Meditation is...

[olmate]

Driving back to the office a short while ago I listened to a facinating interview with John Kabat-Zinn on the topic of meditation on the radio. John is a medical doctor. Some of the thoughts that stuck with me are... meditation is:

1. not that easy but very simple;

2. about inhabiting your life fully with awareness, so that you're not missing your moments but actually really living them fully in the present, which is the only time any of us ever have.

3. really about paying attention to the ongoing unfolding life experience, moment by moment.

4. really about tuning in, through our various senses, coming to our senses literally and metophorically.

5. not about pure bliss because bliss is in the beauty of being alive.

6. an act of loving kindness towards oneself.

7. more of a way of being than an operationalising of a technique.

8. a way to "fall awake". That is pay attention to our own mind and our own awareness.

9. a way of putting out the welcome mat for all of the sensations we experience - across the spectrum of pain and pleasure. This helps us to hold the sensation in awareness rather than as an emotion.

10. a pathway to mindfulness, that is (operationally speaking) the awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgementally.

Mmmmm...

Olmate

[pollyanna]

Hi there Olmate,
thankyou for taking the time to write the above post which I just came accross and really relate to. I have posted below a small piece from Michael's recent issue of The Good Life because I once thought meditation was a bit of a strange and even scary subject. I also used to be of the opinion that I was too busy getting on with life so I couldn't find the time :-

"The word meditation is often associated with a long history of mysticism, fear and even the supernatural. In truth, it is such a beneficial and natural state, a basic ability we all possess. It is our birthright, a truly great inheritance which, due to neglect, has become inaccessible to many."

I'm so glad I made the time to feel so alive, wide awake and present

I wish you an abundance of peace and joy