Mindfulness in Plain English

 

“It is a journey worth taking.” The last sentence of this book sums up the path to mindfulness. The author begins with the novice in mind by answering basic questions.

Questions I hadn’t known I had. “Why Bother? What Meditation isn’t. What Meditation is”. These ideas and suggestions got me to think about what I really want and expect from the topic. I have learned that the best way to master a skill is to learn to teach it and this is why I want to become a Meditation Instructor.

My first approach was as a student reading my assigned book. I eagerly and quickly read the first few chapters. But my journey was not to go as planned. Soon, sentences needed to be reviewed and studied. Then, chapters were re-read and finally, savored.

I have believed that anything true and real will be strong enough to stand up to testing and questioning. To read that faith is not believing something because it is written in a book but because one has seen that it works within oneself, was to read what I had been thinking. So, Bhante Gunataratana captured my attention. I was eager to start the practice of mindful meditation.

In the beginning, as students, we all must feel as if we suffer from ADD as just thinking that we are to be still and quiet, seems to be an unattainable goal. I approached the idea with hope because knowing that others are able to do this, makes me sure that I can also be successful. Learning that we needn’t be so hard on ourselves gives promise.

The Chapter on Structuring Your Meditation was quite useful. Things started to come together.  Focusing on the breath and the breath on the nostrils helped me to rid myself of concerns that I was right or wrong. Then, structuring a schedule that included setting a timer and listening to music. (I ended up settling on flute) helped to put an end to wasting time making sure that I was ready for meditation.  Additionally, the understanding that suppressed feelings that need to be dealt with will (and did) come up. I needed to recognize these feelings, observe them and not judge myself but gently pull myself back. Later, I learned to think about and even pray about them before my practice. Wow! What an awesome tool to help future clients work their way through difficult memories or residual anger. We don’t need to be tough or unforgiving of ourselves. We can see an emotion for what it is and then be better. And I will remember these feelings.

Now, things are changing for me. I’m no longer wanting to be skilled at meditating. I want to change myself. I want to be a better person and I want to help others do the same. My wants are changing to intentions and thoughts of a new career when Chapter 9 (Set-Up Exercises) is introduced. Meditation takes energy…Laziness just will not serve.

And just when I’ve learned to confront anger, Universal Loving Friendliness shows up to legitimately sweep it away. Vipassana meditation teaches egoless awareness. The section that details all the people in our lives: Myself, My parents, teachers, relatives, friends, all indifferent persons, all unfriendly persons and all living beings. May we all be well… I used this before my morning meditations and it helped me by allowing my meditation practice to be clear. The balance of my day was met with a feeling of peace.

I also said this before sleep each night, because I cannot share with others what I do not have within myself. There is a paragraph that speaks of how we generate within ourselves what we wish upon others. While everyone needs to learn this, not everyone is ready. However, for those who understand that something is needed, I would like to be able to help them by sharing the gift of mindfulness.

Vipassana meditation is also an exercise in awareness so it is not as important to empty the mind as it is to be aware. This is important to remember and there were times when I forgot about this until the section regarding problems reminded me that when something comes to mind we simply observe it and move on.

Another thing that makes this book so enjoyable is Bhante Gunataratana’s humor and use of parables and metaphors to explain his point. One of the metaphors that is easily understood and explained is that the best way to escape a trap is to learn how it is built. To do this we must take the trap apart. This says so much about any problem. What makes the problem? Deconstruct it. Take it apart. It’s in pieces, it’s no longer a problem. The result is freedom.

Finally, for me the most impactful section of this book is the section regarding practicing Loving Friendliness. By cultivating loving friendliness with myself first with the intention of sharing my thoughts with others, I am helping myself as well as others. It is important to include those who are most difficult, and by infusing them with loving kindness we both heal because when my adversaries are well, happy and peaceful- We are both well, happy and peaceful. I have been sending these feeling of wellbeing to adversaries as well as strangers and have noticed that I am being met with positive attitudes and smiles. It’s a fun experiment.

Mindfulness in Plain English is most definitely a journey worth taking.