Meditation

Today it may be difficult for someone wanting to learn how to meditate. There are all kinds of practices or activities with different techniques, methods or creations that may be called meditation, although these are usually intended to relieve someone from something in the form of relaxation. It just depends on what we are looking for.

If I need to relieve myself from stress or anxiety, then I need to learn how to relax. Relaxation may be something that is soothing, comforting, entertaining, some kind of relief or even something that is stimulating. At times, this may be a necessary part of my life. I may use or have aromas, music, or sounds. I may even imagine myself on a beach or in the mountains somewhere. This is relaxation. Sometimes this kind of relaxation may be something I need and all I want.

Playing music I like, playing sounds I like, guided meditations, smelling aromas I like and imagining being in places I like or where I would rather be is entertainment, stimulation, escape and not to mention creating an illusion of conditions. This is something that we constantly do already but this time we may add the word meditation to it and this kind of meditation would become dependent on these conditions.

Meditation is not about escape, entertainment, stimulation or relief. Meditation is not about day dreaming I am somewhere else. Meditation is not about quieting or silencing the mind as this is not possible If it was possible, I would be doing it all day long. The minds chatter is never ending. Meditation is about being with myself where I am, as I am, right now. Even the word “now” is not accurate and is sloppy, but it is the best description and direction.

If I want to meditate especially in the spiritual sense I start with nothing. The only instruction that I would give for meditation is do nothing. Just sit there. My only focus during meditation should be on what I am doing, which is sitting, right now. That’s it. Any sounds I hear who cares and listen at the same time. Any location I am in who cares and be there at the same time. Any chatter in the mind, who cares and let it chatter. With practice meditation does happen. I require nothing and I do nothing. It is that simple. I will find that just sitting may be very difficult at times only because my patterns are to keep me preoccupied, entertained, stimulated and busy. That is why I would add all those things. Without them, it was pure torture to just sit there. That is one reason I just sit there, is to teach myself to break these tendencies for the need to be constantly preoccupied. Real meditation is a push. To spend a few moments with myself seems to be something that is difficult and I would rather avoid.

There is nothing wrong with relaxation or meditation, just not at the same time. Relaxation is necessary and meditation is necessary. When it is time for me to relax – I relax. When it is time for me to meditate – I meditate. If I merge the two, I omit true meditation.