The Three Kinds of Laziness

And techniques to overcome them, from a beloved Buddhist nun

Credit: Juan Pablo Rojas Parra/Getty

Laziness is a common human trait. Unfortunately, it inhibits wakeful energy and undermines our con­fidence and strength. There are three kinds of laziness: comfort orientation, loss of heart, and “couldn’t care less.” These are three ways that we become stuck in debilitating habitual patterns. Ex­ploring them with curiosity, however, dissolves their power.

The first kind of laziness, comfort orientation, is based on our tendency to avoid inconvenience. We want to take a rest, to give ourselves a break. But soothing ourselves, lulling ourselves, be­comes a habit, and we become jaded and lazy. If it’s raining, we drive half a block rather than get wet. At the first hint of heat, we turn on the air conditioner. At the first threat of cold, we turn up the heat. In this way we lose touch with the texture of life. We trust the quick “upper” and become accustomed to automatic results.

This particular brand of laziness can make us aggressive. We become outraged at inconvenience. When the car doesn’t work, when we lose our water or electric service, when we have to sit on the cold ground without padding, we explode. Comfort ori­entation dulls our appreciation of smells and sights and sounds. It also makes us dissatisfied. Somehow we always know in our…