When practicing sitting meditation, the way you sit and carry yourself speaks volumes about your commitment and conviction. A dignified posture not only affirms your freedom but also reflects life’s harmony, beauty, and richness. Whether you feel connected to it or not, sitting with intentionality can affirm the strength and value of the present moment, even in times of depression or confusion.
By mustering the patience to sustain your sitting, even for a brief period, you can tap into the core of your being. This core, akin to awareness itself, remains steady and unaffected by mental states or life circumstances. It is like a mirror, impartially reflecting whatever comes before it. This includes the deep understanding that whatever challenges or difficulties arise, they will inevitably change. By holding them in the mirror of the present moment, you can observe and embrace their presence, just as you ride the waves of your own breathing.
Mindful sitting meditation is not about escaping or denying challenges; it is about facing them head-on. By embracing pain or confusion and observing them over time without succumbing to immediate thoughts, you seek understanding. This understanding arises simply by bearing the situation in mind, along with your breath, while maintaining the sitting posture.
In the Zen tradition, one teacher beautifully expressed the essence of sitting meditation: “The state of mind that exists when you sit in the right posture is itself enlightenment… To take this posture is itself the right state of mind.” By sitting in a way that affirms your presence and acknowledges whatever arises, you are already touching your truest nature.
The posture you choose to adopt embodies your attitude towards the practice. It is an orientation of non-attachment and unwavering stability, akin to a clear mirror. This attitude is contained within the posture itself. To deepen concentration and mindfulness, many people find it helpful to invoke the qualities of a mountain – elevation, massiveness, majesty, stillness, and rootedness. By inviting these qualities into your meditation, you can bring them directly into your posture and attitude.
Consistently practicing embodying dignity, stillness, and unwavering equanimity, especially during moments of relative calm, provides a solid foundation for maintaining mindfulness and equanimity during periods of extreme stress and emotional turmoil. However, this requires dedicated practice. Merely understanding the concept of mindfulness is not enough; it is the slow, disciplined work of consistently cultivating it.
Meditation practice is akin to digging trenches, working in the vineyards, or bucketing out a pond. It is both the work of moments and the work of a lifetime. It is tempting to think that you can save mindfulness for the big events, but they hold so much power that they can overwhelm you instantly. Therefore, it is essential to practice mindfulness consistently, allowing it to become an integral part of your life.
In conclusion, the power of posture in mindful sitting meditation cannot be understated. By sitting with intentionality and adopting a dignified posture, you affirm your commitment to the practice and reflect life’s harmony and beauty. The posture embodies the attitude, and by consistently practicing mindfulness, you can cultivate a solid foundation for maintaining equanimity and presence in all aspects of life.