ध्यान · Dhyana · The seat
Sit. The rest is poetry. These reflections are a quiet curriculum — postures, hurdles, milestones — written by someone who has actually sat through them. They will not romanticize what is mostly a long, patient unlearning.
“The mind that insists it cannot meditate is the mind that needs it most.”
Read one. Then close the laptop and try.
Begin with this

October 18, 2011·4 min read
What is the first step for a meditator or a householder on the path of spirituality or self-realization?
Read this reflection
First steps
Three reflections on posture, attention, and the early difficulties.
37 of 37 reflections

My thoughts on meditation and the art of making life feel a little easy.

Know the benefits and practice of the ancient art of invoking psychic heat (or tummo as it is known in Tibetan).

What seems like an impossible obstacle for a novice is but simply not a problem for a specialist.

And how to vastly improve the quality and length of your meditation…

Here are eight unfailing signs that you are mastering the practice of meditation.

Here are twelve unmistakable side effects of meditation.

Ready or Not Here I Come...

How do you know which path you should take to realize yourself? Is meditation the only way?

Here's everything you need to know about this great new app: Black Lotus Meditation

Bliss and tranquility blossom in a silent mind like beautiful lotuses do in a serene pond.

The rewards of meditation are directly proportional to the intensity and quality of your practice. Here's something to think about.

Emotions are the dewdrops that vanish upon the dawn of mindfulness. Practice this simple meditation to go to the root.

Thoughts are like waves, they may be inviting but they remain transient and volatile. Meditate for insight.

From a turbulent and restless mind to the calm-abiding mind, there are nine stages in Mahamudra meditation.

To reach a state of deep absorption requires building your concentration. It's staged and measurable.

Tilopa gave six short and profound instructions on meditation to his chief disciple. Every meditator should know them.

Boredom becomes peace when you are content and unaffected by non-action.

As you sit down to meditate, trying to build your concentration, random images start bombarding you. It's a hurdle.

Happiness is a state of mind. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the happier you will be.

Tidal waves of stray thoughts can rock your boat of a quiet mind disrupting your meditation.

An elephant is the sign of dullness in meditation. A skilled meditator uses acceptance and alertness to tame it.

A restless mind is comparable to a monkey, forever hopping and active. Mindfulness is the antidote.

The ten energies can be controlled by correct posture, breath regulation or chakra meditation.

One of the best ways to increase your Brain Power

"One who understands the reality of one thing, knows the reality of everything." - The Venerable One

You can't not think about something by not thinking about it. The mind will cling to whatever you want to avoid.

Trataka, or the practice of still gaze, is the art of perfecting and stilling your gaze. It's a must for a serious meditator.

Good listening requires that you are attentive, in the present moment. And living in the present immediately makes you calm like a lake.

The practice of concentration is an absolute must for any meditator. It is the basis of meditation, in fact.

For good meditation and for a great memory, a meditator must develop the concentration of an archer.

<i>Sankalpa</i> is often compared to the perfectly stable and still Himalayas. A sincere seeker's resolve is like the Himalayas.

The practice of solitude can help you understand yourself better. It's incredibly powerful in taming your mind.

When you practice silence, the voice of the soul opens up like an unfolding bud. You then emit a beautiful fragrance.

The conscious mind is always talking, always engaged like the restless baboon hopping from one place to another.

What is samadhi, really? Is it a state of emptiness or a state of super-awareness, super-consciousness? Read on.

In the beginning, thoughts continue to bother, unsettle and distract the meditator. With persistence and patience, the good meditator rises above them.

Likes waves in the ocean, thoughts are constant in the human mind; you let one pass and the other one follows right behind.
Looking for something else? There are eight more themes in the library.
Browse all themesThe time I spent meditating in the mesmerizing Himalayas was one of the best periods of my life. The present is equally beautiful.