I Can’t Meditate

People say all the time that they cannot meditate. They say they can’t’ quiet their minds. Thoughts intrude, they are itchy, folks get restless. They are anything but quiet.

Not to worry! They probably are already meditating but they don’t know it, one may think that meditation only occurs in total silence. It is true that achieving a state of deep, no thought, meditation requires practice, a sort of unlearning letting go of certain fears, and yes even a type of discipline, but the act of sitting down to consciously still the mind is the practice of meditation. If you do any sort of mindful practice, then you are meditating.

Let it go

Let’s look at what meditation is. Briefly, it is a state of stillness and letting go.  The purpose of meditation is to beckon the natural self out of the hidden corners of your being and into the light of consciousness. It’s mindful. In fact, anything mindful that requires a singular focus will quiet the mind and allow for the presence of your natural self.  That means mindful practices like lifting weights sewing, running, reading, knitting, writing code, writing a book, jumping rope, playing a musical instrument, yoga, you get the picture, can beckon a meditative state. Some of the most mundane things we do can beckon a meditative state. Become so focused on the task at hand that everything else drops away and you in it the flow of the activity. That’s when the meditative state occurs. When you allow for the mind to drop, you achieve single-minded focus. The thing is that at some point in their lives everyone has been there, we all know that state, which means, we all can let go of thought and meditate.

Thoughts and clouds

Anytime we sit down to meditate we beckon that natural self and that is a success. The thing about meditation is that the mind doesn’t want to be still. It wants to run the show and organize the world. That has its place, but it is not the only thing and that is where the problem lies. Mindlessness, madness, will push the natural self away out of fear of losing its “power”. After all, what are we if not our beliefs and worries and fears? At least so says mindlessness. The antidote for mindlessness, the fear of stillness, can be found in your gratitude practice, but also in just allowing. Allow the thoughts to appear and let them pass by the way clouds pass in the sky. They are there one minute and gone the next. In meditation that is good. In analysis it is not, and that is what makes the practice of meditation an art. When we let go of the day-to-day and just sit, we are creating the antidote for the stress created by an overly stimulated mind. Taking a deep breath automatically calms the mind and body. The focus on breathing in meditation is akin to watching the clouds float by on a warm sunny day.  

Mindfulness beckons the natural self

It is not a destination, but a journey. The meditative state can be achieved.  We can obtain a state of peace and yes bliss, but it is more like being on a train than getting to the stop at the end of your journey. The practice of mindfulness is lifelong. We nurture our peace through our mindful practices. Eventually, they become a self-sustaining way of life. Mindful practice produces a positive, meditative way of being and impacts your life even if you don’t think you’ve achieved nirvana.

Namaste

Obimaya Meditative has been practicing and studying meditation for over 30 years, reading books, working with teachers, attending tai chi classes and practicing yoga.