[blockquote source=”Rumi”]“Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open? Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking. Live in silence.”[/blockquote]

I took up meditation about a year ago.

And though, I had tried so many times before – it was never with this much consistency or intention. I hate to think that I had any sort of ‘goal’ going in to it, as I have always believed the ‘gift’ of meditation is in our own personal journey…one that guides us gently through deepest part of our being.

I suppose that’s why I have become so grounded lately, as those little things that used to unravel my spirit – seem suddenly subdued in the wake of my understanding.

In many ways, my meditation practice has become my refuge. I look forward to those moments when my heart may rest gently inside the softness of a simple deepened breath.

In my practice, I have discovered a profound spaciousness. And, it has liberated my very soul.

But, we must be patient for this, my dears. We can’t expect, nor can we ever rush it along. Rather, we must learn to settle in to the tempo of our own awakening.

I think that’s the difficulty many of us face when beginning our meditation practice. We seek immediate gratification for our efforts – some sort of tangible, and potentially ‘earth shattering kaboom’.

But, the heart awakens slowly, my dears – as, it’s been ‘asleep’ for far too many years.

It wants to feel the warmth of sunlight breaking through folds of window shade; it wants to hear the rustling of squirrels racing through the trees; it wants to see the splash of berry through softened green, and the hanging wisps of Wisteria trees.

My dears, your heart is awakening to it all.

I’m reminded of a passage written by 13th century poet, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī:

“Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come.”

I love this passage as it reminds me of the fearless explorers we must often become in this discovery of self. We must be willing to kick over rocks, and wade waist-deep through rushing river waters – all in an effort to move closer to this divine within.

To experience this life in a manner that honors our very existence.

In this way, our meditation practice may come alive. And, through gentle awareness we may begin to release the limitations of our entanglements.

In his article, ‘A Mind Like Sky: Wise Attention Open Awareness‘, author Jack Kornfield discusses awareness;

“Fully absorbed, graciously witnessing, or open and spacious—which of these lenses is the best way to practice awareness? Is there an optimal way to pay attention? The answer is “all of the above.” Awareness is infinitely malleable, and it is important not to fixate on any one form as best.”

My practice today is a reflection of this very principle. And, these days, when I discovery another aspect of myself I never previously knew – it’s much like finding that perfect shell. I could stare into it for hours, gently adjust angles towards the sun – and simply to see what the light might further reveal.

[blockquote source=”Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche”]”Our mind is like hard ground that has not seen water for a long time. As meditation practitioners, we begin to till our mind so that we can grow something, the mind of enlightenment.”[/blockquote]

My dears, this is the basis of meditation – to help us transform our relationship with this world, and create the space for open-hearted existence.