I was reading Daniel Ingram’s Mastering The Core Teachings of the Buddha, in it it talks about a phase of a person’s meditation practice where they are quite fervant. They seem to think they have struck gold and think “Why doesn’t everyone meditate?”. They may mention to friends how blissed out their experiences are on the cushion in an effort to get them to meditate.
The fact is that I have an element of faith about where this is heading. Where meditation leads you. My aim isn’t to relieve stress or get better sleep. I respect and understand those aims but I think meditation can offer something far deeper once you do relieve that stress and get better sleep.
I feel reassured that more and more people are meditating even if it is using apps. I feel disapointed when I realise that the sort of meditator I am, is actually few and far between*. I feel worry about the comercialisation of mindfulness. I feel hope that more and more research is being done on effects of mindfulness & meditation.
It’s a mixed bag.
So I think I’ll reign it in, stop mentioning meditation when catching up with friends. Just walk the walk and sit on it (get it? do walking meditation then sit on the cushion to meditate… I feel you rolling your eyes).
*This may come across as pretentious. Me as a person who does unguided meditation that follows a vipassana or similar framework. I make no claims of being above anyone spiritually. I do support an element of pragmatism and secularism when it comes to meditation too, no need for dogma or religion.
Thought Vacations 