WHY MEDITATE?

By Dana Marshall

Why Meditate?

Good question! We can think of meditation as being similar to riding a horse but in this case, we are learning how to ride our mind. We don’t want to beat the energy out of this majestic creature but rather we just want to tame it.

Meditation is a practice of taming and training the mind to be stable, clear and strong. We learn how to ride the energy of our mind rather than the energy of our mind riding us!

There are many kinds of meditation. The kind of meditation I will be teaching is called Shamatha, a Sanskrit word that means peacefully abiding. In a world that is on fire learning how to peacefully abide is a useful skill. It is a practice that comes directly from the buddha and is the source of the mindfulness movement in the West. 

Life is challenging and has many unexpected twists and turns. We have a habit of trying to adjust outer circumstances rather than looking inward at our own mind. This is like trying to cover the world with leather so that our feet don’t hurt. Shantideva an 8th-century Indian philosopher, Buddhist monk, poet and scholar said that all we need to do is put some leather under our feet and this will change how we experience the road. 

The buddha dharma teaches that the root of suffering is ignorance. Ignorance of what you might ask? We are ignorant of the facts of life. We keep thinking we are solid, separate and permanent but meanwhile we are fluid, connected and impermanent. This state of openness and freshness is called buddha nature or basic goodness. We keep on forgetting that we are full of possibility and complete. This is an innocent misunderstanding with far reaching consequences.

Meditation helps us to remember that we are basically good. What is basic goodness and how does meditation connect us to this goodness in our life? Basic goodness is our inherent awake, fresh, uncluttered, open, warm, intelligent nature. We might feel very far from it but it is not far from us.

Meditation is like taking a daily bath in the culture of no mistake or basic goodness. Through the practice of mindfulness and awareness we learn to be present. We cultivate a mind that knows what is and sees clearly. We learn to come home to the buddha in the palm of our hand.

The buddha dharma is a lifeline out of samsara; the endless cycle of suffering. This is why we meditate, to learn how to take our seat in the saddle of our life and experience the ups and downs with equanimity and curiosity.

This meditation instruction has been passed down like freshly baked bread from teacher to student for more than 2500 years. It is well tested and proven to be of benefit to oneself and others.

Come join me to get a taste of meditation. You are especially welcome if you have a busy mind. This practice is made for us all. Everyone is welcome!

By Dana Marshall

Dana Marshall teaches meditation at Yoga Moves and is also an amazing artist!
Her next meditation course you can find here.