Meditation: Why It's Called a Practice

"Flowers keep us close to the earth and show us what repetition can do. When we are good planters and caretakers we see results- not just once, but many times in many ways...
But the garden in the mind stretches much farther than just flowers and vegetables. It needs the same careful cultivation- never letting the weed of illness or strife or discord take root. This garden blooms year round and we should refuse to let it become a weed patch."
- A Cherokee Feast of Days, Vol. 2, Joyce Squichie Hifler

Often in my classes the subject of practice comes up. How often should one practice meditation? How long should you "sit"? Why do I have so much trouble practicing on my own? What can I expect in terms of "results"?

While every question is legitimate, I can't help but notice the irony in the need of all of us for analytical, left brain structure as we approach the question of meditation practice- something which by nature is designed to loosen the grip of left brain thinking and transcend constricting patterns of thought. Meditation is a practice that is more about surrender than about achieving goals. We are cultivating our inner self, tending to the weeds and fertilizing the plant with our loving intention. Meditation requires attention, nurture, dedication and certainly a measure of faith. While some results are both measurable (by science) and felt tangibly by regular meditators, it is often only in retrospect that we see and understand the growth of our consciousness, the changes in our actions.

For instance, I recently explained to a "beginner" class that meditation can often provide you with a critical five second delay- like those used on TV to screen objectionable material. What a gift to have that moment between thought or impulse and speech and action. Suddenly we have a choice in that moment and can use it wisely in our relationships. But we may not realize we have it until it seems to appear magically in the midst of an encounter- lifting us from the scripted response.

And who decided our growth has to be linear? Spiritual cultivation, it seems, is a journey more like ascending a spiral. We find ourselves coming back around again and again to the same issues, the same life challenges, but hopefully with a different perspective, a little more detachment, compassion for ourselves and others, and acceptance. We build on a core of self knowledge by coming face to face with what makes us uniquely human - our anger, our fears, our shadows. Do our "negatives" go away with meditation? No. But we get to know them. With grace and practice, we may even learn not to feed them.

As Westerners, we're instilled with the idea that we must work at things in order to "get ahead". Surely the record-breaking Olympic events of this past summer showed us what discipline and practice can accomplish. It also graphically shows us that "winning" can be determined by something as small as a finger nail against a timer and "losing" a matter of a split second loss of focus and the fall from a balance beam. In meditation, not only do we not have a map or a firmly measurable goal, we are asked to let go of such notions and simply be in the moment. The lack of immediate feedback and the need for tangible results can be frustrating. We start evaluating our progress and some of us give up altogether. We won't win any medals. But we won't lose anything either except perhaps ego and illusions. And like those Olympian contests, it is the small moments, one after the other that can make all the difference.

So go for the gold. Keep repeating the method, the mantra, the return to focus with intention and dedication. Sometimes that dedication yields a delightful surprise when we find ourselves in a state of peace, equanimity and contentment. Other times we sag in the face of the enormity of our challenges, when we glimpse around the bend in our winding road and see the distance left to travel.

Throughout the course of our cultivation, it is the return to self, to practice that is both the beginning and end of each moment in the journey. For this we ask especially for the gifts of faith and patience.

Kay Goldstein, MA teaches meditation and writes poetry, fiction and articles addressing the challenges and joys of daily living and spiritual practice. www.kaygoldstein.com

Comments

[LordMoon]

Meditation is not a doing, it is a being.

Chaining the mind up with rules and practise doesn't really help much, it just gives it something else to do, and creates more of a subtler ego.

Meditation is the easiest thing in the world, just don't do anything.

There is no ego gratification in doing something easy, no merit badges, no certifications, only nothing, and no mind.

Without thought how will you do anything? How will you compare yourself? How will you know if you are right or wrong? How will you know if your succeeding at something you call meditation?

Don't bother with any of this, getting rid of the mind will be the end of all these and other dreams...

Don't kid yourself once you experience real meditation, your life as you know it will cease to exist.

[Jonahson]

To remove those deep seated weeds we need to get down to the roots. We loosen the soil around the plant so that we can yank out the whole plant, roots and all. So much for gardening.
In our lifetime we accumulate countless bad experiences in our memory. If one day we meet again with someone who once crossed swords with us or had stepped on our toe before we will still perceive that person with our bad past experiences. If that person still retain those bad traits and do step on your toes again then the cylce of suffering and refreshing those bad memory we start all over again. But what if that person has changed without us knowing? Do we still perceive that person from the ugly side?
Our memory is part of our survival nature. It is those wrong view habits that we nee to weed out.

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

All of our memories, thought patterns and points of view contribute to our personal " survival nature"
But it is the ability to be aware and transcend that will allow us new means of survival and even to thrive. KG

[Jonahson]

For once try letting go of our self preservation nature and the awareness will find new clarity; a true sense of freedom.

[larry278]

Some wonder why practice doesn't bring perfection; others learn to enjoy the trip as they seek to become better on a journey toward perfection. Perfection is a most elusive goal. Simply seeking to acheive perfection can be a rewarding venture in itself. Some say that humankind is incapable of acheiving or recognizing perfection; that is what makes the journey rewarding.

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Hmmm,
Thank goodness perfection is not about achieving. There's enough of that striving already.
Maybe the best we can aspire to is recognizing the perfection of what already is. KG

[jjdillon]

Every year I sponsor a Costa Rican retreat. The emphasis is on meditation. I would love for you to visit me at http://www.healthylivingandbalance.com/life_empowerment.html for more information about this.

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for your invitation. Good luck with your retreat. KG