Simplicity
I would like to share some simple instructions from a meditation master on how to practice the art of simplicity; Dilgo Khyenste Rinpoche says:
“You could say that meditation is the art of simplicity: simply sitting, simply breathing and simply being.”
“Meditation is one of the rare cases where we do nothing. Otherwise we’re always doing something, we’re always thinking something, we’re always busy. We get lost in millions of obsessions and fixations. But by meditating – by doing nothing – all these fixations come to light and our obsessions will naturally unwind themselves, like a snake uncoiling itself.”
Meditation can become a pursuit of unattainable goals of supreme enlightenment or relative perfection, but by simply sitting and simply breathing there are no expectations or desires for any brilliant experience. Meditation can then become the expression of simplicity or, as Zen master Dogen taught – simply sitting is the expression of enlightenment itself, without anything else added.
As Bruce Lee says
“Simplicity is the key to genius.”
Perhaps this is something we have lost in our modern world: the ability to just sit still and be content. Without trying to achieve something or constantly improving ourselves, we can allow simplicity to arise naturally. This is something that is foreign to us, but it brings back an age-old memory of the joy of just being.
I have found the meditation instructions from a Tibetan wisdom tradition called Mahamudra to be some of the most profound I have ever encountered, and it is the simplicity of the instructions that is precisely its brilliance. Mahamudra finds peace and tranquility by allowing the mind to be as it is, without manipulating it or trying to change anything; the consciousness of things being perfect as they are. It is a recognition that there is a certain beauty in things as they are now, no matter how chaotic or messy it all may seem.
“Life is very simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
I think the art of simplicity consists of allowing things to be without manipulation or fabrication. Joy and peace can be found when you want to stop, be still, and just breathe consciously. This is the path of meditation and learning to enjoy the simple things in life is truly a blessing.
To be able to enjoy a cup of tea, look up at the sky or simply smile to yourself for being alive is wonderfully simple and sometimes completely satisfying. Keeping it simple keeps it realistic.
I have tried not to over complicate my explanation of simplicity as that would defeat the purpose of this blog. Simplicity also implies the ability not to have to intellectually explain everything that happens, but instead to accept things as they are, with a sense of openness and mystery.
It’s something to be experienced rather than talked about, and often saying the words “I don’t know” is the beginning of relaxing into innocent simplicity. Simplicity is always available if you take the time to notice the pure openness of the present moment.
After receiving this meditation instruction I mentioned above, I asked the meditation teacher at the seminar a complicated question about the psychological details of his instructions, and waited for his admiration in my clearly well-researched question. His answer awakened something in me that I will never forget. His response was to sing me a well-known Beatles song in his thick Tibetan accent. He sang, “Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whispering words of wisdom, let it be.”
Written by Chad Foreman
Chad Foreman is the founder of The Way of Meditation and has been teaching meditation since 2003, determined to bring authentic meditation practices into the lives of millions of people in the modern world. Chad is a former Buddhist monk who lived in a retreat hut for six years and studied and practiced meditation full-time. He now has over twenty years of experience teaching meditation. Chad likes regularly
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Online meditation coachingprovides three online programs – The 21 Day Meditation Challenge to gradually guide people from the basic principles of mindfulness and relaxation to profound states of consciousness.
Breathwork to help manage stress and go deeper into meditation and
The bliss of inner fire This is a Buddhist tantric method to clear energy blockages and connect with the clear light of bliss. You can also get Chad’s free ebook now Insights on the go.