Date: 01/04/2025 01/05/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Sitting Meditation
What Is Meditation: The Beginning of Stillness and Insight
Meditation, known in ancient Eastern traditions as dhyāna or zazen, is a timeless practice of inner cultivation. In our fast-paced modern world, meditation is not merely a spiritual discipline but also a way to restore balance, calm, and awareness in daily life. Its essence lies in two words: stillness and insight — through calming the body, regulating the breath, and observing the mind, one opens the doorway to awareness and wisdom.
1. The Essence of Meditation: From Stillness to Insight
Stillness is the foundation of meditation. It is not about forcing the mind to stop thinking, but allowing thoughts to settle naturally, like muddy water clarifying when undisturbed. When the body is steady and the breath even, the mind gradually returns to calmness.
Insight is the unfolding of meditation. Once stillness arises, one observes — the breath, sensations, and thoughts — seeing their arising and fading without clinging. This observation reveals impermanence and interdependence, bringing clarity and freedom.
2. Basic Steps of Meditation
1.Prepare the Environment: Choose a quiet, well-ventilated place with soft lighting. A cushion or mat can help maintain comfort.
2.Posture: Sit upright yet relaxed. Keep the spine straight, shoulders soft, and hands resting gently on your knees or in your lap.
3.Breathing: Breathe naturally. Simply notice the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation without trying to control it.
4.Settling the Mind: Let your attention rest on the breath. When thoughts wander, gently bring the awareness back to the present.
5.Entering Stillness and Observation: As the mind quiets, begin to observe sensations, emotions, and thoughts as they come and go — without judgment or attachment.
3. Benefits of Meditation
Regular meditation helps relax the nervous system, improve sleep, stabilize emotions, and enhance concentration. More profoundly, it allows one to understand the workings of the mind, release attachments, and realize the wisdom of impermanence and non-self.
Conclusion
Meditation is not an escape from life but a return to the center of being. When the mind is still, clarity arises; when insight dawns, wisdom blossoms. The practice of stillness and observation marks the true beginning of inner awakening.
