understanding

Our educational systems encourage us to absorb as much information as possible to be effective in the world.  This may well be true in physics, psychology and neuroscience.

However, in terms of understanding our "inner selves", this approach is 180 degrees off of the mark. To quote Rumi:

The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear. 

Meditation is emptying … surrender to the Silence to know the truth about Yourself.

bob

gratitude

Meditation is emptying - just sitting in Silence - just Being. 

When we drop our considerations about ourselves, others, and the world we come to gratitude.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
- Cicero

Gratitude is the stain left on us by our practice,
bob

practice

There is a saying:  "To understand Islam practice Islam". As Islam is surrendering to God (Allah),  this saying can be read as: to "understand surrender to God practice surrender to God".

Reading books about meditation or obtaining some teaching is fine in the beginning , however a little bit learning goes a long way - real insight always comes from  practice, practice, and then even some more practice. 

Meditation, like Islam, is surrendering.  During our practice periods we surrender all concepts we have learned about the world, ourselves as well as what we think is good or bad.  We hold onto nothing.

Empty yourself utterly and you will understand meditation.

To understand meditation practice meditation. 

bob

two meditations to find the Peace of God

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Simply do this; Be still, and lay aside all thoughts of what you are and what God is; all concepts you have learned about the world; all images you hold about yourself.  Empty your mind of everything it thinks is either true or false, or good or bad, of every thought it judges worthy, and all the ideas of which it is ashamed.  Hold onto nothing.  Do not bring with you one thought the past has taught, nor one belief you ever learned before from anything.  Forget this world, forget this course, and come with wholly empty hand unto your God. (Course in Miracles Lesson 189)

so simple,
bob

why empty?

Meditation is about emptying ourselves utterly.  Why would we want to 'empty'?

Is it not our desires and ideas about how it 'ought' to be that enslave us.

When we relax our grip on life, we come to see that life is unfolding just as it should and peace returns to our hearts.

The prophet Muhammad said it so well: 

"If people knew what lies in abandonment of desires they would race toward it, and if they knew what blessing lies in the prayers of the night and early morning they would crawl to do so." 

peace be upon you,
bob

'yes' meditation technique

One of my favorite meditation techniques could be called "yes meditation".  "Yes meditation" does not attempt to achieve anything at all but simply validates everything, without exception, that arises during silent meditation.

Many of us have a tendency to recoil from what we experience during meditation.  Unpleasant memories or "busy mind" are good examples of this.    Avoiding unpleasantness breathes life into it and causes it to persist.   Awareness is curative.

"yes meditation" welcomes everything by just mentally saying 'yes' to everything (thoughts, feelings, body sensations) that comes into our awareness during our practice period.

Meditation is the search for what to give up.  Can you see how this technique fosters emptiness?

already free

You are already completely free and content.  You just overlook the obvious!

Meditation is that practice of turning our attention away from that which arises in thought (mostly fear based) towards that which is hidden in plain sight - the Vastness and Purity of the present moment -  the Mystery in which we abide and are.

During your practice periods snuggle up to the Mystery; let go of your worry - just allow the Mystery to do what it does so perfectly.

"And so, as for those who believe in God and hold fast to Him, He will cause them to enter into a Mercy from Him and (bestow on them) a Bounty; and He will guide them to Him along a straight path" (Quran 4:175)

allow, enjoy, trust the Mystery,

bob