Hello and welcome to another episode of the Secular Buddhism Podcast.

This is episode number 85.

I am your host, Noah Rasheda.

And today I'm talking about trying to hard, not trying hard enough, and the beauty of

finding the middle way.

Before I jump into that, keep in mind the Dalai Lama's advice to not use what you learn

from Buddhism to be a Buddhist.

Use it to be a better whatever you already are.

Now one of the most important impacts Buddhism has had on my life is fully introducing me

to this concept of the middle way.

I want to start out talking about a story of a monk named Sona.

This is a monk who was trying to be good at meditating, trying to live a more mindful

life like many of us are trying to be better whatever we already are.

In the parable of the loot, we learn about Sona, becoming discouraged with his meditation

practice.

He goes to visit the Buddha for advice.

So in this story, Sona, despite all the effort and energy he was putting into his practice,

he grows discouraged and disappointed.

His meditation practice that was supposed to be the very source of great peace and happiness

and contentment in his life ends up being the very source of discontent for him.

Sona had been taught to be mindful even when walking.

And he took this to heart to the point where he practiced so intensely that his feet

...