| Do you want to become more spiritually | | | | state of consciousness all the time while washing |
| enlightened; feel more connected to the people | | | | the dishes, drifting off to sleep, walking in the |
| and things around you; or even relieve yourself of | | | | park, riding a roller coaster, using the bathroom... |
| mental and physical stress? One of the top | | | | You do not need to be taught how to be present. |
| recommendations for all of the above aspirations | | | | You merely need to learn to recognize what being |
| is meditate. But what does this mean exactly? | | | | present is in order to become a proficient |
| What is meditation? Images of some tranquil | | | | meditator. And to that end, consider this… |
| faced person, donned in relaxed attire, sitting in | | | | Think of a time in your experience when you felt |
| the lotus position is a commonly conjured | | | | wholly engrossed in the moment. When you felt |
| impression when thinking of the idea of meditation. | | | | completely engaged in whatever event was |
| And while such an image may indeed be apt, it | | | | before you for no other motive than you loved |
| unfortunately does very little to actually convey | | | | just being. You didn’t care about how things |
| an understanding about what meditation really is. | | | | were going, you weren’t trying to make |
| Pictures may only hint at meditative techniques | | | | anything happen, you had no agenda, you were |
| (or rather strategies which might make your mind | | | | worried about nothing, expecting nothing, |
| more conducive towards meditation). And while a | | | | regretting nothing, you weren’t dwelling |
| lot can be said for the benefits of any number of | | | | wistfully over times gone by or trying to distract |
| different meditative techniques, meditation is | | | | yourself from the experience of an unpleasant |
| strictly an internal activity. Which means pictures | | | | feeling. You were quite simply and unconditionally |
| have very little to offer as far as offering an | | | | enraptured with the moment; emotionally engaged |
| explanation as to what takes place in meditation. | | | | in what was going on before you yet mentally |
| Never confuse technique with intent; for though | | | | impartial about the outcome. You were just |
| there may be numerous methods of meditation, | | | | content to be. |
| the intent of meditation is always the same. Be | | | | Can you recall such a moment in your |
| present. Of all the many definitions of meditation | | | | experience? True these moments may be |
| (and yes there are plenty of them), the intent | | | | fleeting, they often whisk by us unappreciated, |
| that underscores them all is actually one. Be | | | | but I assure you we do all experience these |
| present. | | | | flashes. They occur everyday. The thing is to get |
| For example, let’s look at the following | | | | in the habit of noticing of them, acknowledging |
| definitions of meditation: | | | | them. These are the moments which show us |
| Meditation means “consciously directing your | | | | what it is to be present. Meditation is about |
| attention to alter your state of | | | | deliberately producing these moments. How do |
| consciousness.” | | | | you do this? The answer may seem vague, but |
| Question: What is this state of consciousness to | | | | it’s the one that’s most proper. You just |
| be realized? | | | | do it. |
| Answer: To be present. | | | | When you meditate you are making a conscious |
| “Meditation is a discipline in which one | | | | commitment to think in terms which will evoke |
| attempts to get beyond the conditioned, | | | | the experience of being present. Again, I cannot |
| ‘thinking’ mind into a deeper state of | | | | tell you how to do this, but I can assure you that |
| relaxation or awareness.” | | | | in your learning to recognize these moments as |
| Question: What is this deeper state of relaxation | | | | they involuntarily occur, you will instinctually |
| and / or awareness? | | | | become aware of what you need to do to |
| Answer: Being present. | | | | voluntarily make these experiences occur. |
| Meditation means “continuous thought and | | | | There is definitely no shortage of ideas on |
| reflection” or “intent observance.” | | | | meditative techniques “out there.” I say |
| Question: Continuous thought and reflection or | | | | go ahead and experiment with them to your |
| intent observance to what end? | | | | heart’s content. If you need to feel grounded |
| Answer: To being present. | | | | in a process of focusing on your breath or on |
| Be present. Be present Be present. That truly is | | | | chanting or whatever have you, that’s quite |
| all there really is to meditation. Simply be present. | | | | okay. Ritual is a good way to get yourself in the |
| But how does one go about being present? Now | | | | mood for meditation. Ritual is good practice for |
| this I cannot really explain to you. I’m actually | | | | meditation because practice is a precursor to |
| of the opinion that trying to teach someone how | | | | actually living out a desired experience. But in all |
| to meditate by telling them what to do is like | | | | your experimentation with these different |
| trying to teach someone how to swallow or inhale | | | | meditative techniques, might I suggest that you |
| by employing the same approach. Words are | | | | always remain mindful of the underlying intent of |
| inadequate to the task. Being present is just one | | | | what meditation is. Always be mindful that the |
| of those somethings that you will only understand | | | | objective is to be present. Also, as you are going |
| by getting a natural feel for it. What’s more, | | | | about your day, from this moment forward might |
| it is only by recognizing the experience of what | | | | I also suggest that you resolve to be diligent |
| being present is that you grow in your ability to | | | | about consciously acknowledging those moments |
| induce the meditative state at will. And even | | | | in your experience where you have unconsciously |
| though words may be inadequate to the task of | | | | slipped into a period of being present. These |
| explaining how to be present, words are | | | | acknowledgements will go a long way towards |
| extremely valuable in describing what it is to be | | | | teaching you the secret to meditation. They will |
| present. | | | | do more to this end than any amount of words |
| Being present is just as natural a tendency as | | | | could ever do. That’s what makes it such a |
| swallowing or inhaling. You fall into and out of this | | | | good secret. |