This is a revised version of a post from March of 2023

Throwing the word “meditation” around nowadays is practically trendy. We have different types of meditation, there is mindful meditation, kindness meditation, even transcendental meditation. We even have a jargon, for it. In many ways it has entered the culture as a thing to be done, like a sport. We meditate on, we have mindful meditations, and we have industries geared toward selling meditation aids. The perfect chair, or cushion, there are many ways to meditate, and types of music to choose. It’s all very complicated. Except it isn’t.

Meditation is the simplest thing in the world. We make it complicated and complex because that is what the mind does. That’s how the tool of the body-mind works. Its job is to analyze, refine, contemplate. Meditation is a state where the mind is dropped, no thoughts are present, yet one is alert, focused and relaxed. The peace and joy present in this state is literally mind-blowing. When we say “meditate on” we are really speaking about contemplation. Let’s call that “deep meditation,” the absence of thought to the degree that you’ve forgotten the body. You just are. In that space you touch your Self, and the joy and peace of that state cannot be understated.

Meditate On – Most often people use “meditate on” when there’s a need to come to a deep understanding of an emotion, an energy block, a random problem, or even to consider a new concept. Because that requires having thoughts and focusing the mind’s attention, it’s more of a contemplation, and is not the actual state of mediation. It’s related in that time is taken to sit quietly and focus the mind on the issue at hand. In this state, you are mindful, but have not achieved the state of complete silence of meditation. There’s an orderly flow to the mind, problems are solved, emotional issues resolved, and understandings are made. If you leave this state and go about your life you’ve achieved much, and usually feel a deep sense of peace and satisfaction. But there’s more. If you relax the brain a little more and quiet the thoughts altogether, then you have a reached a meditative state.

Deep Meditation – This is a state of no-mind. To achieve a state of no mind, calm the body and slow down thoughts. When I first started to meditate, I literally had to walk around the room and find objects in the room to focus my attention upon. until my thoughts slowed. At that point, I would find an appealing spot to sit, cross my legs and slowly close my eyes. In those days I would sit quietly and listen to the sounds around me until I felt still. I would look deeply into the darkness in front me. Eventually, I would enter into a state of total darkness, and lose the world around me, joy and peace would fill me. After a time, I would slowly open my eyes, feeling a deep sense of peace and joy. I was invigorated and ready to get on with my day.

There are many ways to meditate and not every meditation session is going to be a deep meditation. You do not need the perfect cushion or the right music to achieve meditation. Simply letting go and watching the thoughts pass like clouds in the sky will slow down the mind. The practice of giving time to your Self, whether you touch the no-mind space or not, beckons your True Nature to come forward. It becomes a presence in your daily life. Instead of seeking the Self you’ll find it consistently aiding you and guiding you almost as if by magic.

Namaste *~