Hour 17 Meditation – Effortless Effort – Relaxing into Awareness
Effortless Effort – Relaxing into Awareness
Introduction: The Paradox of Effortless Effort
One of the most insightful and paradoxical lessons that Osho teaches us about meditation is the idea of effortless effort. On the surface, the words “effort” and “effortlessness” appear to be antonyms. Yet Osho teaches us a new way of understanding these terms, demonstrating how both effort and ease can be present simultaneously, resulting in deep meditation.
In this lesson, we will discuss Osho’s concept of effortless effort, which is the subtle balance of letting go into meditation while still being aware. At the end of this lesson, you will have a better idea of how to live this paradox in your meditation practice.
The Nature of Effort in Meditation
Effort, in so much of life, comes with striving, struggling, and the need to control. Effort is typically what we imagine as the catalyst for achievement, something that involves willpower and force. Effort is even imposed by some traditional meditation approaches—where one is instructed to try to be still, to concentrate, and to force the mind to be quiet.
But Osho throws this idea into question, positing that effort in meditation must not be a strained, external pushing but an inner facet of letting be. Effort, in meditation, is not to battle the mind or deny its natural unfolding, but to prepare the ground for awareness to arise.
For Osho, the art of meditation is not to make the mind silent but to let the mind settle down naturally by relaxing. The effort in meditation is not an effort—it is a surrender in the present moment, a release from wanting to control or accomplish anything.
Effortlessness: The Art of Letting Go
Effortlessness is the antithesis of force and control. In meditation, effortlessness is the capacity to relax deeply, to let go of the tension of striving, and to simply be with what is. This is the place where real meditation occurs—when you are not trying to get somewhere but rather letting yourself be in the moment, without goal or agenda.
Osho teaches that meditation comes from relaxation, from a state of great surrender. The notion is that when you over-effort, you bring in inner resistance. This resistance holds back the natural state of meditation from happening. To actually meditate, according to Osho, you have to relax and drop the effort to control your thoughts, emotions, or the circumstance surrounding you.
Key Insight: Real meditation does not arise from trying, but from releasing—creating space for awareness to unfold naturally.
Effortless Effort: The Balance of Relaxation and Awareness
Osho’s idea of effortless effort can be interpreted as a subtle equilibrium between awareness and relaxation. Effort in meditation is not trying to do something forcefully; instead, it is the quality of presence and alertness while being utterly relaxed. It is the state of being fully aware yet being profoundly relaxed without the tension of trying to change anything.
Key Concept: Effortless effort is the coexistence of awareness and letting go. This contradictory harmony enables the mind to relax without getting dull and stay awake without getting tense.
1. Awareness as the Central Element
Awareness, according to Osho’s teachings, is the foundation of meditation. Awareness is not an activity you do but a state you are. Awareness is your original nature—the awakened, alert, and present state. Awareness involves no effort other than the capacity to remain present without distraction. Awareness is the natural state of the mind when it is unencumbered by the whirlpool of thought.
2. Relaxation as the Release of Effort
Relaxation, however, is the release of tension—the release of the conditioned need to control. It is not about imposition of stillness into the mind, but about letting stillness arise when the body and the mind are relaxed deep within.
Osho frequently employs the metaphor of the lotus flower, which opens naturally if it is left to bloom unhindered. Like the lotus, meditation opens when the mind is uncomplicated and without striving. Effortlessness is not non-action but rather non-resistance.
The Role of the Body in Effortless Effort
The physical body has an important role to play in making the state of effortlessness a reality. If the body itself is tightened, then it creates a rigidity in the mind too. So Osho emphasizes the relaxation of the body prior to and while meditating. The more you relax the body, the more the mind can spontaneously become effortless.
1. Relaxing the Body for Relaxing the Mind
Osho recommends that first, the body needs to relax before you can start meditating. This is done by simple methods such as soft stretching, breathing exercises, or simply sitting in a relaxed posture. The body has to be comfortable and relaxed for the mind to be so too.
2. Allowing the Body to Disappear
After you sit comfortably, Osho suggests that you begin to drop the body awareness. You don’t ignore the body, but you give a break to the attention from the body sensations and allow the body to be a means of meditation, not an obstacle.
The Role of Breath in Effortless Effort
According to Osho, the breath is a bridge between the body and the mind. The breath is the most natural beat in the body, and it is an always-present companion. Just by attending to the breath in a relaxed state, we can get the body and mind synchronized and into the state of effortless effort.
Osho recommends a non-efforting way of approaching the breath—neither forced control nor manipulation. Instead, you breathe naturally, allowing the breath to flow freely and deeply. This invites the mind to come into the present moment, without forcing the mind into stillness.
Key Concept: The breath, when seen effortlessly, becomes a point of focus for the mind, and you can enter into a relaxed state without tension.
The Power of Non-Doing in Meditation
Osho frequently talks about the idea of non-doing—the practice of releasing effort and control. Meditation, he believes, is not a matter of doing or achieving something. It is a matter of ceasing to do and slipping into a state of just being. This is where the paradox comes in: even though there is no striving, there remains awareness—the capacity to observe and watch without interference.
In this condition, the meditator is not actively doing anything. He is simply there, very much aware, but not in control. Non-doing is all about becoming passive in a creative and conscious manner.
Key Concept: Meditation is not a matter of doing, but a matter of being—being alert and relaxed effortlessly.
Key Points from Osho’s Understanding of Effortless Effort
Effort is not forcing: Effort in meditation is not to push the mind into quiet but let it quieten naturally.
Relaxation leads to meditation: Relaxation, not control or manipulation of the mind, is the basis for meditation.
Awareness is the essence of meditation: Meditation occurs when you are completely aware, completely present, without distraction.
Effortless effort is a contradiction: It is the subtle balance of being present while permitting the mind to release and become quiet.
Non-doing is key: Meditation isn’t about coming to a place of stillness through effort but permitting the original state of quietness to emerge unobstructed.
Conclusion: Incorporating Effortless Effort into Your Practice
Osho’s theory of effortless effort invites a complete revolution in how we do meditation. Instead of striving, forcing, or trying to control the mind, we are invited to deeply relax into awareness—a state of not-doing, not-striving, and sheer presence.
Integrating this into your practice is to release the need to accomplish and instead to simply let meditation unfold naturally. The more you ease into awareness, the easier your meditation will be.
As you move forward, keep in mind that meditation is not a matter of doing more, but releasing all that you feel you must do. Effortless effort is the art of being, where you are completely awake, aware, and at peace without having to try.
Questions to Reflect Upon
Consider the concept of “effortless effort.”
- How does it change your current definition of meditation?
- How can you incorporate relaxation into your practice of meditation?
- What methods have you employed to relax the body?
- Do you struggle with relinquishing effort during meditation? Why or why not?
- How does non-doing appear in your practice of meditation?
- How can you develop awareness without wanting to control the result of your practice?