Meditation is an ancient art of mental training that has been practiced in various cultures and traditions for thousands of years. But what exactly is meditation?
Imagine that you are sitting on the bank of a river. You watch as logs, leaves and flotsam pass in front of you, carried by the current. In this scenario, your mind is the river, and the thoughts are the floating objects. Meditation is the act of sitting on the bank of that river and watching the thoughts flow without trying to grab them, without judging them, simply letting them pass.
Now, there are many ways to meditate and different techniques you can use, from focusing on your breathing or a specific word or phrase, to visualizing a landscape or a light. But all of these techniques have something in common: they help you train your attention and cultivate greater awareness of yourself and your environment.
So, if you feel like your mind is a tumultuous river and you are drowning in your own thoughts, I invite you to try meditation. You don't have to become a monk or spend hours in silence. You only need a few minutes a day and a quiet place to start. And remember, meditation is not about emptying your mind, but about learning to be present, to be a conscious witness to your thoughts, emotions and experiences. That is the true essence of meditation.
