Our teacher for this week has been Sharon Salzberg, and her own description of herself is, “I call myself a meditation teacher rather than a spiritual teacher.”
Meditation really IS Sharon’s specialty, and for today’s message I have a sizable collection of her thoughts on meditation, and I’ve divided it into three themes for you:
How to meditate
“You don’t have to believe anything, or adopt a dogma in order to learn how to meditate.” – Sharon Salzberg
“There are many different ways to practice meditation; it’s good to experiment until you find one that seems to suit you.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Meditation may be done in silence & stillness, by using voice & sound, or by engaging the body in movement. All forms emphasize the training of attention.” – Sharon Salzberg
What meditation is not
“Some people have a mistaken idea that all thoughts disappear through meditation and we enter a state of blankness. There certainly are times of great tranquility when concentration is strong and we have few, if any, thoughts. But other times, we can be flooded with memories, plans or random thinking. It’s important not to blame yourself.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Meditation is not the construction of something foreign, it is not an effort to attain and then hold-on to a particular experience. We may have a secret desire that through meditation we will accumulate a stockpile of magical experiences, or at least a mystical trophy or two, and then we will be able to proudly display them for others to see.” – Sharon Salzberg
The results of meditation
“Meditation is a tool for helping us accept the profound fact that everything changes all the time.” – Sharon Salzberg
“I’ve always said that lovingkindness and compassion (which are specific forms of meditation) are inevitably woven throughout meditation practice even if the words are never used or implied, no matter what technique or method we are using.” – Sharon Salzberg
“As we practice meditation we are bringing forth ease, presence, compassion, wisdom & trust.” – Sharon Salzberg
“People turn to meditation because they want to make good decisions, break bad habits & bounce back better from disappointments.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Dedicating some time to meditation is a meaningful expression of caring for yourself that can help you move through the mire of feeling unworthy of recovery. As your mind grows quieter and more spacious, you can begin to see self-defeating thought patterns for what they are, and open up to other, more positive options.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Mindfulness, also called wise attention, helps us see what we’re adding to our experiences, not only during meditation sessions but also elsewhere.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Each of us has a genuine capacity for love, forgiveness, wisdom and compassion. Meditation awakens these qualities so that we can discover for ourselves the unique happiness that is our birthright.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Meditation clarifies our minds and opens our hearts, and brings us to unusual depth and stability of happiness, whatever life brings.” – Sharon Salzberg
“You can see your thoughts and emotions arise & create space for them even if they are uncomfortable.” – Sharon Salzberg
Ultimately, the most important attribute of meditation might be that whoever you are, wherever you were born in the world, whatever colour or gender you are, whatever might have happened to you in your life – we all have equal access to benefits of meditation.
“Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively. And the batteries never die.” – Sharon Salzberg
As you embark on your meditation journey, consider these guiding principles:
- Acceptance: Everything changes, and that’s okay.
- Compassion: Extend kindness and understanding to yourself and others.
- Awareness: Observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Patience: Meditation is a continuous practice, not a one-time fix.
- Self-care: Dedicating time to meditation is a form of self-love.
- Growth: Each session is an opportunity to learn and evolve.
Join us for today’s silent meditation. It always amazes me how peaceful it can be to simply come together in silence…
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Finding silence.