565 Proper Effort by Miranda Sept 6 25

Proper Effort 

Proper effort is the sixth step on the Noble Eightfold Path, part of the mental discipline category. It’s about bringing steady, balanced energy to our practice and our daily lives.

In this context, the mind is like a garden. With proper effort, we:

• Stop weeds from growing.
• Pull out weeds that are already there.
• Plant good seeds.
• And tend to the healthy plants as they grow.

The Buddha described four aspects of proper effort, and they guide us in how to relate skillfully to our thoughts and emotions.

1. Prevent unwholesome states from arising 

This means being aware of what throws us off balance; like anger or jealousy, and choosing not to feed them. In Zen, we call this watching the mind. We guard the “sense doors,” noticing how sights, sounds, and thoughts influence our reactions. This awareness gives us a chance to respond wisely rather than react blindly, to pull the weeds before they sprout.

2. Let go of unwholesome states that have come up

Even with awareness, we’ll still get caught in unskillful patterns like worry, irritation, and judgment. That’s normal. This second kind of effort means recognizing when we’re stuck and gently returning to the present moment.

Instead of judging ourselves, we can breathe, relax and soften our stance. We say, “Ah, here is anger,” and allow it to pass. Just as a gardener doesn’t scream at the weeds, we learn to meet what’s here with patience and kindness, and then take skillful action to clear what no longer serves us.

3. Cultivate wholesome states that haven’t arisen yet 

This step is about encouraging qualities like kindness, patience, and compassion. If someone annoys us, we might take a breath, remember our own mistakes, and silently wish them well. These small moments create new habits of heart and mind. It might feel unnatural at first, but even a quiet intention begins to shift our habit patterns. These small moments are like planting good seeds in the soil of the mind.

4. Maintain wholesome states already present

When we feel calm or grounded, we take care of those states. We continue to nourish them through meditation, ethical choices, and simple awareness in daily life. The more we tend to these qualities, the stronger their roots become.

The Buddha compared proper effort, especially in meditation, to tuning a musical instrument:

• If the strings are too tight, they break.
• If the strings are too loose, no music comes.

In the same way, our effort in meditation and daily life needs to be balanced. If we try too hard, we become tense and rigid and might be too hard on ourselves. If we’re too relaxed, we can become lazy and not put in enough effort.

Proper effort is not about judging ourselves. We won’t get it right every time. Gardens grow slowly, but if we show up, pay attention, and keep returning, something beautiful will grow. The important thing is that we keep practising with sincerity and patience. Thanks Miranda