Trying to move past a bad habit, we might find now and then we have a lapse, smoking a cigarette or drinking a beer - the exact thing we were trying to avoid.
If we do lapse, we don’t have to relapse. That is, we don’t have to turn our smoking or drinking into a daily habit.
And if we do relapse, we don’t have to punish ourselves emotionally. Just as in meditation, when our attention wavers, all we need to do is bring it back to the point of focus. We return to the practice.
If we do find ourselves wandering the wayward path, that is fine. The spiritual path is patient, and it will always be there when we return. No mortal can say exactly where it leads, but it is likely somewhere glorious.
It’s fine to go back, to slip into old habits, to think that our distractions might give us satisfaction… But oh, is it wonderful to continue.
For the podcast: It's Fine to Go Back: Episode 305
