Meditation: The Art of Living
7 insights about meditation
1. Meditation is universal.
Meditation is a non-secular technique, not requiring any faith or belief. To paraphrase S.N Goenka, there is no Buddhist stillness, or Muslim stillness, or atheist stillness. Stillness is stillness! This is a directly observable fact. Presence is not a religion.
2. Meditation is a microcosm of life itself.
When we meditate, we observe things on a mental, physical and emotional level arise and subside. We notice that all of these things are temporary; they come and go, as with all things in life.
Meditation also teaches us that happiness is in the now. If we’re just waiting for our meditation to be over, we have the underlying belief that happiness lies elsewhere, like hamsters on a wheel. "I’ll be happy when I get that job. I’ll be happy when I find that perfect person. I’ll be happy when this meditation ends."
3. Meditation is selfish selflessness.
Meditation is a way to help ourselves first before we help others. And this is essential. If we’re not giving ourselves time to love ourselves first, then what are we putting out into the world?
After all, how many dentists do you know that are too busy to brush their own teeth?
4. Every meditation is a love letter to the Supreme - especially when it doesn’t seem like a good session.
I have sits where my mind won’t stop chattering, and others where I’m in deep trance. Both are equally perfect. The Universe recognises our intention, and as long as we’re honestly trying our best to observe, then there’s no need to berate ourselves for how the meditation went.
Make the effort your business, and leave the outcome to the Universe.
5. Meditation can be the time we allow for our darkness to be heard.
Boredom… depression… anxious thoughts… whatever it may be. Notice it and let it be for that time. We usually drown it out with mobile phones, alcohol, masturbation, and hundreds of other stimuli.
If we don’t allow the darkness into the home of our mind and pay it loving attention from time to time, it will eventually break the windows to try and get in.
We have both darkness and light within us.
To love life in its totality, we must love and accept all of ourselves.
6. Meditation cultivates the art of surrender.
Got an itch? That’s okay.
Pain in your ankle from sitting? That’s okay.
Feeling bliss? That’s okay.
Just watch everything come and go. We don’t need to control. What will be will be.
Yes, we have the power to change our circumstances in life. But what if we find ourselves in situations that we can’t change? Meditation teaches us to accept our present reality as it is with detached observation.
We are the sky, not the passing clouds.
7. Meditation is not the only path to God-Consciousness.
Spirituality cannot be put into a box. There are dozens of 'formally' spiritual practices, including self inquiry, mantras, yoga, prayer, shaktipat, self reflection, shamanic work, reading holy books, contemplation, pranayama, the Knowledge Book, practicing gratitude, reiki, kirtan, tantra and so much more. Meditation in itself has dozens of varieties.
And yet, even if we’re doing none of this, this doesn’t make us "not spiritual." We are all spiritual beings having a human experience.
Dance, therapy, sports, art, journaling, music relationships, cooking. All of these things (and absolutely anything else in life, including suffering) can be practices that foster spiritual growth.
Yes, meditation is what has resonated with me on my journey, and has been a vehicle to explore the Ultimate Reality. But do what resonates with you. Your spiritual path is unique to you.
