, without grasping for meditation experiences or states. It invites us to simply be present.

When we’re new to meditation, we may become aware for the first time (as we watch our thoughts), of our own tendencies and conditioned behavior to achieve, to compete, to win at all costs, to perform, or simply to try too hard.

These behaviors are likely strategies we adopted to survive and thrive that our families, educational institutions, workplaces, and culture rewarded.

As meditators, we witness these behaviors from a more expanded perspective. In this “light of awareness,” the tendencies and behaviors sometimes dissolve, or a process of unlearning them is launched.

“Practice without gaining mind” while counter-intuitive for those who have been conditioned to achieve, to succeed, and to live in a constant state of striving, can also be an effective koan. By koan, I mean an idea the mind can’t grasp…. but if held in awareness, can create a breakthrough. In a breakthrough, we might see – and have compassion for – an aspect of our own conditioning and behavior in a way that frees us from it.

The inner journey we take as meditators is not about gaining or becoming something we are not. It’s a process of letting go of the habits, tendencies, and conditioning that prevents us from being our truest Self.

When You Meditate

When you sit to meditate, lengthen up through the spine and crown and sit in a relaxed way. Part the jaws and release tension in your face. Soften the body and release any holding or tensing of your muscles. Breathe into any areas of your body that feel constricted.

When your attention is drawn to thoughts, just gently bring your awareness back to the breath, the mantra, or whatever centering technique you’re using to concentrate your awareness.

During meditation and afterwards, it’s helpful to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude towards yourself and your meditation practice regardless of what has occurred. Just feel good that you sat and did something that was beneficial for yourself.

When You Practice Yoga

While the phrase “practice without gaining mind” applies to meditation, it’s also good to approach the physical yoga practice with a similar spirit of non-attachment.

It’s good to make your best efforts in every pose, while letting go of any self-judgment. It’s also helpful to cultivate the habit of observing or witnessing your thought stream, your self-talk, during the physical practice.  Is it critical or encouraging? Does it cause you to feel defeated or inspire you?

Over time, you may start to notice this healthy tendency to let go of self-judgment after you have made your best efforts, permeating other areas of your life, at work and at home.

When Practice Meets Daily Life

I recall such a moment shortly after I started practicing yoga in 2005. Throughout class, the teacher had reminded us to make our best efforts and surrender, to let go of any rumination.

Back in my office, I noticed myself scrutinizing a piece of work I had completed for a client. I recall the moment I realized, “I can just put this down and shift my attention to something else.” Freedom!

Both your seated meditation practice and physical yoga practice are awareness practices that reinforce a more skillful, empowered way of being in the world. Eventually they will inform every aspect of your life with more awareness and more freedom.