#116 Nonstriving (Quality 2)

       "Nonstriving = Non-goal oriented, remaining unattached to outcome or achievement, not forcing things."

       Cardaciotto L. Assessing Mindfulness: The Development of a Bi-Dimensional Measure of Awareness and Acceptance. PhD Thesis, Drexel University, 2005.

dspace.library.drexel.edu/retrieve/4264/Cardaciotto_LeeAnn.pdf

     This is probably THE most challenging, counter-intuitive, counter-cultural quality. Yet, the idea of "gaining" is considered by meditation teachers as perhaps the single greatest impediment to our happiness. "Only have no preferences" they advise ie let go of the simplistic idea "if only I can have / get / become X, then I'll be happy".
     A good example is people who take mindfulness (MBSR) courses because they suffer from chronic pain. If they remain focused on getting rid of their pain, they obtain little benefit. If instead they adopt mindfulness as a way of being, forgetting about trying to gain anything, their suffering diminishes.

Jon Kabat-Zinn "The Healing Power of Mindfulness - Part 1" at Dartmouth College (27min)