Meditation

Meditation is a difficult word to define. For some people it is a state of mind, for some a state of being. For some it is something you do, a technique or practice, for others it is something that happens when you don't do anything.

So it has been as flexible as a word can be, and because of this it is adaptable to many situations. But maybe we can remember that it doesn't mean the same thing to all people all of the time.

You should be able to find people near you who practice meditation, most towns and cities have a weekly sitting group. Here you will be able to get some basic directions, and a place to practice with like-minded people. There may also be some discussions, and if you're fortunate there may even be interest in taking this practice out into the world. That's where it really becomes interesting

Alternatively you could find a meditation centre near you, it's just a web search away.

I'm not immediately suggesting other ways of learning meditation, because direct experience seems to be the best way of learning. And the main component needed for learning how to meditate is not knowledge but environment. We need a calm, clear space into which we can allow ourselves to relax into the presence of non-doing.

What is Meditation

So I'll no longer sit on the fence with an undefined word. Meditation is an unwavering resting into awareness. Simply being. Right here and now.

We live rather busy, and overloaded lives. We are often in such a rush to get all the things we need to do done, we lose a sense of living as a human being, and act like a human doing.

Meditation is the coming back to this moment. As the saying goes; "Don't just do something, sit there!" Rather than filling every moment of our day, let us schedule an unbreakable commitment to do nothing at all. Then let us fill that appointment with complete dedication to uncovering what is, when there is no doing, and who are we when we are not the doer.

Meditation is stepping out of the rapid flow of a life in a hurry, and standing for a moment beside the raging flood. Over time this will affect our sense of identity, freeing us up to feel ourselves as more than an individual sack of skin at risk of harm.

Identity without Crisis

Who are you?

Who do you feel yourself to be? It is a complex question, for which we should have a dynamic answer. For to have a fixed response means we are not able to take the pulse of the moment and actually respond from here and now.

Is it Egotistical?

Much of the process of meditation may seem repulsive to someone who sees so much unfairness and cruelty in the world. They might ask; how can you invest your precious time in navel gazing, when your human life could be used to bring real change?

Hopefully you can respond to them with real attentiveness and concern, with no interest in being right. And with genuine honesty, you may find it possible to explain that by working on yourself you are more able to help others. Just as others may be helping others as a way of improving themselves.

For it is many people's experience that they find both these paths support each other.

Going Deeper with Meditation

In case you would like to read more about this art of being, we've collected a few interesting links to look at.

One of our favourite teachers is Pema Chodron and on her site there are many interesting articles developed from teachings she has given on her retreats. These one's stood out as worth a look.

Pema Chodron - Waking Up to Your World

Pema Chodron - Buddhist Meditation is Relaxing with the Truth

This is an explanation from the Tibetan tradition of Sogyal Rinpoche Rigpa - What is meditation?

Here is an interesting article written free from typical ideological influence posted at LifeHacker - Meditate Without Sitting Still: Turn Everyday Actions into a Practice
The links posted through the article are also worth looking at.

For those who want a second opinion visit BuddhaMind - An abundance of text on Meditation