It is a paradox that even though the desire for enlightenment, for happiness, etc. may have inspired our journey on the Path, we eventually need to let go of grasping – for special meditation experiences, happiness, enlightenment itself – as we get closer to the truth. I have heard this in various ways from various teachers throughout the years: “My desire for enlightenment was a hindrance to my practice.” “When…
The bell sounded three times to end the sit. I slowly opened my eyes. My body felt light as air – just moments ago, it had felt no different from air itself, its boundaries dissolving into the empty space of the room. My mind hummed with ease, clarity, and tranquility. Slowly, very slowly – as if this peace was a skittish kitten ready to dash at any moment – I…
A story of less than 100 words once restored my dwindling faith and kept me on the Path. I have had about a year of meditation practice by then, and even went on a short retreat to deepen my practice. The events at that retreat, however, had left me extremely confused. While my heart was stilled by the quietness of the small temple and the peaceful countryside where we practiced,…
I’ve had more than a few episodes of sitting with emotional turmoil through my years of meditation practice. This sitting period, though, proved to be different from others. It was the first one where the insight of non-self directly reduced my suffering. I had been struggling with making a decision in my relationship for a while, and the frustration around it sat heavy in my chest as soon as I…
“One breath at a time” I heard this phrase for the first time from Sharon Salzberg in a guided meditation. Instead of striving to be mindful for a certain amount of time, she instructed us to be aware just for one breath – “one breath at a time”. Its simplicity struck me. Just one breath. Just this moment in time. Then the next, and the next, and the next… but…
I paused for a few seconds in front of the empty space on the condiment table, and drew back my hand which had already reached out in habit. “Strange,” I thought, “it’s always been here for the past week”. I went back and scanned all the condiment containers, once, then once more, then conceded to myself on the third time that, yes, everything was in its place. But what I…