The mind is constantly drifting in and out of awareness. At one time most clocks made a ticking sound. You would probably notice the ticking as you walked into the room. If you sit down and start to read a book, your attention becomes focused on the content. You no longer experience the sound. When you stop reading, you will begin to notice things again. Perhaps you may now hear the sound of that very same clock, ticking away. Our reality is closely tied to our awareness and our feelings.
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The practice of meditation is not new. There have been meditative conclaves from almost all religions and wisdom traditions for thousands of years. These practices include the Gregorian monks, the Sufi dervishes, the writer of the Psalms,and the Vedic rishis. All have the same goal. They were not really seeking to become people who meditate. What we are really seeking is to be free. We yearn to transcend our normal state of being. We seek equanimity and peace. Meditation is merely a tool.
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There's a wonderful story about a spiritual teacher who was giving a lecture. He was getting very little reaction from the crowd. There was one little lady sitting up front. She had to be about ninety years old. She just kept nodding her head at various parts as he talked. You could tell that she understood perfectly what was being said. Today, he was teaching on meditation and how it changes our states of being. It is where we find the most divine part of ourselves.
Later, after the lecture, the teacher sought out the old lady. She did not seem like a person who normally would come to his lectures. They tended to be a bit younger and New-Age minded. He was simply amazed that someone like that could so identify with his teaching. Why did she get it so perfectly when no one else seemed to? How did this little old lady understand this in such an experiential way? How did she know how to transcend her normal state of being? He looked into her eyes and asked her how she knew? She looked at him and simply said, "Well young man, you meditate, I crochet!" So we can broaden the concept pretty far on that basis. Everything can be meditative.
We exist in several states of being. There is the observer state. There is the state processes what is being observed., Then there is the critic that evaluates what we observe. The more we identify with the part of ourselves that only observes, with its impartial view, we can begin to have the ability to be mindful about our whole lives.
The critical aspect of our being is clearly the most insidious. It is built upon our experience base and our process of socialization. When you look into the mirror you must ask, who am I really? Are you what others tell you that you are? Do you live your own truth? This again, is a part of being mindfulness about your life. It helps us to find our way on the path. This is the part that the observer allows us to change our lives.
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Perhaps this may be a good example. Try to imagine all of your thoughts as if they were leaves flowing down a stream. When we are meditative our thoughts pass by like the leaves going with the current. For a moment we acknowledge them. Then let them pass by. They no longer hold our awareness. This will allow us to see each thing for what it is. Now we can make the only choice that we have. This is the choice about how we choose to see things.
The Buddhist have a saying, "There are many paths up the mountain", or sometimes, it is put as, "There are many paths to God". In mindfulness training you may find that certain paths fit your needs better than others. For some people meditation methods such as watching yourself breathe works to foster a "present awareness". Others may find a simple stroll does the trick. Maybe a good bath puts you in that place where you can watch everything in the present moment. It really does not matter which path, school or technique that you choose if they work for you they will all lead to the same place.
This is a place of personal empowerment and peace. For one who is mindful has the power to do anything they want. We only have this moment. Yesterday is just merely a memory and tomorrow a dream. Right now at this moment, with the power of mindfulness behind you your life can be forever changed. Now you know, how to tickle the infanite, within.
