What is Meditation?

Meditation is an ancient path of meeting oneself in stillness. Here the attention is placed on the awareness of one’s own experience, e.g. the breath, sensations in the body as well as thoughts and feelings.
In order to not get lost in the flood of impressions there are a number of skillful means that are used like signposts in the landscape of our internal world. Observing the breath for instance, helps to “anchor” awareness in the present moment. This anchoring allows for inner stillness and clarity to unfold.

The Practice of Meditation

In meditation we can observe that all our feelings, sensations and thoughts are constantly changing, like a flow of experience: the memory of an argument is followed by a moment of anger and hurt, restlessness makes room for a period of wakefulness and presence.
The meditator however remains a neutral observer of all these internal movements.

The Aim of Meditation

The Buddha called meditation the unfolding of the heart. He taught meditation as a path where the heart expands so wide that all human experiences have their place in it, including the painful ones like anger, sorrow, despair and others.
In that sense meditation is more than simply concentration practice. Its essence lies in the allowing of one’s experience without the need to change, hold on or avoid it. When for instance we judge or resist our inner restlessness we give it fuel and it tends to increase.
On the other hand, an attitude of receptivity and allowing leads us into stillness and equanimity. There can be immeasurable joy and aliveness in meeting oneself in this way.