Have you made any of the following statements to yourself about meditation?
- "I tried to meditate, but I just couldn't do it."
- "Every time I try to meditate, my mind gets all noisy."
- "As soon as I started to meditate, I started thinking and thinking and thinking - it actually got worse than before I tried."
- "I really tried to meditate a few times, but it doesn't work. There must be something wrong with it, or me."
So You Think You Can't Meditate?
As a meditation teacher and practitioner for more than 30 years, the most common experience and complaint from beginning students is, "I tried to meditate, but I just couldn't do it." To this, my response is consistent, absolute and certain: "Oh, yes you can meditate." After a few moments of gentle instruction, the student is sitting quietly in meditation. After the meditation experience, she'll often have a big grin on her face. Or he'll be just so quiet and still, experiencing the peaceful energy - often for the first time.
The Reason You Can't Meditate
The reason you can't meditate is simple: you unknowingly measured meditation "success" incorrectly. Meditation is the process of sitting quietly and watching the mind. Your very presence is all that is required and all that is ever asked for. By virtue of "showing up" for meditation, you have succeeded. Finally, you will eventually learn and master meditation techniques as you practice and advance in meditation. Every level is an advanced level in comparison to where you last were.
First things first – before you meditate, do the following:
- inwardly prepare yourself before the meditation class or session begins
- consciously offer yourself fully to the meditation session
- offer whatever is going on inside of you to be purified in the meditation session
- be patient with yourself and with the process
- release all expectations of what you think meditation should be - each session is unique
- realize whatever you experience is the correct experience for you at this time
- most importantly, do not resist any thoughts you may have
- do not resist any inner movements of energy
- if you have a beautiful and quiet meditation, that is as valid as a noisy meditation, and vice versa
Simple meditation instructions: you can do It:
- sit comfortably on the floor or a chair
- take a breath, exhale, repeat
- get into the habit of beginning each session with an inner blessing or prayer of your choice
- simply watch the mind - if you have thoughts, let them be, and do not react or resist in any way
- if your mind is noisy, let the noise be, it will eventually quiet down, or not
- the key is to not react to the disturbed mind - this only augments the disturbances
- if your mind is peaceful and quiet, simply experience the peace and quiet
- sit for 10, 15, or 20 minutes and do not force anything
- take a breath, exhale, inwardly bow, and give thanks
- do not spill "the milk of meditation" - maintain inner quietude, even in activity
The Beauty of Meditation
Long-term practice of meditation will result in cleaning up your inner and outer life. The process of offering yourself to the fire of meditation for purification and happiness is no less than astounding. You will experience subtle changes, such as being able to sit quietly in a loud crowd or enjoying your own company more than you might have ever known possible. As the inner turmoil turns into peace, you will find a sanctuary within yourself. Meditation is simply the opportunity to learn to practice quieting your thoughts while you sit in a quiet and controlled environment. In reality, meditation is a stepping stone to the real work of remaining peaceful and balanced while you interact with the world around you.
The Path to Unconditional Happiness
Steven Scott Hale - Steven Scott Hale, M.Ed., J.D. I write on a variety of topics. Primarily I write content for lawyer's websites. Other topics include ...
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