Tuesday, June 4, 2025
Most of us in today’s world prefer our meditation practice easy and brief. Because of this we leave behind a lot from the world’s rich contemplative traditions. We morph the practice to user-friendly forms. To gain self-awareness, insights into the subtleties of consciousness and achieve lasting positive traits require lifelong dedication. In addition, ethical attitude and moral guidelines are crucial. What we abandon is ignored or forgotten.
A strong motivation to practice for the benefit of All requires complete trust and deep reverence for the practice, dedication to the books and principles that make the practice possible, a good teacher, supportive circle of friends on the path who are themselves dedicated to practice. Finally, a supportive culture that recognizes the people who devote themselves to embody virtues of attention, self-awareness, patience, compassion and so on.
All meditation methods at their root are practices in strengthening attention. No attention, nothing learned. What we have to do to get mentally fit is to sharpen our brain by learning new skills such as meditation, journaling, yoga and flourishing. Doing good things over and over again, repeating experiences. We must take more responsibility for the care of our own minds.
Flourishing includes increasing generosity, kindness, focus and less rigidity between “us” and “them.” To better the world remains up to each one of us. With our individual abilities and possibilities we each can be agents in the force for good.
Jennifer D. Diamond
Thank you for sharing this, Madhu. I sometimes fall into the habit of thinking my Writing Meditation practice just helps me and my writing, so I appreciate your reminder of our connected nature. I cannot thank you enough for being a wonderful teacher. Thank you!
Lorraine
I’m going deep into the loving-kindness meditations. Yes, I’ working on taking responsibility for the care of my own mind – and emotions. Thank you for this journey.
Madhu B. Wangu
Getting deep into loving-kindness meditations is great news. Thank you for your fellowship on this journey, Lorraine! You all empower it with your presence here.
Madhu B. Wangu
Jenn, we make our collective experience worthwhile and meaningful by going within alone and journeying together without. Where would I be if I had not felt linked with you and all other Mindful Writers (and now also with Mindful Creators here at Ashby Ponds)! When we meditate, we’re not only empowering ourselves but also the whole fellowship on this path. This thought fills me with gratitude.