Reflections on Meditation - April 2024
This months reflections on meditation. A collection of Substack notes for the month of April 2024 from Now About Meditation
Working With The Mind
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche comments,
"To cultivate a steady mind independent of circumstances, we must work with the mind itself. Working directly with the mind uncovers the inherent quality of meditative awareness."
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist monk and teacher, here emphasizes the importance of cultivating a steady mind regardless of external circumstances. He directly asserts that the key to achieving this lies in directly engaging with the mind itself. In fact, in the Tibetan language, the word for meditation, "ghom/gom," means "to become familiar with." To become familiar with something, one needs to get to know it.
To become familiar with the mind, we start by observing the mind without judgment, acknowledging its fluctuations, and gradually learning to stabilize it through techniques such as mindfulness and concentration. Developing a deeper understanding of the workings of the mind can gradually help detach from the grip of external events and emotions, fostering a sense of inner tranquillity amidst difficulties. Rinpoche's teachings highlight the transformative power of meditation, offering a pathway to liberation from the cycles of discontent through an unwavering commitment to working with the mind rather than controlling it or entering into conflict with it. So befrending the mind thus, in turn, this can cultivate a sense of inner peace and clarity that remains unshaken amidst life's inevitable ups and downs.
Transformative Potential of Loving Speech and Deep Listening
Sister Dang Nghiem comments that,
"It is entirely possible to create new, mindful, positive habits. This is certainly possible with the practice of loving speech and deep listening toward ourselves. Positivity and gratitude slowly become a new, mindful habit."
Sister Dang Nghiem's comments point to the potential transformative power mindfulness and compassionate communication can have in cultivating new, positive habits through practices like loving speech and deep listening. This shows that dormant within each one of us is a deep-seated potential for change and inner growth. This entails truly listening to our inner dialogue and consciously choosing to speak to ourselves with a kind and compassionate response, especially in times of difficulty. When we do this, we create fertile ground for positivity and gratitude to take root and flourish. This process isn't about denying difficult emotions or bypassing challenges, but rather about embracing them with understanding and compassion.
Through this heartfelt, mindful awareness, we gradually start to cultivate a new way of relating to our reactive negative thought patterns. However, this is not a quick fix. It's a journey that requires patience, commitment, and self-compassion, but the rewards are profound. With time, this can bring with it a greater sense of inner peace, resilience, and connection both with ourselves and others. Sister Dang Nghiem's wisdom serves as a gentle reminder that the seeds of kindness, compassion, and gratitude lie within us, waiting to be nurtured and cultivated through the practice of mindful self-awareness and loving presence
On The Necessity of Letting Go of Insights
Santiago Santai Jiménez comments, "It is easy to get attached to any insight we have, especially if it is a profound one, but to be truly free, we must also let go of even our most precious realizations."
Santiago Santai Jiménez's reflection on the necessity of letting go of profound insights is something that is common within the human experience that of holding on. Often, we cling to our epiphanies, holding them close like cherished possessions. Yet, Jiménez reminds us that true freedom lies in the ability to release even our most profound realizations. This concept transcends mere intellectual understanding; it delves into the realm of emotional and spiritual liberation. By clinging to insights, we inadvertently bind ourselves to them, limiting our capacity for growth and adaptation. It is akin to holding onto a beautiful but heavy burden, hindering our ability to explore new perspectives and experiences. Embracing the impermanence of insights allows us to flow with the ever-changing currents of life, fostering a sense of lightness and openness within ourselves. In this release, we find a deeper understanding of the transient nature of existence and the beauty of the present moment. Thus, Jiménez's comment serves as a gentle reminder to cultivate a mindset of letting go, enabling us to journey towards true freedom and inner peace.
Embracing Mistakes: The Heart of Genuine Spirituality
Jack Kornfield tells us that,
"A genuine spiritual path does not avoid difficulties or mistakes but leads us to the art of making mistakes wakefully, bringing them to the transformative power of our heart."
I agree with Jack Kornfield's statement that the essence of genuine spirituality is not an avoidant one but a path of courageously engaging with life's challenges. Instead of seeking to evade difficulties or sidestep mistakes, genuine spirituality beckons us to confront them head-on, with a spirit of awake receptivity, not seeing these as moments of failure but as opportunities for growth and transformation.
Herein lies the power of genuine spirituality in its teachings of embracing our mistakes with mindfulness and open-heartedness, not to judge ourselves but to learn from them, seeing them as opportunities to catalyze inner change.
Each stumble then becomes a teacher, guiding us towards greater wisdom and compassion. Therefore, as Jack Kornfield alludes, a genuine spiritual path involves a dynamic process of self-discovery and refinement, where every setback becomes a stepping stone toward deeper understanding and authenticity. By infusing our experiences with the transformative power of the heart, we learn to embrace the full spectrum of human existence, finding liberation not in perfection but in our ability to meet life's challenges with grace and resilience.