April 10, 2025
Commitment on and to the Buddhist Path
When you think of diligence in a Buddhist context, you might think of the diligence required to meditate: to return to your practice day after day, and to return to the object of your attention when the mind wanders. As one of the paramis, or perfections to cultivate on the Buddhist path, diligence extends off the cushion into the way we live our lives; we must continually engage in wholesome activities and foster positive mental states.
Dedication is required but it need not be all hard work. As social practice artist Jessica Angima writes, “While diligence implies hard work, the wonderful thing is that we can place emphasis on ‘right’ and that means intuiting what feels skillful and useful to you.”
What might be most difficult is trusting yourself to know what is skillful for you at the moment, and trusting in yourself that you can do what is skillful. As ever, looking closely at what might keep you from practicing or living virtuously will create space from whatever is standing in your way, and the effort or energy will flow more easily.
This week’s Three Teachings explores obstacles to diligence and the rewards of overcoming them. | 
