Unburdened with Duties
The article on Simplicity talked about the value of simplicity as a support all along the path of practice. The opening lines of the Mettā Sutta were used as an example of specific ways to manifest simplicity. Here, we unpack one of those phrases more fully to reveal different dimensions. The phrase is unburdened with duties. It describes a person who is skilled in goodness and who knows how to live peacefully.
Reducing busyness – and being willing to do less
We might take the phrase somewhat literally to refer to a person who has few duties – or fewer duties than they do now. Many practitioners long for a simpler life characterized by non-busyness. Laypeople typically have to go through phases of life that carry many responsibilities, such as care for children or elders, or the peak years of a career. As the Dharma becomes important in their life, people may deliberately simplify, for example, choosing a less demanding job even at the cost of some income. Reducing duties can take conscious effort, perhaps over years.
For some, moving in the direction of reducing busyness entails deep inner work. There can be strong attachment to being a “doer,” a responsible person, or an achiever. Sometimes involvement in many activities is used as a way to avoid self-reflection or uncomfortable feelings. Being “unburdened with duties” might feel like failure or might bring up deep fears.
My teacher once said, “No one ever got enlightened by keeping busy.” Are we willing to not be busy? To have a whole afternoon – or a whole week – with nothing on the calendar? Just space to let the day unfold as it does.
The Dharma needs space to grow in our heart. If we have no open time in our life, the Dharma is stifled from taking root and flourishing in our being. Part of practice is learning to give the Dharma some breathing room and being open to what emerges from that.
Non-burden in itself
“Unburdened with duties” could also mean the case of having (quite a few) duties, but simply not being burdened by them. If we reflect a bit, most of us can think of someone we know who handles many responsibilities with a wonderful air of lightness. Perhaps they are doing even more than we are, yet also seem more energetic and positive than we sometimes feel. (And in contrast, with reflection, most of us can think of someone we know who has relatively few duties, but relates to them as heavy burdens).
In some sense, “burden” is a mindset. To be human is to have some tasks to do that are unpleasant. Whether we turn that into irritation, frustration, reluctance, or procrastination is up to us. It is remarkable how our grumbling about a task and our aversive manner of doing it can weigh us down tenfold compared to simply doing it without resistance and being done.
A helpful approach is to get very clear on our priorities. We can choose to put values such as mindfulness, kindness, clarity, and ease to the forefront, even when we have many things to do. We can elevate our practice to the highest importance, such that falling into feelings of burden would not make sense in light of our valuing of practice.
MN 48 says that the “character of one with right view” includes this attitude: “Although he may be active in various matters for his companions in the spiritual life, yet he has a keen regard for training in the higher virtue, training in the higher mind, and training in the higher wisdom.” Such a person would be unburdened with their duties.
Opening the heart
Let us not forget that this phrase appears in the Mettā Sutta, the Buddha’s words on goodwill or lovingkindness. Being unburdened with duties is thus associated with opening the heart and relating well to others. It partakes of ethics and kindness.
This creates the “path of peace” to which the discourse also refers.
The article on Simplicity talked about the value of simplicity as a support all along the path of practice. The opening lines of the Mettā Sutta were used as an example of specific ways to manifest simplicity. Here, we unpack one of those phrases more fully to reveal different dimensions. The phrase is unburdened with duties. It describes a person who is skilled in goodness and who knows how to live peacefully.
Reducing busyness – and being willing to do less
We might take the phrase somewhat literally to refer to a person who has few duties – or fewer duties than they do now. Many practitioners long for a simpler life characterized by non-busyness. Laypeople typically have to go through phases of life that carry many responsibilities, such as care for children or elders, or the peak years of a career. As the Dharma becomes important in their life, people may deliberately simplify, for example, choosing a less demanding job even at the cost of some income. Reducing duties can take conscious effort, perhaps over years.
For some, moving in the direction of reducing busyness entails deep inner work. There can be strong attachment to being a “doer,” a responsible person, or an achiever. Sometimes involvement in many activities is used as a way to avoid self-reflection or uncomfortable feelings. Being “unburdened with duties” might feel like failure or might bring up deep fears.
My teacher once said, “No one ever got enlightened by keeping busy.” Are we willing to not be busy? To have a whole afternoon – or a whole week – with nothing on the calendar? Just space to let the day unfold as it does.
The Dharma needs space to grow in our heart. If we have no open time in our life, the Dharma is stifled from taking root and flourishing in our being. Part of practice is learning to give the Dharma some breathing room and being open to what emerges from that.
Non-burden in itself
“Unburdened with duties” could also mean the case of having (quite a few) duties, but simply not being burdened by them. If we reflect a bit, most of us can think of someone we know who handles many responsibilities with a wonderful air of lightness. Perhaps they are doing even more than we are, yet also seem more energetic and positive than we sometimes feel. (And in contrast, with reflection, most of us can think of someone we know who has relatively few duties, but relates to them as heavy burdens).
In some sense, “burden” is a mindset. To be human is to have some tasks to do that are unpleasant. Whether we turn that into irritation, frustration, reluctance, or procrastination is up to us. It is remarkable how our grumbling about a task and our aversive manner of doing it can weigh us down tenfold compared to simply doing it without resistance and being done.
A helpful approach is to get very clear on our priorities. We can choose to put values such as mindfulness, kindness, clarity, and ease to the forefront, even when we have many things to do. We can elevate our practice to the highest importance, such that falling into feelings of burden would not make sense in light of our valuing of practice.
MN 48 says that the “character of one with right view” includes this attitude: “Although he may be active in various matters for his companions in the spiritual life, yet he has a keen regard for training in the higher virtue, training in the higher mind, and training in the higher wisdom.” Such a person would be unburdened with their duties.
Opening the heart
Let us not forget that this phrase appears in the Mettā Sutta, the Buddha’s words on goodwill or lovingkindness. Being unburdened with duties is thus associated with opening the heart and relating well to others. It partakes of ethics and kindness.
This creates the “path of peace” to which the discourse also refers.
