Meditation is Easier than You Think
By Tergar Staff • 3 min read
Many people have the wrong idea about meditation. For instance, one popular but incorrect notion is that in meditation, you’re supposed to think of nothing, and completely empty your mind. So, in trying to do it “right,” some folks will sit bolt upright on the cushion, eyes squeezed shut, concentrating really hard on their breath. They think, “Okay, I am aware of my breath! Inhale. I’m not going to have thoughts! Zero thoughts! No thinking allowed! Exhale.” Really, though, this is too tight. It’s like the famous thought experiment of attempting to not think about a white bear, which instantly calls to mind that exact image. It is not natural. And, if you’re trying to do this, you’re missing what meditation is about.
Another popular but mistaken idea about meditation is that the point is to get “blissed out.” In other words, you’re trying to achieve a particular state of mind, such as peace, calm, or joy. A person hoping to capture these elusive states will sometimes paste an artificial smile on their face when they assume their meditation posture. “Peace, here I come… relaxation, here I come.” Gradually their teeth start to grit a little. “Any second now. Be calm. Be relaxed. BE RELAXED!” But of course, trying is the opposite of relaxing. And when you look specifically for peace, calm, or a joyful experience, usually you will find that the Department of Relaxation is going to put you on hold with Customer Service indefinitely. The slightest distraction, like a fly buzzing past your nose, will seem like a horrendous intrusion. “Please, I’m trying to meditate,” you think, to which the Department of Mental Relaxation replies, “Sorry, we’ll have to transfer you to another department!” In trying to be calm, you’re tightening up. This tightening up is not natural, and if you’re doing it this way, you’re missing out on the power of meditation.
To meditate properly, there’s no reason to do any of this convoluted stuff. When you meditate, just follow the natural rhythm of your experience. Just be as you are. Believe it or not, this is one of the most important aspects of meditation. Let go of any misunderstandings that meditation is about seeking a particular state of mind. Now that you know better, you don’t have to try to do anything. Just be completely natural.
“When you meditate, just follow the natural rhythm of your experience. Just be as you are. Believe it or not, this is one of the most important aspects of meditation.”
– Mingyur Rinpoche –
In this video, Mingyur Rinpoche explains the essence of meditation and describes some common misunderstandings about practicing meditation.
5 min Guided Breathing Meditation with Tergar Instructor Myoshin Kelley (audio)
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As we know, personal relationships can get stuck in an unhealthy pattern. Someone raises their voice in anger at you, and even though you don’t want to, you react by lashing out with cruel words. Of course, you want to change this reaction. To do this, you need to rely on the basic practices of awareness, love and compassion, and wisdom.
In my childhood, I had horrible panic attacks. I don’t know exactly what their true cause was, but I reacted to many ordinary events with terror. For example, I panicked during storms. Where I come from, there is thunder and lightning all summer long, and winter brings snowstorms.
If we want to release tension or rumination, we emphasize the exhalation and the gap at the end before the inhalation. If we want to energize, we emphasize the inhale, and the place at the top of the inhale.
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