We learn different subjects in school and higher education like mathematics, economics, social sciences, languages etc. Isn’t it surprising that the structured curriculum we all have experienced for over a decade and half or more of formal education, has contributed but in an alarmingly limited way for our learning on concepts, attributes or meaning of values such as peace, calm, inner strength, focus, concentration, and mindfulness? Therefore, many of us are also oblivious to the tools to attain these!
These concepts, values and attributes are the pillars that take us through life beyond any tutored subject matter and I believe that the main tool or guiding light for us to attain these is meditation.
Given that formal education has effectively prepared us to make a living, not make a life, there are two assumptions or misconceptions (apart from several others) about meditation that ought to be dealt with here.
First, meditation has been an option and second, meditation is an activity for the old age. Let’s turn these assumptions and misconceptions on their head!
We ought to view meditation as our default setting as we would consider brushing our teeth. You may ask why? There are many answers to this why but what attracts me the most is that meditation allows us to be in the present moment and being in the present moment has all the power we need to get closer to the concepts, attributes and values needed to shape a more fulfilling life! One of the greatest benefits of meditation is that it helps reduce stress, therefore helps build immunity and thereby resilience! And as humanity goes through the current challenging pandemic times, why would something so beneficial be considered only as an option and not a default action point of our everyday lives?
Besides, Eckhart Tolle states:
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have”.
Meditation is a guidepost to acknowledge the present moment and experience aliveness. Consistent practice makes us aware of ourselves and even if there is a storm of emotions within us, our sense of equanimity keeps us largely stable. Given the pressures of education, career building, making a living, developing relationships and maintaining good heath, why would one want to wait until an older age to feel equanimous?
In fact, if a gymnasium is a tool to exercise and strengthen one’s physical body, meditation is a tool to exercise and strengthen one’s mental set up. And a strengthened mental set up is most needed at younger ages to navigate through the areas mentioned above. Subsequently, a young person with mental agility has the potential to seamlessly walk into old age.
Nothing new to hear, right? Then all the more reason to investigate why we delay experiencing mindfulness, a laser sharp focus and joy in our daily activities by reserving meditation as a retiree’s camp activity?! Isn’t it worthy to partake of it benefits from childhood itself?
So, are you still finding excuses to not meditate and tempted to write off meditation as only a new age fancy distraction?
If not, and by now, if you have come to think which technique to adopt and how much time to dedicate, there are several forms of guided meditation available! Starting with just a few minutes, even as less as a 3 to 5 minutes, is a good initiation into this magical world. Meditation is such a rewarding practice and no prizes for guessing that in a world which runs on transactions, meditation is indeed a free resource!
The only thing that meditation asks of us, is a few minutes of daily consistent practice. Once we are grounded in any practice, it becomes second nature to us, and there may come a time when we may find something amiss if we haven’t meditated on the day (just like not brushing your teeth!). Imagine! Something so natural and so powerful catches our eye mostly when we have gone far enough in life, stumbling upon our struggles and opting for it as our last resort rather than our first port of call!
On the contrary, if meditation were made a prominent part of our school syllabus it would stand steadfast with us at all times during uncertainties, stresses and challenges – COVID-19 being a relevant present example! Finally, we find much inspiration to meditate in the words of two very successful entrepreneurs:
Marc Benioff, co-founder and CEO of Salesforce.com, mentioned in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that:
„I am very interested in keeping a clear head. So I enjoy meditation, which I’ve been doing for over a decade – probably to help relieve the stress I was going through when I was working at Oracle.“
And in India, Subhash Chandra, the billionaire Chairman of the Essel Group and avid practioner of the Vipassana meditation technique, has stated:
“Vipassana taught me how to maintain equanimity in all situations of life. This has helped me tremendously in business, more so in the tough times.”
If you wish to learn more about the art of meditating or address specific challenges through meditation, do share your coordinates (name and email ID) in the comment box below. There is a surprise in store!
