| As a meditation guide and coach, I've heard this | | | | simple truths that I have discovered that have |
| line many times, "I just want to relax." Many | | | | helped me to accept this arrangement. |
| people are frustrated because when they try to | | | | First of all, the old saying, "When the pupil is |
| learn how to meditate to relax, the group or | | | | ready, the teacher will appear." That means that |
| meditation leader eventually tries to indoctrinate | | | | the pupil is at a place where he or she is ready |
| with his or her personal spiritual beliefs. It can be a | | | | for personal inner exploration. Only the pupil can |
| frustrating experience for someone who has | | | | access his or her own feelings and thoughts, I am |
| started to make progress with his or her | | | | merely a guide that helps him or her to get into |
| meditation practice to have the person who leads | | | | the right frame of mind and to physically relax. |
| the group turn it into a quasi-religious experience. | | | | Secondly, there are as many realities as there are |
| For that reason, even though meditation is part of | | | | human beings. No two people have exactly the |
| my own spiritual experience, I always ask my | | | | same viewpoint of the world. Each one sees the |
| students what they want. It seems so simple and | | | | world through his or her own eyes and unique |
| makes sense when you think about it. It is so | | | | experiences. In a universe so vast the human |
| hard to give someone what they don't want and | | | | mind cannot comprehend it, with room for billions |
| so easy to get them to accept what they do | | | | or perhaps trillions of stars, there is also room for |
| want. Not only that, I am honored to be given the | | | | each one of us to have his or her own personal |
| opportunity to share the wonderful experience of | | | | reality. It is also possible for each one of us to |
| meditation with my students. I know that | | | | have his or her own personal meditation |
| meditation is personal inner exploration. Therefore, | | | | experiences. |
| it is totally dependent upon the individual's needs | | | | The ability to relax deeply and completely is a |
| and not my opinion of what he or she may need. | | | | wonderful gift and a great accomplishment. People |
| For that reason, I like to call my meditation | | | | who can relax are naturally healthier and happier. |
| classes, "student-centered meditation." That simply | | | | It is a wonderful place to start your own personal |
| means that the student's needs and desires are | | | | self improvement program wherever that may |
| put before my own opinions. There are a few | | | | lead you. |