This inquiry relates to the themes explored in Freedom Without Escape.
The Reader's Inquiry
A reader from Pune writes: 'If freedom is already here and unconditioned, does that mean all spiritual discipline, sitting quietly, and studying texts is simply wasted effort? If so, why do traditional teachers emphasize practice?'
The Response
The paradox of effort is central to contemplative inquiry. Effort cannot produce that which is unconditioned. Anything created by effort has a beginning, and therefore an inevitable end. An enlightenment manufactured through five hours of daily sitting will last only as long as the sitting continues.
However, effort is not intended to create reality; it is intended to neutralize the momentum of false identification. Think of an unmoving thorn used to extract a thorn lodged in the foot. Once the thorn is removed, both thorns are discarded. Discipline does not unveil the Self; it calms the turbulent waters so that what was always at the riverbed becomes plainly visible.
Reader Correspondence
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