Meditation for Thursday 20th February 2025
Over the years and still today I go through stages during my meditation journey where I have doubts about whether it is best for me, am I doing it as faithfully as I should and would my time be best spent doing something else. When these moments arise I spend a considerable proportion of my meditation time ill at ease. And then the question is asked. Why does this happen? Wise teachers and guides over the years have put this state of ‘meditation anxiety’ down to my impatience. And I think they are right. No matter how experienced we are as meditators this impatience arises time and time again.
The good news is that this is a normal and that working through this impatience strengthens my practice so that when agitation occurs we are able to manage it successfully. I must remind myself over and over again that looking for results can and often does lead to disappointment and frustration.
Of course I want to have a pleasant experience; I want serenity and calm from my practice but I know that’s not the whole story. When I think this way I’m being impatient and showing a lack of willingness to accept agitation and suffering. I’ve learnt that like Yin and Yang that opposite or contrary forces may actually be complimentary and that I grow as a meditator when I experience the whole raft of human emotions including doubt.
Through perseverance I have found that doubts or ‘meditation anxiety’ does diminish but although it might shrivel and become less frequent it rarely dies. And that’s a good thing because each time I become stronger.
Sitting with our back straight, eyes subdued and our hands in a comfortable non-clasping position let’s now come into the present moment. If we are distracted and disturbed then think of such a moment as an opportunity to strengthen your practice.
Meditation
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