Mindfulness meditation
Concentration meditation is a typical form of meditation found in most Buddhist and Hindu traditions. There’s nothing mystical about it, but it’s not that easy either. It is simply the training of sitting still during meditation and focusing sharply on an object such as your breath, holding a visualization in mind, or simply observing your posture. I have joined the modern meditation movement and call it mindfulness, as have many other meditation teachers today, because you simply pay attention to something with a non-judgmental awareness, without distraction.
This type of mindfulness meditation helps develop a stable mind that is not easily disturbed by strong emotions, can easily focus on the chosen object, and is lively and clear. That all always made sense to me, but how can focusing on an object without distancing itself from it develop a flexible mind? It wasn’t until recently, when I returned to a job caring for traumatized teens, that I realized how these skills translate into useful mental skills. During retreats or daily meditation I experienced clarity and peace, but it wasn’t until I was challenged by teenagers who abused me, demanded my attention and even physically threatened me that I realized how my meditation skills are truly vital in difficult life circumstances.
Often mindfulness meditation is taught as a way to be aware without getting caught up in thoughts and that’s fine on your pillow, as a therapeutic tool or to calm down during a break, but in everyday life we need to regularly train our mind and thought process. to use. It helps a lot to distract my mind from one way of thinking and adopt a new way of thinking that is appropriate to the situation. Adaptation is a quality that helps us survive and thrive in the ever-changing circumstances of life. Changing or consciously choosing your perspective is a powerful tool for understanding and connecting with others and achieving freedom of mind. As Deepak Chopra said:
“Every time you are tempted to respond in the same old way, ask yourself whether you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.”
As Albert Einstein once clearly said:
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
Lack of compliance can be seen in a stagnant and stubborn mind that often needs familiarity and routine to feel safe. That may be fine until things change, which they inevitably do. Maybe you’re stuck in a rut and can’t focus your mind on new things. You may resist change and even “self-sabotage” so that you don’t have to change. Or perhaps you are stuck in old views or an outdated self-image. These are all examples of how a mind that is not docile will suffer and harden.
The basic mindulness skill I’m talking about here is the mental ability to focus your mind on what you want to focus on, and not let habits or preconceived ideas dictate it. That includes the ability to instantly drop a thought and return to a clear and fresh state of mind. This is especially important for good mental health because negative moods often involve rumination and getting stuck in trains of thought that don’t serve us and often don’t last just a few hours at a time, but unfortunately can sometimes last. months or even years. Not being able to let go of grudges, regrets or negative judgments about yourself or others is truly a disease of the mind.
‘A flexible mind prevents us from developing one-sided views and getting stuck in our way of doing things. The circumstances in our lives are constantly changing and it is mental flexibility that helps us adapt to change.”
Often we have goals that are too narrow and even restrictive. A flexible mind allows you to adapt to new changing circumstances and even if things don’t turn out exactly as you wanted, you can easily see opportunities in the new situation instead of rigidly sticking to exactly what you want. Don’t let goal setting become too fixed, stay flexible and leave room for intuitive changes.
The flexible personality
Through mindfulness meditation training, we begin to create the space to see how our personality is not fixed. The idea of no-self in Buddhism essentially means that there is no fixed self that allows you to assume the most appropriate character in any given circumstance. Going with the flow of ever-changing events, sensitive to the subtle changes and flexible enough to act accordingly. You can even experiment and try new ways of being in the world. You can try being more assertive at work, being more playful with the kids, or being nicer to strangers.
With a flexible mind you don’t have to act the same old way, you can change, you can let go of habits that don’t serve you or others and adopt habits that are beneficial to your health, happiness and relationships. With the realization that there is no fixed self and nothing that dictates your behavior, you can experience the true freedom to be whoever you want and play with life by accessing the infinite possibilities of true creative expression.
The flexibility of the mind is like the ability to bend with the changing winds of life. Just as a tree branch that is too stiff can easily break, your mind is easily disturbed and traumatized if it is too rigid and ingrained. A flexible mind can move with the circumstances without breaking and can therefore smoothly deal with the inevitable changes in life.
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
Meditation retreats on the Sunshine Coast, Australia
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.