THE PHIILOSOPHY OF MEDITATION - ALEXIS KARPOUZOS

The Paradox of Non-Striving in the Philosophy of Meditation: Agency, Awareness, and the Limits of Intentionality

Meditation, a practice rooted in contemplative traditions, presents a paradoxical challenge for philosophical inquiry. In meditation, practitioners often aim for a state of effortless awareness—a state free from striving and intentional effort. Yet, meditation as a practice seems to require intentional effort to reach such a state. This paradox raises crucial philosophical questions about the nature of agency, intentionality, and selfhood. This paper explores the paradox of non-striving by examining the philosophical implications of meditation across different traditions, including Buddhist, Daoist, and phenomenological perspectives. The paper argues that the paradox invites a rethinking of agency as a dynamic, non-dualistic skill and suggests that non-striving is not the negation of effort but the cultivation of an effortless, fluid relationship to the present moment. The study of meditation, therefore, offers new insights into the nature of conscious experience, intentionality, and the self, challenging traditional distinctions between effort and non-effort. Meditation has become an object of both popular interest and philosophical inquiry, particularly in recent years. Beyond its applications in therapeutic and mindfulness practices, meditation has a long tradition as a path to self-awareness and liberation. A central theme across many contemplative traditions is the cultivation of effortless awareness, a state in which the practitioner is present in the moment without striving or attachment to goals. This ideal of non-striving is, however, paradoxical: in order to achieve such a state, one must often engage in deliberate effort. This tension forms the central paradox of meditation: how can one strive to reach a state of non-striving? This paradox is not just a theoretical curiosity; it points to fundamental questions about the nature of agency, intentionality, and the self. In particular, it challenges the dominant Western conception of agency as intentional, goal-directed, and willful. By examining the paradox from a variety of philosophical perspectives, this paper aims to illuminate the deeper philosophical issues at play and to reconsider how meditation might offer a new understanding of agency, intentionality, and the nature of consciousness itself.

Theoretical Background: Defining Meditation and Non-Striving

Meditation, as a practice and a philosophy, is found in many different religious and spiritual traditions. While the specifics of practice vary widely, there are several key themes that emerge across traditions, most notably the cultivation of focused attention, heightened awareness, and a reduction of mental clutter. While meditation often begins with effortful techniques such as focusing on an object of attention or following prescribed instructions, the ultimate goal is typically the attainment of a state where mental activity unfolds effortlessly.

Buddhism: In both Zen and Theravāda traditions, meditation is seen as the path to liberation from suffering. Central to these practices is the notion of non-striving, a state of awareness free from attachment, desire, and grasping. The Buddha’s teaching of the Eightfold Path encourages right effort, but ultimately, the cessation of craving and striving is considered a sign of awakening.

Daoism: Daoist meditation, particularly in the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, emphasizes the concept of wu wei, or “effortless action.” The Daoist ideal is to live in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, acting spontaneously and without the force of will or conscious striving. In this view, striving to control or manipulate the world is seen as unnatural, and true wisdom arises from non-action.

Hinduism: Advaita Vedanta and Yoga traditions emphasize the transcendence of the individual self and the realization of non-duality. Meditation is a means of quieting the ego and achieving union with the divine or the ultimate reality. The concept of non-striving in these traditions is closely tied to the idea of surrender—letting go of personal desires and attachment to outcomes.

Contemporary Mindfulness: In modern Western contexts, meditation is often reduced to mindfulness practices aimed at reducing stress or improving emotional well-being. Non-striving in this context is generally interpreted as the cultivation of a present-moment awareness that allows the practitioner to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment or attachment.

Defining Non-Striving

The term "non-striving" refers to a state of awareness in which there is no forceful attempt to achieve or control outcomes. In the context of meditation, it typically involves an attitude of openness, acceptance, and ease in relation to whatever arises in the present moment. Non-striving is often framed as the goal of meditation practice—the cultivation of a state in which mental effort is replaced by natural, effortless awareness. While non-striving is a common goal in many traditions, it is paradoxical because meditation as a practice requires effort. To practice meditation is to engage in a deliberate, intentional act—whether by following the breath, repeating a mantra, or observing thoughts. The paradox arises because non-striving implies the absence of such effort, yet it is through effort that one attains non-striving. How can one strive to reach a state of non-striving?

The Paradox of Non-Striving: Philosophical Dimensions

Central to the paradox of non-striving is the issue of intentionality—the directedness of consciousness toward some object or goal. In classical Western philosophy, intentionality is often viewed as the defining characteristic of conscious experience. Conscious actions are thought to be driven by the agent's intentions—goals that the agent consciously seeks to achieve through their actions. Meditation, however, seems to involve a shift from this goal-oriented intentionality to a form of awareness that is non-intentional. Meditation often involves focusing on a particular object (such as the breath) or allowing thoughts to arise and pass away without interference. Yet, in advanced stages of meditation, the goal is often described as a state where attention is not directed toward any particular object, but rather remains open and receptive. This presents a challenge: Can a person intentionally pursue a state characterized by the absence of intention? The paradox of non-striving calls into question the conventional view that all actions must be directed by the will and intentional goals. It suggests that agency, in the context of meditation, may not always be intentional in the usual sense. Instead, it might involve a more passive form of agency—one in which the practitioner is not actively seeking to achieve anything, but is simply present to whatever arises in experience.

The Nature of Effort in Meditation

Meditation, as practiced in many traditions, involves a certain effort—the act of paying attention, of returning focus to an object, or of resisting distraction. However, the effort required in meditation is subtle and different from the kind of effort involved in everyday tasks. It is not goal-directed or forceful, but rather gentle and accommodating. This subtle effort is often described as the kind of effort that allows for an eventual letting go. In Buddhist meditation, for example, the practice of mindfulness begins with effort (attending to the breath, observing thoughts), but as the practitioner deepens their practice, the effort becomes more effortless. The paradox, however, is that the practitioner must first put forth effort to cultivate a state in which effortlessness arises. In this sense, non-striving is not the total absence of effort but the refinement of effort. As practitioners progress, the effort becomes more transparent, so that it no longer feels like effort at all. Effort, in this case, becomes less about exertion and more about attuning oneself to the present moment.

The Paradox of Practice: Striving to Let Go

The paradox of non-striving also arises from the self-referential nature of the instruction to "let go" or "stop striving." In order to achieve a state of non-striving, the practitioner is asked to stop striving, which seems like a contradiction. The very act of striving to achieve non-striving may prevent the practitioner from reaching the intended goal. This paradox is a common feature in many contemplative traditions, particularly in Zen Buddhism, where it is framed as a koan—a seemingly paradoxical riddle that cannot be solved through rational thought. Koans such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" or "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" are designed to short-circuit conventional modes of thinking and force the practitioner to experience a shift in consciousness. In this sense, the paradox is not something to be resolved intellectually, but something to be embodied. It is part of the path of meditation to experience the limits of conceptual thinking and to embrace a more direct, experiential form of awareness.

Meditation and the Self: The Dissolution of the Doer

A critical aspect of the paradox of non-striving is the relationship between meditation and the self. Many contemplative traditions teach that the sense of a fixed, independent self is an illusion—something that arises through mental attachment and identification. In meditation, this illusory sense of self is gradually dissolved. As practitioners continue their meditation practice, they often report a diminishing sense of self: thoughts and feelings arise, but there is no longer a fixed "I" that identifies with them. The self, in this view, is not an independent agent but a dynamic process—something that emerges in response to circumstances but is not a permanent, unchanging entity. This dissolution of the self has profound implications for the paradox of non-striving. If there is no permanent self to strive or to attain goals, then striving itself may be an illusion. In this sense, the paradox of non-striving is not a problem to be solved but a revelation: the act of striving is based on a mistaken belief in the permanence of the self. Meditation teaches that the self is not the agent of action; instead, action arises naturally when the self is not clinging to goals.

The Role of the Self in Agency

Meditation, particularly in Zen and Advaita Vedanta, often leads to the realization that agency is not rooted in a separate self but in the natural unfolding of experience. The paradox of non-striving reveals that agency does not require a distinct agent; rather, it is an expression of the interconnectedness of all things. This view aligns with the concept of interdependent origination in Buddhism, which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon conditions and that no phenomenon exists independently. In meditation, the sense of a separate self is gradually replaced by a more fluid, interconnected experience of agency. In this way, meditation challenges the traditional conception of agency as an autonomous, self-directed process.

Contemporary Responses to the Paradox of Non-Striving

Contemporary psychology and mindfulness-based practices have embraced meditation as a therapeutic tool, with an emphasis on stress reduction and emotional regulation. Research has shown that meditation can lead to significant changes in brain structure and function, particularly in areas related to attention, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. These findings suggest that the paradox of non-striving is not merely a philosophical concept but is deeply rooted in the neurobiology of the mind In mindfulness practices, non-striving is often understood as the cultivation of a non-judgmental awareness—an awareness that allows one to experience thoughts and feelings without identifying with them or reacting to them. In this sense, non-striving is seen not as an absence of effort, but as a different quality of engagement with experience. The practitioner strives to let go of attachment to outcomes, but without disengaging from the present moment.

Cognitive Science: Automaticity and Self-Regulation

From the perspective of cognitive science, meditation can be understood in terms of automaticity—the process by which actions become habitual and effortless with practice. As one meditates, the brain forms new neural pathways that make certain cognitive processes more efficient and automatic. For example, the ability to maintain attention or regulate emotions becomes more fluid and less effortful over time. This insight into the role of neuroplasticity in meditation suggests that non-striving is not a passive state but a trained skill—one that emerges as the brain becomes more efficient in its regulation of attention and emotional responses. The paradox, in this view, can be understood as the process of training the mind to shift from effortful, goal-directed thinking to a more fluid, natural state of awareness. The paradox of non-striving in meditation challenges conventional views of agency, intentionality, and selfhood. Meditation reveals that agency need not be understood as a rigid, goal-directed force but as a dynamic, skillful modulation of attention and awareness. Non-striving is not the negation of effort but a transformation of the relationship between the practitioner and their mental processes. By examining the paradox from various philosophical traditions and contemporary scientific perspectives, we see that meditation offers a new model of agency—one that is fluid, subtle, and free from attachment to goals. This shift in understanding invites a reconsideration of the nature of consciousness and the self, and highlights the potential for meditation to cultivate a more integrated, flexible form of agency that transcends the dichotomy between effort and non-effort. Ultimately, the paradox of non-striving is not something to be resolved but something to be lived. It is an invitation to explore a more authentic, fluid relationship with our mental states, free from the constraints of willful striving and attachment. Through this exploration, meditation offers profound insights into the nature of being and becoming.