How to Meditate, Learn to Let Go and Find Power in Present Moment Living

‘Before enlightenment chop wood carry water, after enlightenment chop wood, carry water.’ Zen saying

Why do the people of the Eastern world place such emphasis on meditation? Once you understand the advantages that can be gained from meditation the reasons for practicing it become quite clear.

The fundamental concern that meditation addresses is the fact that the human mind has a tendency to wonder from reality or what is real in the present moment.

To small children everyday life seems quite boring if there is no highlight (read excitement) to look forward to. For a small child to sit still for longer than 10 minutes takes effort. Only through discipline and habit does the child learn that nothing can be achieved without concentration and quietness of mind.

The need to escape from the boredom of the moment is reflected in obvious ways in adults. Our minds constantly wonder from present reality if we are not practiced in being mindful. That our minds wonder is a problem in the sense that this robs us from really living and appreciating our own lives.

If your mind is running riot at the office and at home the depth of your experience when you are on holiday or ‘away from it all’ will be proportionally unsatisfactory. In fact we can never get away from it all because to start with we have never been ‘with it all.’

If you can discipline yourself to stay in the moment at work and at the office you will start to experience a new depth to your life that you can take with you wherever you go.

Meditation is closely linked to the premise that there is only one moment that is real and that because of our wondering minds we miss out on half our lives.  The only real moment is the present moment.

This does not mean that you should do whatever you like in the present moment. On the contrary, it means that you have to make the best of the present moment and what it has to offer because that is all you have.

In other words, it would perhaps be a better idea to do the budget now instead of rushing out to eat a steak because that’s more fun or helps you to escape and forget about your present financial worries. 

The present moment has more to do with doing what is necessary than with having fun. The present moment is the only moment that allows you to find a solution for present and future problems through being quietly mindful of this moment’s reality. Obviously if we start to take care of present problems in the present moment our lives will improve proportionately. Our tendency to run and hide will lesson over time with practice.  

Of course there are times when life hurts to an extent that the present is just too much to face. I am not sure if this is a good time to meditate you need professional help in such cases. It would not help to dwell on what is hurting you and to thereby intensify the pain you are feeling.

Once you understand the concept of what it means to really take advantage of the present moment you can start to train your mind to live in the present on a more constant basis. This does not mean a supreme effort but a natural process whereby you become more mindful of the present.   

Notice when your mind wonders and gently bring it back to the present. If you do this over and over again you will start to notice that you are more in control of yourself and your surroundings because you are more ‘here’.  You are more present. You are letting go of things that don’t matter any more. You are ‘with it.’

Meditation is not a technique that makes you drowsy and sleepy it is one that wakes you up to the power of present moment living.  

Books on meditation that I can recommend:

Zen and the art of archery Eugen Herrigel

Diamond mind Rob Nairn

Zen and Reality Robert Powell

The Spirit of Zen Alan W. Watts