Question: “Hello, how do I deal with the constant urge to do more? Referring to my spiritual practice… I meditate, pray, journal (daily) and have so many books I feel I need to read and teachings and concepts I’d like to learn. It actually gets overwhelming! It’s beautiful to have access to all this but it stresses me out. Because I always feel the urge to take on more and then sort of burnout. How can I keep my practice simple? Thanks”
You’re in what’s usually called “the honeymoon phase,” where everything is still bright and shiny, beautiful and amazing. And that’s fine if we have a new gadget or a car or something. But when it comes to something as complex as a religion or philosophy, you can’t go all in at once and expect to to show it off any time soon.
You have to pace yourself. It might be hard or confusing because there’s no much information that it might be hard to figure out where to start, but slow and steady will create the best outcome. I have shelves and over 100 books just sitting there. Many I have not even read yet. I have been studying Buddhism for about 12 years now and only recently have I gotten a solid grasp on some pretty complex teachings.
It is never a good idea to try to jump in and drown yourself with reading a dozen books a week and trying to understand everything all at once. Doing this will actually do the exact opposite; it will only confuse you more and create doubt. Instead, and this is the way I learned and will always guide others to learn, is to always first start with the Four Nobles Truths and Eightfold Path. Each Truth and Path is studied a month, so that will take one year. Don’t think that the Truths and Paths are simple enough that it won’t take a full month. The teachings and practices go way beyond than just “life is suffering.”
Then start the second year with learning the 12 Links of Dependent Origination, again one a month. Of course, continue practicing meditation, as you will need to meditate and contemplate on each topic as you’re learning them.
At the end of the second year, you have a very strong understanding of the fundamentals of Buddhism, because it is these teachings that are the pillars to all the other teachings you will study. From there, you can begin focusing on more specific teachings or sutras.
This is honestly the best way to practice. That way you are focused and concentrating on only one thing and don’t have to worry about what you need to read or study next. This way we are not overwhelming ourselves or stressing ourselves out.
Don’t feel like you “have to do more.” If you think that way, then your intentions to study and practice Buddhism are not pure. Instead, it will seem as if you’re just trying to cram as much information as you can to show off your half-understood knowledge.
Patience is very important. If you are not patient with yourself, you will only anger and doubt yourself.
Smile and be well!