The eighth factor on the Buddhist Eightfold Path is Right Meditation. This one is about deep concentration and total focus. Meditation is mind training by way of not letting your mind control you. The mind encompasses our ability to think, feel, choose, and to generate energy by engaging with the world. The brain is the physical organ that responds to our experience of our mind. The mind can be a bit like a bucking bull at a rodeo sometimes. It can be wild and roller-coaster-like. The mind can be trained to be in a state of undistractedness, which is essentially de-cluttering the barrage of thoughts that come passing through our minds based on our sensory experiences. So the previous factor of mindfulness is the sense of being here now and that leads to meditation which is concentrating that focus so that we can create space between thoughts. From the outside, a person sitting in meditation looks calm and peaceful just sitting there with eyes closed.... but then on the inside, you know the story of your own wandering mind. It is difficult training to focus this mind on one point.

Without concentration, our minds are like a fish flapping about on land. With training, when we sit in silence without latching onto the next stimulus, it is possible to gain clarity on things as they arise when we are not lost in our thoughts. Our undistracted mind then sees all experience as being empty of self. For example, rather than being attached to a state of anger, we can detach from it and notice that there is just anger present and create a space between an emotion and a response. This is a very powerful way to consider how you engage with life. When the mind recognises that all happenings are passing by and are therefore impermanent and changing, there is no need to cling onto anything.

The techniques often used to concentrate your attention are on the breath, sensations in the body, gazing at a candle, and contemplating loving kindness towards people in your life, to name a few. The growth of wisdom is possible with not being constantly distracted by sensory pleasures. It is really a processes of starting, and then starting again, over and over. Frustration and judgment arise quickly when the mind is scattered, and then we can create space and notice that we are judging ourselves, drop the story and come back to the process. Or maybe we are looking to achieve something, like being more productive or more calm. We must also notice our motivations and the story we are creating and this underlying sense of wanting something to be different to how it really is, see it arising, drop it, and come back to the moment again. This process shows up in all sorts of subtle ways and can make one feel like they will always be terrible at meditating, but that is what this is. Sometimes we are afraid to look inside because it's too confronting or we are too agitated or troubled. Sometimes we develop a sense of pride and feel superior because we've done this type of special work that not many other people seem to do. Its always good to have a little laugh at yourself when you notice these happenings of ego talk.

When we can see the basic unsatisfying nature of phenomena which is impermanent and unreliable and empty, we don't need to lean into it for anything. When the mind is quiet and free of wanting anything, we are peaceful, free, happy, at ease, and are not carrying a burden. This is the dissolving of discontent and dis-ease. Spiritual awakening is possible because it is a potential of the mind that we all have. Meditation is the fruition of our practice. The mind can be trained, stilled, understood, and free. It takes a lot of diligence and vigilence. It is also worth pointing out that it is not this sense of "me" that is doing or achieving anything here. It is an opening and an allowing of life to be expressed inside.

Reflect:

What comes up when you sit in silence and focus your attention?

What do you feel is the point of a meditation practice?