BEGINNING YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY. Part 3 of 5
They relate a narrative in Jewish tradition that parallels all of the world's central meditation teachings. Simon, a humble tailor, daydreams all the time about the immense treasure he will discover when he leaves his small hamlet and his family home and journeys out into the world. He embarks on his journey late one night, with only a few possessions on his back. For years, Simon travels from great city to great city, mending clothes and searching for the treasure he knows is his. But everyone he asks about wealth has their troubles and cannot assist him. One day, he stumbles across a well-known psychic for her exceptional talents. "Yes," she responds, "there is a tremendous wealth that belongs just to you." Simon's eyes light up with delight as he hears this. "I'll tell you how to find it," she says, giving Simon detailed instructions that he diligently records. Simon can't believe his ears as she finishes her instructions and recounts the exact street and house where this wealth is purportedly buried, for this is the precise home he had abandoned years before while embarking on his search. He quickly thanks the psychic, stuffs the directions into his pocket and returns the other way. And, to his amazement, he discovers a massive and incomprehensible wealth hidden beneath the hearth in his own home. The point of this narrative is self-evident: Though you may roam in pursuit of inner peace and try various contemplative methods, the serenity, love, and knowledge you seek are always present, buried within your heart.
The summit does not exist outside of you; it exists in the depths of your being — some traditions say in the heart — and awaits your discovery. You may reach the pinnacle instantly; it does not require years of practice. When you meditate, for example, when your mind relaxes, and you feel a profound peace or tranquillity, a sense of connectivity with all creatures, or an upsurge of peace or love, you're drinking the delicious water of being directly from the source inside you. And these times enlighten and nurture you in ways that cannot be quantified. The mountain image implies a gradual, goal-oriented trip. Still, meditation aims to abandon all ambitions and simply be. "Wherever you go, there you are," says stress-reduction specialist Jon Kabat-Zinn in the title of his best-selling book. "There's no place like home," Dorothy exclaims in The Wizard of Oz. And the reality is, just like Dorothy, you're always there!
You probably don't pay much attention to your awareness. However, it is critical to all you do. You're being aware or paying attention while you watch TV, prepare for an exam, cook a meal, drive your car, listen to music, or talk with a friend. Before you begin formal meditation, you may find it helpful to investigate your consciousness. First, notice how it feels to be aware. Is there ever a point when you are completely unaware of anything? Fill in the blanks: "I am aware of..." Repeat this many times, paying attention to where your awareness leads you. Do you pay more attention to internal or exterior sensations? Do you give more attention to your ideas and fantasies than to your sensory experiences in the present? Examine whether your concern with mental activity reduces your awareness of what is happening right now.
Next, notice if your awareness tends to focus on a specific item or experience or whether it is more comprehensive and encompassing. You could see that your understanding resembles a spotlight that moves from one item to the next. Observe how your consciousness flows without attempting to alter it. Is it rapid to travel from one thing to the next, or does it move slowly, touching each object before moving on? Experiment with increasing and decreasing the flow of awareness and note how it feels. You may notice that your attention is pulled repeatedly to particular types of items and occurrences but not to others. Where does your attention keep wandering? Which experiences does it appear to avoid? Now try softly shifting your attention from one focus to another. When you focus on noises, you may realise that you temporarily forget about your hands or the pain in your back or knees. Try to concentrate on one thing for as long as you can. How long can you go without being sidetracked before your attention wanders to the next thing?
Of course, even when you meditate, you won't be able to stop doing and striving all at once and just be. You must gradually build up to letting it all go by practising meditation and increasingly focusing and simplifying until you are doing less and less while meditating — and being more and more.
Come back tomorrow for part 4.
Be well.
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You Belong Here.
