Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

their greed for things is converted to this alone, then
they may begin to think about saving others. They
should choose the highest view and the distant goal and
should not take things too easily. The highest benefit is
in the highest goal—Buddhahood. Smaller goals and
lesser ideals give lesser benefits.
I should warn meditators that before attaining
Enlightenment the benefit of quickly acquiring some
supposed signs of progress in practice may easily
become a hindrance. After one has gained such signs,
they may soon disappear and no amount of practice is
able to bring them back. The danger is that after this,
feeling discouraged, one gives up practice altogether.
This is very bad!
So much for the first question on the lust sorrow.
2. Is it possible, especially at the beginning, to try to
do too much meditation, which might result in some
mental strain or other trouble?
We may say that there is no need to do too much at the
beginning. There are some people who meditate with
the greedy desire that within a few days they will reach
Buddhahood. They want to get everything quickly, but
the practice of the seven-day Great Perfection (see Ch.
XIV, B) is the highest meditation and not meant for the
neophyte. The beginner should slowly and thoroughly
make the preparations we have described in this book,
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