Hi,
And thanks for being here in what we'll call sort of a meditation.
First,
I wanted to tell you that this recording isn't going to be edited in any way.
So there might be some sounds erupting from time to time,
And if so,
We're going to deal with them.
Just fine.
Because as I was recording this,
I felt like I wanted it to be perfect.
But this kind of perfection that we're seeking all the time is delusional.
I think it's important to embrace spontaneity,
Since life itself is spontaneous.
We tend to forget that.
I want life's imperfection to contribute to my recording.
I want to share a piece of life with you today.
We can't control everything,
Or always make it seem like it.
I want to communicate my message to you in a simple way,
As if we were having a conversation.
It might be imperfect,
But it will be true.
Authentic.
And I think that offering you my authenticity is the greatest gift that I could give you and myself.
I am currently recording this in my improvised recording studio,
Aka a public bathroom at my university.
I'll simply hit the pause button if someone enters and then continue when I'm alone again.
Okay,
So today I want to explore a very common paradox that most people stumble on when they practice meditation.
And we're going to meditate on that topic.
While I speak,
You don't have to sit or lay down in a specific position.
Just find a place of comfort within your body.
Simply be aware that you are here now,
In this moment,
And see how it feels like.
There is absolutely nothing that you have to do.
Just like there is no right or wrong way to meditate.
This leads us to the paradox people often face when they have the intention to meditate.
It is very natural,
At first,
To think of meditation as a concrete action.
Something that you do while following some sort of instructions,
Just like any other thing.
You might think that you should focus your mind on a very specific direction from which you can't digress.
And that digressing from it would be failing the meditation.
But what if I told you that meditation was the art of doing nothing?
It may seem counterintuitive at first,
And maybe even repelling because it kind of sounds boring and pointless.
Mostly because doing nothing isn't valued in our culture.
We somehow feel that we have to rush through life,
Racing our lives away,
Feeling like there's somewhere we need to get.
But there ain't no finish line,
Except our own deaths.
We should think about it more often.
Then we would realize that we're chasing after an illusion.
We don't have to run.
We just gotta enjoy the ride.
Nothing but the ride.
So the paradox arises when you accept the idea that meditation is effortless,
Aka doing nothing.
Once you realize that,
You might find yourself actively trying to do nothing.
That is also making an effort.
Trying to do nothing is doing something.
And it's not even effortless.
It is closed to torture.
You might realize that you're blocking your thoughts and feelings with that intention to empty your mind completely.
But it will never be empty.
Whatever you do.
Having no thoughts,
Feelings,
Or sensations equals being dead and you're full of life here,
Now.
Resisting thoughts and feelings is the opposite of opening up to your experience.
It is enclosing yourself,
Locking yourself up inside yourself.
Refusing this life.
You don't want that,
Do you?
Then what is meditation?
It is nothing more,
Nothing less than a state of mind.
It is what remains.
It is a way to interact with reality,
With kindness and curiosity.
Embrace your moment.
You only have to receive what nature offers you.
Do it right now.
Now is the time.
It always is.
There is no other time than now.
Feel what you feel.
Nothing more,
Nothing less.
There is no right or wrong way to feel.
See what you see around you.
How come your truth,
Your thoughts come and go?
You don't have to engage in any sort of mental or physical effort.
Realize that the present moment is all you have and all you ever had and all you will ever have.
And that is a good,
Liberating thing.
Because it also means that the past can't harm you.
The past is a concept.
Being scared of it would be the same as being scared of someone holding the picture of a knife.
It is the thought of it,
The representation that's scaring you.
The thing itself isn't there.
When you truly see what meditation is,
It would be absurd to follow rules and protocols in order to do it the correct way.
Because you would see that there is no correct way.
Since it's all a mindset,
You can meditate in any situation in your life.
Meditating is walking,
Dancing,
Painting.
You don't have to sit in order to let the moment live through you.
Unless you feel like it,
Of course,
Because there is absolutely nothing wrong with sitting down or laying down.
Staying still is underrated.
So the paradox in which by making an effort to get there,
We really push ourselves farther from it,
Can only occur in our minds.
Because we feel the discomfort of what we call a paradox.
When our logical minds keep trying to grasp the ungraspable,
That great,
Beautiful ungraspable that is patiently waiting for you to embrace it.
It vanishes every time you're trying to get a hold of it.
But it's smiling at you.
As Alan Watts said,
When you swim,
You don't grab hold of the water.
Because if you do,
You will sink and drown.
Instead,
You relax and float.
