Welcome to the One Week Responsive Universe Challenge – as seen on MindBodyGreen!
“If you are new to practice (meditation) it’s important to realize that simply to sit on that cushion for fifteen minutes is a victory”.
– Charlotte Joko Beck
If you are having a difficult time connecting to meditation you are not alone. Have you tried to meditate only to end up frustrated and more agitated than when you started? It’s okay.
The first step in meditation is to simply be aware – mindful of all those thoughts careening through your head…. Most of the time we just let thoughts run ramped, simply unaware. Once you stop and actually focus on the steady stream of thoughts you realize it is a pretty busy place up there in the mind. No wonder some of us have a hard time falling asleep.
Where do thoughts arise from? Can you pin point it? Where do they go? Does the mind have a border or perimeter? Meditation only asks for mindfulness – nothing more…
What really is meditation? Meditation is the conscious focus of the present. What is happening right now? That is meditation… When we let our thoughts run ramped we are replaying tapes of fear and fantasy, past and future – the director of this mental function is your ego. When you root your mind in the present you are creating gaps between those thoughts of fear and fantasy, past and future. Your ego is powerless. You are living in the moment; present, authentic and connected to your True Nature – that is meditation: The focus is on what is happening right now – the experience at hand and all the feelings and emotions associated with that moment… and the next moment… and the next moment….
Did you know you can meditate anytime and anywhere?
I do bike riding meditations all the time. Walking meditations are great too because any meditation that includes exercise is fantastic! I have this beautiful forest preserve near my home with miles of trails that traverse ponds, tree tunnels, marshes and wild flower fields – no man made intervention, few people, lots of birds and sometimes perfect clouds above. As I ride, I connect to what is around me and not the continuous thoughts in my head. As I ride I breathe in the sweet air, notice the intricacies and beauty of nature and in doing so; stretch those gaps in my mind between aimless thoughts. Within those authentic gaps is this sublime connection to energy, relaxation, reverence and bliss. Most times I will ride between 10-17 miles which can take up to 2 hours. Along the way I will stop and simply settle into the moment around me. My thoughts slow, inspiration and awareness is fine-tuned and there is this heartfelt feeling that I am evolving in the right direction.
That is meditation….
John C. Bader
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I am still struggling with just being. But I will get there. In my time. In my way. Never hesitated living on the edge…so I guess when I am ready to just be… I will.
You are on the right path… just let it be…. Just experience the moment as it is.. slowly, new complexities will find your awareness… Just let it be… but be mindful of the present and your breathing… and just let it be…
I understand mindful of now but, what about focusing on a future expectation.?
Wait, I think I just realized that what you might be saying. Having a clear focus on the state of just being, in the now??? Total awareness of being, now. There is no past, and no future, and certainly no expectations.
Am I getting this at all?
Yes… It is not about the past… that is gone… It is not about the future… that has yet to arrive… it is about what is going on right now… and now… and now… you see 80% of all your thoughts today were most likely replays of the past and future; fear and fantasy… these thoughts may bring some form of instant gratification but they also bring anxiety, fear and a clutter mind… everything that is not in the moment is ego driven – your false-self. When you center yourself in the present or on a specific task like work it is more authentic. This is a sublime realm between past and future – it is where you will connect to your true nature and it is in the present that your heart wish or inner voice will speak –that inner voice will guide you into the future. This does not come easy but the more mindful you are the more you will slowly shift into this Responsive Universe. Over time your mind will train itself to live in a Responsive Universe and then things like meditation and mindfulness become second nature. Sounds like you are on the right path – JCB