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On Meditation Let’s look at the common understanding of what meditation—in Buddhist terms, mindfulness— is and its effect. Meditation these days is perceived as a way of perfecting yourself so that you function on a higher level. Through the business model, we unite in striving, producing, and being better. We may start our interest in meditating from that place of wanting to perfect what we do. If that’s the motivation, that’s fine—but let’s not end there. Let it be a gateway to witnessing, shifting our attention to whatever we find in ourselves. Meditation is really watching who we are, how we function, what we do, and what motivates us. Meditation can’t fall into the concept of “the city of Joy” that we’re striving for. That if we work hard enough, then we can give ourselves an hour at the end of the day to be still. Then it’s in the category of reward. What’s the reward of meditation? What’s the return on investment of time and energy? If meditation falls under one more thing to do, forget it—you will never find your passion in it. Perfection is opposite to meditation. Passion is the driving force. Meditation actually allows space in you to be receptive to ancient, old beingness. You give yourself space to hang with yourself there. Witnessing is detecting disturbances. It’s not a cure-all; it’s a coming home to. It’s the soul saying, finally… she’s with me. In that way, the city of Joy already exists in you. The Eastern approach is that through meditation, you get into a high state of bliss. Finding bliss, an altered state of the high, one can sense it has always been there. You can feel it. And that you never lose—you merely forget that you have it within you. That sensation of being high, in an altered state, becomes the motivation. Because why wouldn’t you want to visit that place in you? It is natural to have the longing to return home. Out of that, the desire for an altered state has been the motivation for human beings to market and offer all other substitutes. In the Western World, we use alcohol, drugs, sex, and power to get into this altered state—and it’s become normal. The possibility of returning inward as an option has been forgotten, so we’ve substituted with alcohol and drugs. But that high attained can easily be lost. In this sense, meditation cannot be taught—it can only be experienced. You beyond you, me beyond me. We have moments where we catch ourselves. Meditation is extending those moments. Practice witnessing as a tool to healing. I invite you to find what is true for you. Find your passionate inspiration in the question: why do I meditate? There’s something about creating space for it together. The bliss of being in a sangha. Looking forward to being with you, either one-on-one, in the sangha we create, for an energetic house clearing, or via phone.
Satyam
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