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.