Taoist wisdom encapsulates this beautifully: “It is only in still water that we can see.” In the tranquility of our body and mind, we become witnesses, we observe the observer. It is a state of pure presence, an existence in the here and now, where worries and suffering fade away. Liberated from attachments to the past or anxieties about the future, this state manifests as pure bliss and joyous happiness—an embodiment of pure presence radiates the kindness of the heart.
Yet, in today’s Western world, meditation can be misunderstood as a form of dissociation. With numerous meditation techniques available, it becomes imperative to discern between active and passive forms. Active meditation, involving body movement, dance, or shaking, complements the passive forms, such as Vipassana, where silence is embraced to witness sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Both are necessary—a vigorous return to the body through active forms and a serene observation of the inner silence through passive ones.
It is notable that resistance often accompanies the most transformative meditations. The discomfort arising from these practices often signals a profound shift within, unlocking hidden insights about the self. This resistance, paradoxically, becomes the gateway to personal growth.
For me, nobody can explain with such elegance and eloquence the depth and meaning of meditation quite like Osho:
“Once you turn in, meditation has started. Meditation means the capacity to be joyously alone, the capacity to be happy with yourself, the capacity to keep company with yourself. To be with yourself is meditation. There is no need for the other in meditation; the joy of aloneness, not the misery of loneliness, is meditation. Meditation is emptying the self of all content. When there is no thought moving inside you there is stillness; that stillness is meditation. Not even a ripple arises in the lake of your consciousness; that silent lake, absolutely still, that is meditation. And in that meditation you will know what truth is, you will know what love is, you will know what godliness is.” Osho.
Silence and stillness, as revealed through meditation, are not states that can be manufactured; instead, they are the canvas upon which all states arise and subside. The meditative state invites us to contemplate the age-old question: “Who Am I?” This self-inquiry leads us to the ocean of consciousness, unveiling the eternal unborn self that resides within each of us. In this profound exploration, we discover the silent wisdom that echoes through the depths of true meditation—a journey from the cacophony of achievement to the serenity of being.
With heartfelt compassion and dedication,
Nisarga Eryk Dobosz – BBTRS, BCST, CI, MER, LOMI
