Hello everyone,
This week we started Step Eleven and read up to page 214 How Does Meditation Work. We talked about The Flaw of Memory and what exactly is the point of meditation.
This week's discussion question is about the point of meditation. What did meditation mean to you when you began and how has that changed in your practice now? What do you think might help you develop in your practice? Perhaps sitting more regularly, or doing more group sits, or studying more, or going on retreat? And then consider, what are you trying to develop anyway?
I know that for me, I started meditation hoping that it would get me high - or as close to it as i could get sober. I discovered that what I used to consider "high" is now more of a sense of calm and equanimity and I'm grateful when I can achieve moments of that.
Often, I am simply returning my attention to the breath time after time without any real calm,kj but that's OK now. I recognize that I'm doing the practice and that's enough. I would love to go on an extended silent retreat, as it has been a long time since I've done more than a single day. I know that I'm not really "developing" anything but the practice of sitting, of silence, and of being aware of my inner dialogue, which often makes me uncomfortable, is something that deepens my spiritiual connection with myself, so I'm grateful.
What about you?
When I first started meditation, I didn't know why I was doing it. It took practice to understand my why and how I liked to do it. Today, I am in meditation practice often. I feel connected to my higher power and it allows me to be present with myself. I bring myself to just be and allow life to happen around me. I enjoy silence or calm music in the background when I am at home. I love to hear the sounds of the beach when I am doing my walking meditations. I try not to have ear buds in my ears - just let life happen around me. Sometimes, i will stop and sit on the beach/rock and just stare out to the ocean. Let the thoughts come and go noticing they are there. I enjoy meditation today knowing why I am doing it.