In the world of schedules and deadlines, we often find ourselves yearning for a moment of peace, a sanctuary away from the noise of the world. Perhaps you, like many of us, have heard how meditation can help, its ability to bring calm even in a storm. But where do you even begin? How do you navigate the vast sea of information on meditation offering its own promises and techniques?
Let me share a story with you. A friend of a friend – Maya, leads a very similar life to ours – busy, juggling the demands of work, family, and personal goals. Her days are filled with a series of tasks and responsibilities, leaving her feeling drained and disconnected from herself.
Recently, in a doom scroll, Maya stumbled upon a quote that stops her in her tracks: “Meditation cannot be learned from another. You must begin without knowing anything about it and move from innocence – to innocence.” intrigued by the words, Maya decided to explore meditation as a means of finding her share of peace. But where does she even begin? How does one approach meditation without any prior knowledge or experience? The quote offers a gentle guidance – to begin from a place of innocence.
Philosophy of Yoga says that at the core of us resides a blissful self. This deepest and most subtle layer is a consciousness that extends beyond the limits of the physical vessel. Maya’s aim was never to sit on the mat to meditate and master the technique.
In fact she began with her innocence with a blank slate and then chose to surrender to the process. Meditation is not just a physical practice but a process of inward evolution
It is about rediscovering the innocence we hold at our core. Too often, we approach life with a mindset of fixing and controlling, always striving to make order out of chaos. But in the pursuit of order, we risk becoming prisoners of our own minds, trapped in a cycle of limitations and expectations.
Instead, meditation invites us to surrender to the flow of life, to let go of the need for certainty and control. 19th century philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, goes on to say, “You must somehow begin from the other end, from the other shore, and not always be concerned with this shore or how to cross the river.”
And therein lies the beauty of meditation – the beauty of not knowing, of embracing it without attachment to any destination. It is a practice of surrender, of trust, of allowing ourselves to be carried by the currents of existence. In time, meditation becomes more than just one practice of a day; it becomes a way of life, a sacred Sadhana that infuses every waking moment with mindfulness and presence.
Meditation might not work as quick as anti anxiety pills but it offers a sense of calm whe you surrender to the stream of thoughts rather than rowing against it. You become more mindful of your breath – you observe rather than judge, you listen rather than hear.
So if you find yourself seeking refuge from the chaos of this busy, abrading life, remember – meditation can of course lend you a hand in finding your solace, but it is not a means to find one end, but a journey of self-discovery.
Trust in the process, it will unravel something new on every unassuming turn in your practice. And allow yourself to steer by the gentle nudges of your own heart, for in practice of being in the expanse of the present, you will find the peace and clarity you have ceaselessly been searching for.
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