What is meditation? Simply put, mediation is being. This is a more advanced state, but nonetheless it is the ultimate result of meditation. What do I mean by being? Being is to rest in awareness without thoughts. I fear expounding further since words are concepts which can never encapsulate the true essence of being. It is only something one can know through experience.
Why meditate? Meditation is a natural result of seeking truth. One comes to meditation when they are ready. The paths may be a myriad, but the pursuit of the truth is the cause. Meditation is the gateway to expanding or increasing consciousness. Since most human beings are consumed by their thoughts there is hardly an opportunity for them to experience anything else. However, within the gaps, in those brief moments of respite, there is a silence which beckons us to go deeper.
How does one quiet the mind? The irony here is that you cannot willfully quiet the mind. No amount of force will work. There is no action to put in motion. One cannot “do” anything to facilitate meditation. This news may appear disheartening, rather it is empowering. By understanding our limitations, we come to know our strengths. For example: we can however observe the mind; just watch it but don’t interact with it. This is the initial stage of meditation. Imagine you are at the zoo in the cat complex. You are standing outside a tiger’s cage. Sliding your hand between the bars in reach of the tiger, will most certainly lead to your suffering . Instead, simply stand there and observe the tiger. Watch its natural patterns of behavior; see how it performs when left to its own devices. When you observe the patterns of mind long enough, eventually it will settle and become quiet.
This process consists of watching the thoughts stream in one after the other only to get carried away by them. Once you’ve realized that you are off on a thought train, several minutes may have passed. Just come back to center and watch the thoughts again. See them as they are without getting attached to them. They are not your thoughts; they are just thoughts. Only when you believe they are yours and you identify with them do they hold sway over you. Its normal to get frustrated at this seemingly futile merry-go-round, but don’t quit. That’s what the ego wants you to do. If you stick with it, inevitably, the mind will tire and the thoughts will stream in slower and fewer. This is where the magic begins to seep through. As the wall of thoughts begins to crumble we get glimpses of the other side. The moments of peace and stillness offer great rewards. The secrets of the universe make themselves known to you. More accurately, its as if you remember what you’ve forgotten. As insights come its not like you are learning something for the first time, rather you might find yourself saying, “but of course.”
Its also important to remember that everyone will progress at their own pace. For some it may take a couple months before the thoughts slow down and others perhaps years. The length of time is irrelevant when one is on the path. The journey itself is the point. There is no end goal to speak of.