The main instruction

Of course the most interesting and beneficial aspect of this practice is how we work with the thought process. It is what occurs in the mind that we experience as pleasure and pain, happy and sad, and so on, and we usually try to either grasp or reject what we like or dislike. As you begin your awareness meditation, you will become aware of the many waves of thought that come up and disappear endlessly. This is totally natural and occurs to everyone, but it is how we regard this process that is the difference between whether or not we suffer from it.

Everything that occurs to your mind is simply an experience of mind. That is a key point. It is recommended to spend some time away from your meditation seat simply reflecting on this important point. Generally, we do not maintain the awareness that this is so, and we easily become wrapped up in all that occurs to us. While not abandoning the awareness of your breathing and of your body sitting there, let your mind become aware that all that your senses perceive, and all thoughts that flicker. It is truly a simple thing to see that all that occurs to your mind is just an occurrence of mind. Just relax as you experience your breathing in and out, and be aware that you are aware of what occurs to your mind. This is the main instruction.

Try to maintain this awareness of awareness for a short period, perhaps just for a minute. Then, just let that drop, and take a break. A break in this case does not necessarily mean standing up or even moving your body at all. It just means to drop the meditation exercise for a time. Stretching and another deep breath or two can be helpful before you begin another short ‘session’.

Repeating many short sessions within a period of meditation is considered to be far superior to the marathon approach of trying to hold on to awareness as long as you can. Letting go of our awareness again and again keeps the practice from becoming a burden and has enormous long-term benefit to the practitioner.

The Key Point

• All that occurs to your mind is simply an occurrence of mind.  It is important to take frequent breaks from the technique.