I’ve spent a lot of energy on avoidance. It all began in my early life when I learned how important it was to stay out of trouble. So much of my younger years was structured on avoidance. I did so much more than avoid doing the wrong things, getting hurt, causing people to get upset. But I also got pretty good at avoidance. It was an appealing strategy to avoid undesirable things.
My early spiritual guidance was in a Catholic grade school, and was mostly based on sin avoidance. Already as a seven-year old, I had learned the importance and urgency of avoiding anything that would send me to hell. I was grateful for the opportunity of Confession and the chance to be forgiven for all my failures to avoid sin and the occasion of sin.
I recognize that the important theme of avoidance didn’t stop as I got older. It has continued into today, but has less of a hold on me than it once did. I still buy insurance to avoid the consequences of future perils, real or imagined. My reading yesterday was full of admonitions to avoid anything that resembles racism. Being anti-racist has a different kind of avoidance urgency than Black Lives Matter.
Even the five Mindfulness Trainings used by my Sangha and by my Arise group are dominated by cautions of avoiding unethical behavior. Especially the third Mindfulness Training on Love and Sex is a serious recitation of behaviors to be avoided.
I take some comfort in knowing that I have learned an approach to deep concentration that does not focus on avoidance. My teacher has identified five hindrances that might interfere with concentration. They are acknowledged as stupor, doubt, aversion, restlessness and sensual desire. Rather than attacking or avoiding these hindrances, the teaching is to develop positive antidotes that promote concentration and insight. I like that approach.
I appreciate the value of avoiding whatever leads to undesirable consequences. I am all for avoiding what leads to suffering. Just the same, I prefer a path that is more about embracing life than avoiding life’s perils.