Welcome back to my meditation mini-series.
If you haven’t already (and would like to), consider checking out the previous instalments on what I believe meditation to be, and why I practice it.
In this third (and perhaps last) instalment of the series, I want to touch upon the questions of how and when as it pertains to my meditative practice.
To start, I do not believe there to be a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to meditate.
I discovered the method in which I approach meditation through sincere practice.
This helped me understand what meditation means to me, and subsequently why I continue to practice the art.
So, despite the ever-growing smörgåsbord of touted benefits and applications, I can only devote myself to something I’ve experienced and understood for myself.
This being the case, I meditate twice daily, once as part of my morning ritual, and another right before going to be.
For how long will vary, and has done so throughout the years.
Several years past, I would sit and practice for between thirty to ninety minutes at a time.
When I stayed at the Zen Buddhist monastery, I would sit and practice for up to four hours.
Right now, I sit for between ten to thirty minutes.
When I meditate, I don’t practice any particular method or approach.
I never follow guided meditations.
Again, I practice according to what I believe meditation is.
I simply carry that sentiment through my meditative practice and allow myself to be guided by how I am experiencing it in the moment, and this is no different when it comes to the length of each seated practice.
When it comes to position and posture, I’ve felt the Zen Buddhist way — seated cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting in the lap, right hand resting in the left, middle knuckle of middle fingers touching, the tips of the thumbs connected, and a wholly soft posture — to be most conducive to my personal approach.
I am not, however, overly strict with this, as sitting for an extended period of time will inevitably require a shift and slight repositioning from time to time.
Of course, I have not always approached my meditative practice this way.
It has developed over time, as my relationship with meditation has evolved.
To reiterate the importance of this point, what I feel most critical is coming to an understanding of what it is.
For me, this understanding presented as a feeling I was able to experience over and again whilst practicing.
Eventually, I was able to determine how to arrive at such a feeling.
I refer to this feeling as entering into a meditative state.
And now that I know what this feels like and how to get there, I am able to live amidst it, without necessarily engaging in a conscious, seated practice.
So, in speaking to the question of how I meditate, I have expanded a little bit on the traditional understanding of what a meditative practice might look like.
In reality, every waking moment is a meditative opportunity.
Life is a meditation.
To meditate is to take in the breath of life itself.
Without it, life would be an indeterminable blur, an experience lacking in every respect.
Perhaps not the response to the how and when questions you were expecting.
The truth of it is, I am practicing all the time, as much as my heart beats — though I am by no means as effective or efficient.
I suppose that’s why I refer to it as practice — I strive for improvement.
I also know I will never cease practicing as I acknowledge that it is not something that I will ever master.
I like to say that I eat, sleep, meditate, and repeat.
I truly mean this literally.
This concludes my meditation mini-series.
Though I may revisit this topic if I receive any questions that feel good to delve deeper into.
I hope you enjoyed reading and listening.
Until next time, peace.
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