Meditations on Meditation
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The Folly of Self-Improvement
Some years ago I was on a five-day intensive retreat (called sesshin). I had been practicing for many years by then. I’d put in the hours, sat through the discomfort, shaped my posture and breath with careful attention. I’d been, in my mind, steadily improving. During one of the afternoon interviews (called daisan or dokusan), Joko, the teacher, looked…
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Breath and Choice
It’s Monday, and this morning, as I sat to meditate with our Monday group, I could feel the familiar tug of the week ahead – meetings waiting, tasks beckoning, the current of action already moving under the surface. It would have been easy, quite automatic, to be carried off into planning and preparation. Instead, I noticed…
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Hello Me: Meditation as a Practice of Intimacy with Self
Meditation is often seen as a path to calm or insight. But for me, it’s something more personal – it’s a practice of becoming intimate with myself. When I sit down to meditate, I meet myself. I don’t meet some perfect version of me. Not some broken, shadowy version either. Just me – as I…
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How to Sustain Practice – Gentleness in Meditation
I began meditating out of desperation as my young life was spiraling out of control. And I was utterly convinced that I needed discipline, and that discipline meant force. I believed if I didn’t push myself, I’d never gain control of my mind or my life. So I sat rigidly, snapping at myself like a…
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Beyong Ego Myopia
This intimate conversation was recorded live from Eric’s meditation temple built besides his house in Southern California. Eric shares his journey from being kicked out of college to finding meditation and his early Adventures integrating psychedelics into his meditation practice.
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Its not discipline
I recall, as a young and earnest seeker, meditating intensely, my brows furrowed with determination, dreaming of iron discipline and unwavering commitment. I believed I had to forge myself into a spiritual warrior through sheer force of will. But I say to you now as a not-as-young seeker: this is not the way. Imagine, if…
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Patience Isn’t What You Think It Is
We’ve been misled about patience. We think it’s a virtue to cultivate – something to practice, to work on, to strengthen like a muscle. As an impatient and agitated youngster, my folks tried to teach me patience by “just hang in there.” Mom would tell me “keep your cool” and “give it time.” Dad’s favorites…
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No Getting Rid of Self
I’ve heard talk of meditators trying to “get rid of the self” in meditation, and I realize that we’ve stumbled upon a paradox here: the self, trying to get rid of the self. Sorta like a dog chasing its own tail, or an eye trying to see itself. Given that this is both popular and…
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On Self Kindness
You know, it’s strange how easily we can be unkind to ourselves. Isn’t it? You’d think, of all people, we’d know how to treat ourselves gently. But no – too often, our inner voice is the one that nags, criticizes, and berates. We’ll forgive a friend for messing up, show them patience when they’re struggling,…
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The Dance of Pain: A Meditation on Sensations
Let’s briefly explore the phenomenon of pain, that (oft unwelcome) guest that, nonetheless, has its place at the dance of our life. Now, you may ask, “Eric, why on earth would we want to meditate with pain? Isn’t the point of meditation to feel good?” Well, there’s the rub! We’re not meditating to feel good…