The question, “why do I meditate” has been occupying my thoughts quite a bit recently. Why do I wake up earlier than I want to just to sit still for 35 minutes? Why do I stop reading a book or watching the tv to stare at a wall for half an hour every night? Why is it so important not to scratch my nose when I’m sitting in my cross legged position? Why commit to this? What is the benefit? What is the purpose? Why? Why? Why?
I sit because meditation is the most effective tool I have to unlock the boundless compassion and love I believe is our true nature.
For me, the single greatest benefit of a daily meditation practice is a growing clarity and awareness. That awareness is the mother of compassion in my life and the urgency for compassion has been becoming intensely clear recently.
I like to believe a regular meditator (in any religious tradition) would immediately understand what I mean when I say, “awareness = compassion.” But how does staring at my wall lead to compassion? I would like to try and explore the logical progression that gets us from awareness to compassion a bit further.
When I sit zazen (Zen meditation) the first thing that happens is the body starts to relax. Wanting for food, physical comfort, or a nap starts to fade.
When I sit a bit longer the mind starts to calm down. Thoughts of what email to send, plans for a new work project, or that embarrassing conversation from last week starts to fade.
When I sit a bit longer the emotions start to calm down. The anger, joy, depression and wanting that bubble under the surface of our thoughts and actions and only serve to complicate our lives also starts to fade.
When I sit a bit longer the preconceived notions of how the world works starts to relax. Biases, prejudice, stereotypes and prejudgements serve to limit our ability to see reality for what it is. Negative emotions we generally can’t trace the origin of flow from perceived threats to this limiting world view and with time these too start to fade.
When I sit a bit longer the delusion of self which manufactures a separate and individual me starts to fade.
Without the distraction of body, thought, emotions, preconceptions and the delusion of self all that is left is a true understanding of others. It is a place of radical acceptance. Without delusion, we see people as they truly are; generally good, fumbling through the day trying their best to do what’s right, and hurting because of all the different forms of suffering life has in store for us. This clarity is in and of its self, compassion. Awareness = compassion.
Why is this issue of compassion so important? What do I have that is more important to give the people I love in this world than comfort? So rarely do the people I most regularly interact with need food and shelter. They need love and emotional support. If a man needs food, I should bring bread. If a man needs love, I should bring compassion. Hopefully, if I am free of delusion and aware of what someone needs, I can provide.
In the beautiful words of my friend Jessica, “love and compassion for everyone, not despite but because of the human condition we all share, these troublesome bodies, all veterans of some sort of war or another.”
What a beautifully personal and insightful post.
I’m sure you found, as I do with my posts, that trying to explain or teach others about your practice, brings it into much clearer focus for you too.
That’s the wonderful benefit of Bodhisattva, you benefit as you benefit others.
Very interesting blog, I will visit often.
Namaste,
Anupadin
Good post. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your vision of meditation. I meditate every morning and just want to stay inside that peace and serenity all day!
Grateful that are following, now following yours!
Peace and love,
Tammy