One concept I struggle with both in my life, and in my understanding of the Buddhist teachings, is the distinction between detachment and apathy.

The Buddhist teachings push for emotional detachment from material possessions, careers, friends, and even one's own body. This isn't to say that you aren't supposed to have material possessions, careers or friends, but rather you must maintain a balanced outlook towards such things. Do not celebrate their arrival, and do not mourn their loss. A true understanding, or wisdom, of detachment can be achieved through a regular and consistent meditation practice. But in the mean time, how does one practice and cultivate detachment in day to day living?

Apathy is defined as "Lack of emotion of feeling; impassiveness." While this appears to be in line with the notion of detachment, there is a fine line between apathy and detachment.

I have to catch myself to make sure my motivations are not rooted in apathy. Am I avoiding doing something because I am afraid to do it, using detachment as a justification for the inaction? A decision to act or not act must be rooted in the tenets of one's own beliefs. While detachment is a central part of the Buddhist belief, I don't believe that it can be part of a decision to act or not. Instead, detachment dictates how one responds to events that are occurring. For example, succeeding in business can evoke feelings of elation and happiness, but the same event viewed through the eyes of detachment would realize the success for what it truly is, and would evoke no such feelings.

Apathy is part of the decision to act, and affects motivation, while detachment dictates how one views events that are transpiring. One should not be confused for the other.