On Meditation

Sharing thoughts about meditation seems like a contradiction. Isn’t meditation all about "taking out the trash" and ridding ourselves of rambling thoughts? Well . . . not necessarily.

Many of us have tried meditation, but grew discouraged and after a time, stopped practicing. Maybe because it seemed boring or we didn’t have time to just sit — but more likely, we decided that we weren’t good at "quieting the mind."

As if that were a realistic goal.

I suggest that we don’t need to quiet the mind any more than we need to plug up a bubbling hot springs. It is the nature of hot springs to bubble and the nature of mind to do the same, boiling off random thought-static, a kind of discharge that may serve a function similar to dreaming.

Thoughts happen. Emotions happen. Weather happens. We may prefer certain thoughts, emotions or weather over others. But none are directly controllable by our will.

Thoughts only become a problem when we mistake them for reality. We live in two worlds: An objective world arising within our nervous system and outside of our bodies, perceived by our senses. We also live in a subjective world of the meanings, associations, fears, beliefs and interpretations we make about that objective world.

Meditation enables us to discover the nature of mind, of thought, and to see them as a sort of illusion, a complication we impose on what the Zen masters call "isness" or "suchness" prior to mind.

Many people both misunderstand and idealize this practice we call meditation. But after all, it is a practice — an exercise — like doing push-ups or learning to juggle. As with any practice, it can be done well or poorly and can improve over time.

Doing push-ups over time will predictably strengthen the upper body. Meditation practice also brings noticeable benefits: an enhanced ability to relax, focus and concentrate; more patience; a sharpening of the senses (as we learn to pay attention); enhanced creativity, self-awareness (shadow-work), and insight into the nature of mind. An experience of no-mind.

Meditation is not, however, a path to enlightenment; rather, from the first moment we sit, meditation is the practice of enlightenment — a fundamental means of adapting the body-mind to an enlightened disposition of non-reactivity.

We sit with spine erect — not leaning forward into the future or backward into the past, but stable in this present moment. Meanwhile, our awareness takes on its ultimate role as Witness: We simply observe arising phenomena: thoughts, emotions, physical sensations. Yet we do not react to any of it; we merely bear witness to passing phenomena. Relaxed. Serene. Simply being aware. Being Awareness.

This is why some Zen masters, when asked "What is enlightenment?" may respond, "Just sitting." When beginners first sit, they fidget, think, react, wonder, daydream. As it turns out, "just sitting" is not so easy.

Most meditators use a technique or device to help focus their wandering attention: We turn our attention to our breath, or to a mantra (repeated inner chant), or to inner sounds (nad yoga), or we gaze at a visual image such as a yantra or mandala or just a single point.

Since many thoughts tend to impose physical tensions, the body naturally relaxes as we release our attachment to (or investment in) passing thoughts and impressions. Giving mind-stuff no energy or attention, we slip into a sleep-like or trance-like state in which "time flies."

Some call it the void, the quiet mind. Various studies suggest that spending time in this state provides deep, refreshing rest from the usually active state of the body-mind — doing, pushing, wondering, remembering, imagining, fretful with regrets of the past and anxieties about the future.

Meditation opens doorways to a temporary state of peace, a mini-vacation from self, mind, world. Many people quite enjoy this time out. The practice of sitting meditation, central to a number of eastern (or inward-directed) spiritual traditions, balance the western (outward or extroverted) orientation. In this way, meditation it provides a balancing effect for most active men and women.

In the approach to reality that I teach — the way of the Peaceful Warrior — we can enjoy this meditative disposition, this sense of divine detachment, even after we open our eyes, stand up, and go about our daily business. Various kinds of moving (dynamic) meditation provide a bridge to every-moment meditation.

The Zen masters teach kinhin, or mindful walking — the most basic form of moving meditation. Then there are the mindful Zen arts, like the tea ceremony, or the martial arts (including Taiji), and kyudo (Zen archery), flower arranging. Even western sports provide moments of deep immersion in the present.

But even these more active rituals, which pull attention out of preoccupations and mind-stuff and back to the present, are a form of training wheels. As peaceful warriors, we don’t just practice a sport or martial art — we practice everything.

In each moment we turn our attention to every action, to breath and relaxation. In this way, we transform everyday life into the ultimate meditation. It is not an escape or respite from daily life, but a way to transform daily life.

All meditative practices bring awareness back to the Present Moment, which is itself free of thoughts. (We can only think about the past or future; in the present there is only awareness.)

Meditate for pleasure and for balance — for a whole-body remembrance of the peace that waits for us in the eternal present. Here. Now.

But do not put this practice up on a pedestal as a special "spiritual practice." If we do so — if we treat certain times or activities as special or spiritual, we fall into the trap of treating other times as ordinary. Whereas in truth, all moments, all activities, are equally important. There are no ordinary moments; every moment deserves our full attention.

Let meditation become a way of life, a quality of attention we give to each moment of our daily life. It is a gift that returns to us a hundred-fold. Peace. Serenity. Reality as it is.

What is the meaning of life?

Robert Byrne once wrote, "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." His quip says much in few words. I could say the same about meaning and be done with it. But there’s more to the picture:

Many people believe (as I once did) that everything we do reflects our search for (pursuit of) happiness. But we seek something far deeper. I believe that every heart seeks a sense of meaning, purpose and connection.

Meaning: A life that makes sense, that seems worthwhile, that counts for something.

Purpose: An aim, a goal, a practice or profession — a form of service suitable to our talents, interests and values.

Connection: An authentic and deep connection with ourselves, with others, and with the Transcendent.

In the novel Zorba the Greek (a tale about the joy of living), one character says to another, "If you could dance what you just said, I might understand." I feel the same way about the question of "meaning." Meaning is not something to be neatly packaged or contained. Life doesn’t have one constant meaning for everyone. In fact, from a transcendental perspective, nothing means anything — life simply arises out of Mystery.

The statement that "nothing means anything" could be taken for some dreary existential philosophy (i.e. "if nothing means anything then I might as well kill myself.") But actually, this statement is quite liberating. Because we are free to make up our own meanings. And we do, every day, every moment.

So the proper question to ask may be not "What is the meaning of life" but rather, "What is the meaning of your life?"

What enlivens your spirit? What uplifts your heart? What are you willing to work towards and to sacrifice for? What gives your life purpose and joy? These are more useful questions that speculating about "the" meaning of life.

I have found (and created) meaning in my own life through teaching — sharing what I learned with others. One day I realized that no matter how much I improved myself, only one person might benefit. But if I could influence other people in a positive way, that made my life count for something.

Some people search for satisfaction through self-gratification — amassing money and collecting things and experiences, sights, memories. But the most fortunate among us discover that deeper meaning and purpose and connection are found through service — making a positive difference in another person’s life. The surest way to happiness may ultimately come through helping others find joy, success, love.

In the meantime, we can enjoy our own adventures — feel the wind in our hair and celebrate the blessing of having this human experience here on planet Earth. How odd and unlikely that we should exist at all! And how amazing that we are given a life, and experiences, and people and pleasures and surprises and challenges to help us grow stronger and wiser.

Just as there is no one meaning for all, neither is there a best teacher, book, religion or martial art, or best music or work of art or path or exercise or dietary system — only the best one for each of us at a given time.

Life is an experiment. There is no meaning but the one we create. Wherever we step, the path appears beneath our feet.

Olympians Don't Have Holes

While I was running at the gym yesterday I watched some athletes at the Olympics. There they were. In perfect physical condition. Mentally focused. Meticulously dressed in their best athletic gear.

The thought occurred to me: "you'd never see one of these champions showing up at their event with holes in their running shoes. You'd never see them with rips in the training shirts. You'd never catch them wearing old athletic shorts." They are there to shine fully - and perform brilliantly. So they show up at their best.

What's my point today? A simple one (yet again): the way we dress (and the environments that we choose to surround ourselves with) profoundly affect the way we feel. Dress and carry yourself like someone whose best of breed and you'll feel like a rock star in all you do. And since the way you feel about yourself determines how you perform, the results of excellence must surely follow.

Do You Diet?

Provocative blog title? Perhaps. But here's my point: an elite athlete eats to win before the big event. She's thinking the best thoughts and eating the best food. She gets that champions are made in the preparation - not when it's showtime.

Yet most of us wake up in the morning and start our days feeding our minds negative/troubling information. We read about all that's wrong in the world rather than exposing ourselves to all that's good. That's no different - I suggest - than the Olympic athlete drinking beer and eating potato chips before the big race. Impairs your performance? No - destroys it.

And more than any previous time, this world of ours needs you to rise to your potential. Organizations/communities/nations needs those that populate them to show leadership without title. And to shine brightly as never before. We all need you. And the risk of playing big has now become outrageously less than the risk of staying small.

So start your day like someone devoted to winning would. Feed your mind/body/spirit an extraordinarily healthy diet. Surround yourself with only the finest and the best. And then prepare to win. That's my wish for you. On this glorious day.

Be FHE

I can't help observing businesses in action. At every touch point in every business I do business with, I'm watching to see if they get it. Or if they don't.

3 simple attributes of the best employees at the Greatest Organizations: they are Friendly, Helpful and Excellent.

Friendly looks like a smile, using your name, a great attitude and just raw good energy.

Helpful is all about initiative. Trying to get you the result you want versus passing the buck. Seeing things from behind your eyeballs and then doing whatever it takes to make you gasp "wow".

And Excellent...well I know you know what that looks like. It's about devoting to becoming BIW (Best in World) at what you do. About playing a big game - whether you're in the mailroom or the C-Suite. About being brilliant in the work you've been blessed to have.

Time

One of the most wonderful things about time is the fact that you cannot waste it in advance. No matter how much time you have squandered in the past, the next hour that comes your way will be perfect, unspoiled and ready for you to make the very best of it.
If you choose, tomorrow can be the day that you started getting up earlier, reading more, exercising, eating well, worrying less and playing at a level called extraordinary. No one os stopping you from opening your journal and, on a blank page, rewriting the story of you life. This very minute, you can decide the way you would like it to unfold, change the central characters and create a new ending. The only question is will you choose to do so?

Will of Iron

To build a will of iron, it is essential to take small, tiny acts in tribute to the virtue of personal discipline. Routinely performed, the little acts pile one on top of another to eventually produce an abundance of inner strength.
Perhaps the old African proverb says it best: "When spider webs unite, they tie up a lion."