The key to all meditation methods

“Alert, alert yet relax, relax”

This state of mind is the goal of various meditation methods as well as the way to reach there. It is both the path and the goal of mindfulness meditation practices.

The story goes of a monk called Shrona who was learning meditation. First he concentrated so hard he gave himself a headache. Then he relaxed so much he fell asleep. Finally he appealed to the Buddha for help.

Knowing that Shrona had earlier been amusician the Buddha said:

“Weren't you a Veena player before you became an initiate?”

“That is so.”

When did the Veena produce the best sound? When the strings were too tight or when they were too loose?”

“Neither,” replied Shrona. “They needed just the right tension, neither too loose nor too tight.”

“It is exactly the same with the mind,” said the Buddha.

So this is an important tip to keep in mind when practicing any of the meditation methods. It is also one of the Tibetan Buddhism beliefs that has made their tradition so powerful.

It sounds contradictory – relaxed alertness. But it can be done. How are we to do it?

To alert yourself straighten your back and sit erect every time you catch yourself dozing or sleepy or in a dull state of mind. Take a few deep breaths, breathe out the stale air in your lungs and start afresh.

To relax yourself it is best to reach a state of mind where you do not take meditation so seriously. Adopt a playful approach. Sit for the sake of sitting and not because you want some benefit from your mindful meditation practice.

Be in a state of let go. Do not grasp. Let thoughts and feelings arise and then subside back into the mind. Just as waves arise from and subside back into the ocean so also thoughts and feelings will arise and subside. Simply bring your attention back to the breath or other object of meditation.

Do not in other words have any goal that you wish to achieve. Let things be, let your mind be what it is. Sit for the sake of sitting and you will make progress. Simply – as I said earlier – bring your attention back to the breath.

You may find it necessary to do some contemplation exercises to make this teaching a part of your being. Please refer to my ecourse or read The Tibetan Book on Living and Dying available at Amazon.

So this state of relaxed alertness is the goal of all meditation methods.

Please email me if you have any questions

Meditation methods
Meditation