Читать книгу 20 MINUTES TO MASTER … MEDITATION - Christina Feldman, Christina Feldman - Страница 14

Right attitude is one of the essential principles of meditation practice in all traditions. Most styles of meditation are simple but this does not imply that they are easy. Our approach to any style of meditation is significant and profoundly influences the way in which our experience will unfold. The willingness to learn, the humility to accept the moments we falter, the inspiration to begin again in every moment are all fundamental ingredients of right attitude. Right attitude is the willingness to bring profound patience, openness and acceptance to our path. Every moment is greeted as our teacher, including the moments of boredom, restlessness and resistance. We learn to welcome even the sometimes painful discoveries of our own frailties and prejudices as invitations to deepen in understanding. The path cannot be separated from the goal in meditation. If we seek peace then we need to develop our path in a peaceful way – judgement, striving and forcing are not conducive to peace. If we seek compassion then compassion must be an integral part of our own approach to meditation – intolerance, blame and rejection are not elements of compassion. If we seek calm, excessive ambitiousness and preoccupation with goals are not appropriate or conducive.

Many people come to meditation practice inspired by the stories of great saints and mystics who have been changed through profound spiritual experiences and altered states of consciousness. We may find ourselves looking to meditation as a fast track to our own transcendental experiences and breakthroughs. Investing too much in these expectations we may easily feel disappointed or disillusioned when our initial experiences seem to fall far short of our ideals. Vision and inspiration are vital ingredients in developing our meditation practice, but these need to be finely balanced with a number of other qualities of heart and mind that allow us to become clearly established in the reality of the present moment with balance and openness. All meditative traditions are paths from here to there, a way of realizing the understanding and compassion that is possible for all of us. For us to fulfil those possibilities, to realize our vision and aspiration we need to begin with the ‘here’, to connect clearly and fully with the truth of our experience in this moment with an attitude of acceptance and balance.

You do not need to be a spiritual expert, religiously educated or belong to a particular tradition in order to meditate. For those who are just beginning a path and for those who have had vast previous experience in meditation, one simple yet primary ingredient is shared. It is the willingness to learn, to see clearly, to be wholehearted in our path. Meditation is essentially a ‘present’ moment experience and exploration. There are goals, directions and aspirations yet our practice of meditation and attention is focused upon the moment we are in and not upon the promises and ideals of the future. Whatever is occurring in this moment is the grist for and the birthplace of understanding, calm and peace.