MEDITATION: Full Stop

You are sitting at your computer, the Internet is slow, and now documents are missing; what to do? Call Technical Support. What do they always tell us?… Just restart the computer, everything should be fine.

Hidden within the concept of restart is bringing the system to full stop before restarting with a new beginning. We must do exactly the same thing once we figure out that it is only the mind that suffers.

Coming into this incarnation we are force-fed language; and we assimilate it as rapidly as possible. And isn’t the purpose of the educational system to develop the mind? Through this life of mental and emotional intensity we become completely identified with our mind; this is who we are.

In the practice of meditation, we bring the mind to full stop; this is the end of suffering. More important than that, we awaken to the watcher of the mind, pure consciousness. Through the peacefulness, contentment, and happiness of mental stillness we come to know our true Self, the impartial witness, observing the mind and the drama of life.

Once we can step back and be the watcher of this movie of our life, not only are we free from suffering, but we live in the world as the peaceful presence just following dharma, doing the right thing. Life becomes simple and happy. Isn’t this what we really want, just to be happy?

Typically, when we are discontent, we reach out into the world to find some pleasure to displace our suffering. Sometimes this works, but generally chasing pleasure only brings more disappointment, or worse. Sitting quietly to touch the stillness is not only a peaceful practice, it is awakening to the state beyond the pain of our inner critic, the regrets of the past, and the fears of the future. It is a state of well-being that we love so much it becomes the love of ourself. Outer loves come and go, the inner love never changes, never leaves us. In this we have happiness and contentment that persists in all of our life. We become jivanmukta, liberated while still in a body.