Present moment
A struggle to meditate tells me how much I am distracted by the thoughts of the past and future.
To let go of stress, depression is a little bit like awakening from the past. Also, what it means to be free from inner fear and anxiety is in some way like awakening from the future. In both ways is the thinking that continues to distract us from being here and now. But, it’s not like I have to hide in the present moment, for what we truly have is the only present moment.
We know exactly what stress is and how it feels and how damaging it can be if we stay exposed to it for longer than we can take it.
Just to mention briefly, maybe you have heard about telomeres that are often described as being like a shoelace cap that protects DNA from unravelling and being exposed. The thing is, that our emotions and lifestyle can significantly shorten or slow down telomeres and consequently affect ageing. I encourage you to read more about it.
We can talk about meditation all day long, read stories of great meditators, and contemplate texts of dharma, different traditions and the science behind it. On the one hand, knowledge about it is inspiring and points in a direction, on the other hand, practice is essential.
So how meditation can help me to manage my stress?
Below is a sample of one way to approach stress.
Meditation
Let’s say that I’ve found myself in a stressful moment, whatever it is. My thoughts are clinging to something obsessively again and again. My emotions are stronger than ever, it could be anger, fear, sadness etc.
I put my hand on my chest, heart center. I want to be in the present moment, here and now. The moment I touch the heart center my attention goes there. I take note of my breath, in and out. Longer I keep my attention on breathing, the more I see that it is not ”I am breathing” but “breathing is happening”. My hand is resting on the heart center. I feel merged with ‘breathing is happening’. The thoughts and emotions are there and I let them be like clouds in the sky just passing through. My attention is on the heart center. In this instance, I invite the space that is around me, inside me. Space and consciousness are reflections of themself. It is open, I am open. I embrace my stressful thoughts with the consciousness of space like a mother welcomes her child. I want to abide in the space of the non-dual consciousness. Here and now. It is only now.
Let me comment on it.
As a beginner, we think that we need to stop thinking completely in order to meditate. Just let the mind go blank, no thoughts, darkness. So we think about how it should be. Notice the fact that we still think of not thinking which is still thinking. This has nothing to do with meditation. To help you to visualise it, imagine the traffic on a busy road, lots of cars, one after another. Thinking is like constant traffic and the thinker is in each and every car. Now, imagine yourself pulling off the road, you get out and sit on the side of the road. Then, you watch the traffic, car after car passing through, coming and going. There is nothing to hold to, except the space that surrounds the busy road of thoughts. The present moment is that space which is the consciousness, alive like your beating heart.
Another important detail about thoughts is that we need them to think, to picture our ideas, creativity and dreams. So thoughts are the product of our fears and dream like an inner private cinema and this is not who we really are. It’s just one layer of consciousness but not mindfulness.
So you see, meditation has nothing to do with thinking or not thinking. Therefore, be courageous to talk to authentic experienced people of meditation.
This would be a good start to think about what meditation is about and remember, this is still an intellectual concept.
Imagine a world where there is no need for a meditation teacher, sessions to book and unfamiliarity with the consciousness-meditation. Instead, every parent, class teacher, and adult on a street is a living knowledge of the experience. Early learning would be to observe society as it happens now.
So if you feel stressed, angry or depressed, take a break and sit down on the side of the road for a minute or two and observe your thoughts without judging. Keep your attention on the specious consciousness of the here and now. Easy to say, huh!
Bear in mind that, there are many ways that can help with stress, anxiety and depression. The real question we need to ask ourselves is, do I want to learn to cope with emotions or to be permanently free from their suffering?
Meditation is an experimental discovery