Buddhist Practice

By Victor M Fontane

The essence of practice has never been about the transformation of external forms; whether one shaves their head or grows their hair long, chooses simple clothing or extravagant attire, these are merely superficial differences that do not pertain to the true core of practice. The key lies in the ability to relinquish attachment to one’s self-image. The length of hair has never been a standard for practice; transcending dependence on "appearance" represents a genuine breakthrough. Deeply ingrained habits often conceal themselves within preferences for specific appearances, whether it be the aspiration for the purity of a shaved head, the obsession with fashion trends, or the fixation on minute aspects of hygiene. These seemingly mundane choices are, in fact, driven by psychological inertia. Understanding that all externalities are mere symbols will prevent practitioners from entrapping themselves with new forms along their path to practice. Modern neuroscience corroborates this idea: when an individual suddenly alters their appearance, the brain activates the prefrontal cortex, producing neural responses associated with breakthroughs in self-perception. This demonstrates that our fixation on self-image is essentially a result of the continuous strengthening and solidification of neural circuits in the brain, akin to repeatedly traversing the same small path, which eventually forms a fixed route.

True practice involves actively loosening and reconstructing these internal pathways, engaging in dialogue with our habits, and attempting to dismantle our default settings of self. In contrast to radical transformation, incremental desensitization training in daily life is often more effective. One might initially try to look in the mirror less frequently, gradually observing how their focus on their image loosens; subsequently, they may experiment with an extreme hairstyle to experience the difference between external evaluations and self-perception.

By progressing gradually, practitioners can ultimately experience a sense of freedom that transcends appearance. The same applies to clothing; whether one opts for simplicity or occasionally slips into old shoes, cleanliness and comfort suffice, and there is no need to avoid new or old trends. This practice of simple living symbolizes the process of redirecting attention from external forms back to the essence within. Hygiene habits can also adopt a similar approach. For instance, one might occasionally skip a day without bathing or brushing their teeth, observing the body's genuine reactions alongside the psychological discomfort that arises, recognizing that an excessive emphasis on "cleanliness" is merely a collective psychological tendency and may not even be beneficial from a microbiological perspective. Behavioral economics illustrates the default effect, indicating that the consolidation of repeated behaviors occurs because they have become ingrained in our psychological settings. If one can consciously design some "selective indulgence" practices into their daily routine, such as maintaining previous habits strictly for several days while completely breaking the rules at other times, comparative experiences can often more effectively loosen attachment.

To enhance self-awareness, one might try to take spontaneous notes to record small moments of emotional impact, not aiming for strict evaluations or check-ins but documenting instances like "today I felt irritable because my hair was messy" or "I felt envious when I saw someone’s new outfit." The significance of these records lies not in the outcomes, but in the clarity they provide upon reflection, allowing one to see the true nature of their attachments. Each discovery and recognition of one's attachments marks the beginning of their dissolution. The digital age presents new challenges for practice. As algorithms continuously promote idealized images and societal standards keep defining normal life, many practitioners may inadvertently develop new "tool dependencies" through checklists and data tools—monitoring "practice" can instead become a new form of self-identity. True freedom does not stem from the completion of lists or the number of methods practiced; rather, it arises when one is unencumbered mentally by all these forms, unshackled by any data, records, or external value judgments. Ultimately, all breakthroughs and experiments in forms serve as tests of the process of "effortless practice."

When we no longer deliberately pursue practice, emphasize letting go, or even forget that we are practicing non-attachment, we truly attain a profound sense of peace and tranquility. This aligns with the teachings of the Diamond Sutra, which states, "One should give rise to the mind without dwelling anywhere," and with Zhuangzi's idea of "the mind as a mirror," wherein consciousness reflects myriad phenomena without clinging to them. Whether immersed in the tumultuous flow of the digital age or experiencing the tranquility of daily life, one can find the purest freedom within the conditions arising, ultimately achieving a seamless unity of inner and outer completeness, unbound by external forms.