In today’s busy world, many people try meditation for different reasons. Some want to get rid of stress, some want to think more clearly, and others want to feel more connected to life. But really, meditation is about one thing: relaxing. The goal is to calm your mind and feel peaceful. This can be hard when life feels tense or busy, but the secret is learning to let go of worries and allowing your mind to relax.
How relaxing helps
A lot of people think meditation is about focusing really hard or forcing your mind to be quiet, but it’s actually about being relaxed. When you’re tense or trying too hard, you can get stressed. Think about a time when you were trying really hard to finish something—how did that feel? You probably got frustrated or stressed out.
Now, imagine sitting without a goal, no worries about the future or thoughts about the past. Picture cutting the strings that pull you forward or backward. This frees you to feel peaceful in the moment, without carrying any stress.
Let go of yesterday and tomorrow
Much of the stress we feel comes from worrying about the future or holding onto past experiences. It’s like a tug-of-war between these two things. If you let go of both, you’ll feel calm and at peace in the present moment.
Think about a time when your body was really relaxed, like after a long day or workout. You probably felt comfortable, without any tightness. Meditation can help your mind feel the same way—completely at ease.
Thinking too much
Overthinking is another cause of stress. While thinking can help us solve problems, doing it too much can be exhausting. It’s like driving a car at full speed all the time—it’ll eventually wear out. Many of us would be “fined” for overthinking if there were a speed camera for our thoughts!
Even when we try to relax, our minds can keep running, thinking about tomorrow or what happened yesterday. Meditation helps us stop this constant thinking and enjoy the peace of the present.
When you meditate, it’s not about falling asleep or zoning out. It’s about being fully aware, without needing to think all the time. You’ll notice the spaces between your thoughts, and in those quiet moments, you’ll find true peace.
Wisdom comes from a quiet mind. When your mind is still, it becomes clear, like a calm lake reflecting the truth. You don’t force your mind to be quiet, just like you wouldn’t force your body to relax. Instead, you gently guide your mind to settle down.
Be kind to your mind
Many people treat their mind like a tough boss—they expect it to focus and get upset when it doesn’t. But this won’t help your mind relax. Instead, think of being kind to your mind, treating it gently with patience.
Imagine a kind boss who helps their employees feel good and relaxed. This is how we should treat our minds in meditation—with kindness. When you’re gentle with your mind, it’ll relax, and meditation becomes more enjoyable.
The joy of relaxation
When you’re deeply relaxed, you’ll feel a kind of happiness that comes from within. It’s not the quick, temporary happiness of entertainment or distractions, but a deep, lasting peace. As you meditate more, this feeling will grow stronger.
Eventually, you might feel joy in meditation that’s so peaceful, it becomes delightful. Many bhikkus even describe meditation as “fun,” not because of outside things, but because of the happiness they feel inside.
Please join us meditating via this video https://youtu.be/OXzpoktbOpA
