Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Meditation - Why do we meditate?


Meditation

Why do we meditate?


Meditation is a means of quieting the active mind

and activating the quiet mind.



Mushin, Zenshin, Isshin, Busshin.

,  ,  ,   心.



It is a misconception that during meditation

we must stop thought.

It is a misconception that during meditation

we must control thought.

It is a misconception that during meditation

we must ignore thought.



During meditation, what is most important is that we refrain from initiating original thought. 



We are not responsible for the arrival of our thoughts and/or feelings. Thoughts and feelings are the result of us being present in an interactive state with the world around us. Thoughts and feelings flow constantly like the current of a mighty river. They come to us from every direction and from countless sources. Our responsibility begins once thoughts and feelings have arrived. They are now here... "what will we do with them?"

As we sit in meditation, we sit quietly as we await the calming of the mind. As we sit, as we await, as we refrain from initiating original thought, stray thoughts and feelings arrive like unexpected guests who visit our home. A guest is also a gift. Welcome the guest. Welcome the thoughts and feelings. Embrace them. Explore them. Understand them. Learn from them. Grow from them. Be present with the passing thoughts and feelings. Turn them over and under. Turn them forward and backward. View them from their inside and from their without. Observe them from all perspectives. They will stay for a non-determinate amount of time. 'And then, they will leave. When it is time for them to leave, let them go. 


"Let go", and embrace freedom.

Freedom from the desires of the self,

Freedom from the self itself,

is a freedom that must be given by the self to the self... Selflessly.


Mushin, Zenshin, Isshin, Busshin.

,   ,   ,   心.

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