| Growing a solid meditation practice takes | | | | pleasant experience, but the mind will stop of its |
| commitment, patience, and direction. The first one | | | | own volition when it is meant to do so. |
| is up to the meditator. The second one is up to | | | | As we allow the mind to move, we notice spaces |
| the Universe. The last one is where I can help. | | | | between the thoughts and space from which |
| Here are a four steps to creating a more solid | | | | these thoughts emerge and return. As we |
| practice: | | | | practice more, we find that this space becomes |
| 1) Drop the excuses; just sit! | | | | evident throughout the flow of thinking. This |
| 2) Allow the mind to think; that is its job. | | | | experience is called the "peace that passeth |
| 3) Notice the space in between the thoughts. | | | | understanding." It is here that we can begin to |
| 4) Practice gentle habituation. | | | | know our true essence and purpose. We practice |
| There are a myriad of reasons why we "can't" | | | | this "noticing." |
| practice. The truth is, that none of these reasons | | | | We train the mind to turn in toward the stillness |
| are valid. They are actually empty excuses. We | | | | through gently bringing our awareness to |
| must realize that the sustenance we nourish | | | | whatever medium is our practice. Whether it be |
| ourselves with through daily meditation is priceless | | | | the breath, a mantra, or some other technique, |
| and should be made the highest priority of our | | | | the most important point is that we innocently |
| day. If we awake with consciousness on the | | | | notice what is beyond all senses and perceptions. |
| mind, we are doing well. Our practice should be | | | | Gently encouraging our mind to turn back to our |
| put before any other form of nourishment. Only | | | | medium until we become quite familiar with the |
| in this way, will we truly sustain ourselves and live | | | | stillness is the way to habituate a new behavior in |
| the highest type of life we are meant to live. So, | | | | the brain. Wrestling with our mind will only hold us |
| we drop the excuses and just sit! | | | | back from truly experiencing the grace that |
| The mind is there to think thoughts. Since the | | | | awaits us in a more solid practice of meditation. |
| mind and body are a unit working together in | | | | We practice gentleness. |
| tandem, we can not stop the mind from thinking | | | | By keeping this commitment to practice and to |
| without giving the body what it needs to rest as | | | | allow room for the journey to unfold over time, |
| well. When the body is at work, so too is the | | | | the many benefits of meditation will grow. With |
| mind. Because the body is given proper time to | | | | the support of experienced guides, the results |
| throw off toxins and heal itself during meditation, | | | | more gracefully and quickly takes shape. We |
| the mind may be quite active. At some point, | | | | make our practice the most important thing in our |
| however, the body has been sufficiently healed | | | | lives, we allow rather than force or try, we |
| and is able to rest. When it does so, the mind is | | | | curiously notice where all movements of the mind |
| able to rest as well. So, it is not our job to try to | | | | come from and return to, and we practice being |
| still the mind when we meditate. It is our job to | | | | gentle. |
| observe movement and return back to | | | | Following these steps will foster a more solid |
| whichever medium we use to turn within. We do | | | | practice. Namaste. |
| not try to stop the mind. A still mind is a very | | | | |