Speed

From LabelingThoughts

Speed and speediness and speedy are used casually as a way of describing one's mind as discursive and more unusually as a way of talking about the laziness obstacle to shamatha meditation. In the latter usage, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche described speed as a particularly western form of laziness. He discussed this both in terms of an obstacle to practicing — that we're so busy we have no time to meditate — and also in how we relate to the basic space of being off the cushion. The discomfort of experiencing space inspires speed, which is a way of covering up the basic space of being. Therefore, speed relates to a lack of appreciation for the basic space, our situation, and our sense of being.

See also

• Exertion
• Laziness
• Stress

Further reading

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Trungpa, Chögyam (1975) 1975 Hinayana Mahayana Seminary Transcripts

page 61

(in Q&A about karma and the nidanas) in discussing suffering, a students asks if a basic tension we experience is almost a "basic speed". Rinpoche thought so and that it relates to the second nidana and a sense of inadequacy, that we want to have someone to fight with and create something more interesting than just being by oneself and nakedly exposed.

Trungpa, Chögyam (1979) 1979 Seminary Transcripts

page 22

in a discussion on the six obstacles to shamatha practice, the first obstacle is laziness, which in the western tradition is speed: thinking that one needs to run around and do a hundred things at once and that one will achieve a lot that way. This is from a lack of appreciation for one's being and for one's existence. And then sitting down to practice feels too heavy and a burden, and not something we want to relate with. So exertion becomes heavy, instead of being a sense of appreciate or enthusiasm, or a sense of joy in just sitting simply. Best to not make a competition out of it or a struggle or endurance test, therefore.

page 26

poisonous aspect of activity comes from our speed, aggression, desire and wantingness. this is in a Q&A discussing formal eating in the shrine room during programs.

page 30

in discussing the obstacles again, whenever we feel tremendous speed that can be a reminder to wake up; we can develop an early warning alarm system.

Trungpa, Chögyam (1982) 1982 Seminary Transcripts

page 36

in explaining yama mara, Rinpoche describes a connection to speed and wanting the constant death of the current moment and arrival of the next situation.

page 112

in a chapter on exertion, Rinpoche contrasts exertion with speediness: that it is not geared toward speediness and overcoming laziness is not becoming speedy in an "American sense" but rather it means a consistent, continuous and being faithful to the practice which allows you to have a sense of joy instead of duty. He also talks about having it in your blood and your being.