freedom from fear

The purpose of all spiritual practice including meditation is to

diminish or eliminate fear.

Silent meditation is at its root surrender, which in turn leads to wonder, which in turn shines away fear. The best companion to a silent practice is living compassionately.

This is stated succinctly in:

Yes! whoever submits himself entirely to Allah and he is the doer of good (to others) he has his reward from his Lord, and there is no fear for him nor shall he grieve.

Quran 2:112

peace,

bob

In the gap between what we think ought to be happening and the way it is right now lies the grand expanse of human suffering. The truth of this statement can be validated in your next traffic jam or in your next long wait at the post office.

Our views about how things ought to be are based on our past conditioning. There is nothing, per se, wrong with conditioning. Difficulties arise when our past conditioning does not match what is presently arising and we stay stuck in "how things ought to be". Suffering is like an altimeter on an airplane (which tells us how far we are from the ground). Suffering tells us how far we are from presently arising reality. In this way suffering is a gift; it is immediate feedback.

Is it possible that the world is not broken? Could it be that the world we see through our limited view of how we think things ought to be is just an illusion? Is it possible that everything that happens has a purpose even though we don't see it?

Assuming for a moment that the world is not broken, what would the purpose of our existence be?

empty yourself utterly and understand,

bob

seeking

In truth everything and everyone
 is a shadow of the Beloved,
 And our seeking is His seeking
, And our words are His words ...
 We search for Him here and there, 
while looking right at Him.
 Sitting by His side, we ask:
 'O Beloved, where is the Beloved?

rumi

[Prophet], if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I respond to those who call Me, so let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be guided.

Quran 2:186

the direction of Peace

How do we measure progress in our practice?

It is not possible to find real peace in the world as it is, by its very nature, dualistic. That is: whatever we do to make ourselves secure in the world actually causes our insecurity. However inner peace can be noticed through silent practice; by turning toward the Divine [away from things, sensations, thoughts, etc.] we find inner peace. The Peace that does not come and go.

Turn away ... notice the Peace,
bob