6/26/01
Much is sead for meditation to silence the mind. The goal is to reach a
state of silence, of perfect oneness with everything, possible only when
the mind has stoppped its endless chattering and has come to a state of
rest. Techniques therefore tend to focus on either passively letting
thoughts drift out of the mind or actively banishing or shutting them all
up. One might also focus all attention on one thing to silence all others,
and then when letting go of that one thing, finding the void that is
sought.
But what of those thoughts that float through the mind in these times?
Much of our superficial and less imporant busy work is the first to
settle. But later, more important and deeper realizations can come to
mind. Deeper traumas or problems may surface, demanding attention. More
obsticals to the goal of peace and silence. Most likely, we get around
these by denying them in one form or another.
So what good are we doing ourselves if we are denying our problems? Sure,
we stop thinking about them. They are no longer bothering us. We are left
free to enjoy the void of perfect meditation. But those voices still
remain, and will return once we have left our comfortable void. We have
solved nothing, only fled to a place they cannot reach us. The
enlightenment found in such places is temporary, at best. We remain a
broken and busy clutter, full of demons just waiting for their next
opportunity to rise again.
When in a state of meditation, much as in dreams, the mind is able to work
on problems it may have, that it may have not been able to address
otherwise. The busy commotion of our lives prevents us from addressing our
deepest issues. When we concentrate on stilling, we have the opportunity
to address these issues, and work them through. Concentration on the goal
of stillness puts us in the frame of mind to solve problems, rather than
create new ones. We can take advantage of this place to do some real work
on ourselves during meditation. Rather than just fleeing to void, we
should work towards void.
In meditation, we have shut out all new input. The only input that remains
is that which is within ourselves. By solving the problems that we present
to ourselves, that input goes away little by little until nothing remains.
Rather than silencing these voices, we should investigate them. Follow
them. With each twist and turn they give us, try to resolve them. Each
problem is a maze-like network of conditions and situations. Each path has
an end when it is understood. Follow each until no paths remain. When that
situation is fully understood, one can step back from it, and it will fall
to rest naturally, easily, and will not bother you again.
Each problem should be addressed in this manner. With each resolution, a
new and deeper sense of peace is found. If we keep at it, we may begin to
run out of problems. We may find ourselves in a truely quiet place, full
of peace. Once we have found a center of peace, the next step is to expand
it so that it encompasses more and more of ourselves. In doing so, we
search the dark corners of our mind for the last lingering demons that may
have hidden in our subconscious.
These are typically the worst of the lot, the deepest problems we have
avoided for much of our lives. Resolving these returns the deepest sense
of peace and fulfillment possible, as we are approaching spiritual
fulfillment at last. These may also be ones that we continually overlook,
and so require a keen and patient eye to notice. Once we spot them, we can
investigate them and find their resolution.
The mind is a computer. Problems are tasks, programs that it runs. Data is
being compiled to simpler and more efficient forms as we process it.
Systems of behavior are likewise compiled. The end result is a simpler and
more efficient and elegant system that runs smoothly, happily, and
intelligently. By consciously resolving these problems, we approach a
state of rest where in there is no further work to be done. What will the
human computer do when it reaches such a rest state? It is called many
things, most commonly Nirvana, Enlightenment, or Bliss.
So, by avoiding the noise in our heads, we escape to a false and fleeting
enlightenment. By facing and resolving them, we approach the possibility
of living closer to a state of enlightenment in our everyday lives.
Spiritually, we have progressed. Meditation is work. It is doing something
real to ourselves. Take advantage of your quiet times. Reaching void may
be the goal, but it is the path to reaching it that is what it most
important.
Do you wish to be able to maintain a sense of peace with prolonged
concentration and work for hours to reach it for a brief time, or would
you prefer to be able to go there with a few minnutes of settling for as
long as you wish? That is the difference.
Let your mind chatter. It'll quiet, once its run out of things to say.