Day By Day, Meticulous Work

Much of our spiritual practice, especially in the early stages, has to do with dismantling our habitual patterns and conditioning. This work, this practice, can be more difficult than we're able to imagine.

The illusion of the self is wrapped up in hundreds of threads of thought, activity, and posture. Our illusion is wrapped up in our way of doing things; our way of dealing with people, our way of working, our way of eating, our way of driving a car, playing with children, interacting with animals, appreciating the wilderness.

All of these dimensions of life are inundated with our habit patterns, patterns that are dualistic and associated with our conditioning.

The process of undoing our patterns is very gradual.

There are no grand experiences of clarity here, no world shattering discernments. It's day by day meticulous work.