Q&A with Mary: Meditation
Q: I have been trying to sit in meditation on a daily basis, but I feel stuck that I’m not doing it right, since my mind wanders quite a bit and I get uncomfortable and distracted from sitting too long. I can’t reach the place of true peace and euphoria that people say you get when meditating. Are there any tools you can provide me to help me with this dilemma?
A: Meditation is simply a tool to reach a state of total awareness. That is actually the whole point of it all. In meditation, you place yourself in a state of readiness to experience this total awareness while your body is in a wakened state. This state of readiness is called true wakefulness, which is what people have described to you as this place of true peace and euphoria.
But you do not have to do sitting meditation in order to experience it. In fact, sitting meditation is not the only kind of meditation there is. There is also stopping meditation. Walking meditation. Doing meditation. These, too, are ways to get to that state of true wakefulness. Allow me to explain.
Wherever you go, simply stop in your tracks, stop going where you are going, stop doing what you are doing, just stop for a moment, and just be right where you are. Stopping, just for a moment, is enough. You look around and notice things you did not notice while you were passing them by. The deep smell of the earth just after the rains. The cool breeze of the wind on your face. The beauty and simplicity of a flower. This is meditation--this is the state of true wakefulness.
When you walk in this state, you breathe in every flower, you fly with every bird, you feel every crunch beneath your feet. You find beauty and wisdom. For wisdom is found where beauty is formed everywhere, out of all the stuff of life. You do not have to seek it. It will come to you.
And when you ‘do’ in this state, you turn whatever you are doing into a meditation, into a state of being, of present moment awareness. Washing dishes, you enjoy the warmth of the water caressing your hands, and marvel at the wonder of both water, and warmth. Working at your computer, you see the words appear on the screen in front of you in response to the command of your fingers, and exhilarate over the power of the mind and body, when it is harnessed to do your bidding, Preparing dinner, you feel the love of the universe which brought you this nourishment and, as your return gift, pour into the making of this meal all the love of your being. It does not matter how extravagant or how simple the meal is. Soup can be loved into deliciousness.
When you are in readiness, your are in wakefulness. A smile can take you there A simple smile. Just stop everything for one moment and smile. At nothing. Just because it feels good. Breathing is another tool. Breathe long and deep. Breathe slowly and gently. Breathe in the soft sweet nothingness of life, so full of energy, so full of love. You are meditating now, for you are fully living in the present moment, the state of total wakefulness and awareness.
So no need to sit still, or even at all. Perhaps sitting meditation doesn’t work for you and that is ok. You can reach a state of peace any time, any where without having to sit at all. Just simply use the tools above or find another tool that works best for you. Whatever helps you get to that present moment awareness, that is meditation, and you are then meditating. Hope that helps. Good luck and happy meditating!!
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