What Things Don’t Get Better With Practice? – Modern Koans

Question: What Things Don’t Get Better With Practice?

Response: Mastery through repetition is a technique that we use to teach a skill.  In this arrangement, there is a goal or something to measure success against.  For instance when we learn to tie our shoes, the measurement might be two well-formed loops that come apart easily when one end of the string is pulled. Most mental and physical activities have a purpose or goal.

What could possibly be exempt from purpose?  I think there is only one thing; not doing or just being.  Anything that is free from a particular end or goal eludes qualitative measurement.  If you’re not expecting anything, there’s nothing to compare with the outcome.  Some good examples of this are certain types of meditation.  Sitting and counting our breath – the most fundamental technique– being the first that comes to mind. Gently noticing and letting go of thoughts, sensations, and so on has no end or purpose.

So why are so many people so focused on using meditation to improve their lives?  Mindfulness is a cure for everything nowadays.  It seems to me that if people are meditating with a goal in mind, there is an expectation of improvement.  But how can you improve doing nothing?

There’s an interesting question underneath yours which I’ll ask. How can doing nothing improve your life?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Modern Koans is an ongoing series that recognizes that good questions are often more important then their answers.

The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man. ― G.K. Chesterton

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The post What Things Don’t Get Better With Practice? – Modern Koans written by Andrew Furst appeared on Andrew Furst.