In master Kamalashila's text, the 'Stages of Meditation', he gives us some good news. You can get to stage one without being able to concentrate, or hold your breath, or sit still, or anything. You get to the first stage just by actually doing your meditation. So, out of the 10 stages he lists, one is kind of a freebie!
Like my teacher is fond of saying "half the battle is showing up!"
But sadly, it's not as easy as it sounds. The first meditation obstacle is technically translated as "laziness" in this ancient book, but in the experience of many, we should probably actually say it's more about prioritizing things other than meditating.
Because the truth is, you're not lazy. Many people who cannot start or continue a meditation practice are very vigorous when it comes to business, or play, or the like. So what's the deal? It's a matter of priorities. The classical response to this obstacle of meditation is that one is supposed to give herself a "pep talk". You have to uplift your faith in what the meditation is doing for you. If you have some experience with meditation, this gets easier, because you probably already know that it can make you calmer, or bring inspiration, or a host of health benefits. But even if you don't have this personal experience, you can read the life histories of meditators, or look at the modern research.
In times of adversity, though, the whole thing gets harder. I think maybe it's because we have this negativity bias in our brains that makes bad things seem much bigger than good, we maybe prioritize focusing on those bad things - to the detriment of things that can help us weather the storm.
It can be harder to give ourselves a pep-talk about the long-term benefits of meditation, when the short-term needs seem very pressing. On top of this, the brain is loathe to switch gears when it has gone into a fight or flight state. These survival states route blood into the more ancient parts of the brain that are concerned with the here-and-now, to the exclusion of other perspectives, and long-term visions and goals.
So, since it can be so hard to give oneself a pep-talk, allow me to give one to you!
1. Meditation is for times of adversity
Ok, don't believe the ads in the Yoga Journal. Meditation is not for middle-class white women who've just had their hair done and currently have not pressing issues. No. Meditation is for dealing with the trials and stresses of real life. Meditation is for school teachers, meditation is for activists, meditation is for prophetic souls. And, it's also for the ladies in the Yoga Journals.
2. This is what you've been practicing for
These times of adversity are a challenge to the soul, but the practice of meditation is meant to make the soul (psyche) more resilient. The promise of meditation is not that you'll fly off somewhere to a paradise where everyone is Cherubic and cute. Rather, it is that even when the circumstances around you are crumbling down, you can find that paradise within. And you can use it to deal with what is coming up.
3. You're going to need those resources
One of the best things about a meditation practice is that it brings many benefits (as long-term practitioners, and research can attest). Among these are increased insight, heightened immune systems, greater empathy and compassion, and more psychological resilience.
In times of adversity, this kind of insight and long-view, this enhanced physiological response, this resilience of the psyche, and ability to feel into others' experiences is exactly what we need. Because meditation is not about checking-out of the world. The thing about finding that paradise within is not some excuse to shut everyone out in a solipsistic fantasy. No, we are here to bring that possible peace to others. To unfold and evolve it from within ourselves. And to do that, we're going to need all our resources online.
If we can remember to practice - by remembering its importance - then we not only have the calm and peace within that we cannot find outside, but we have even more to bring to the table to make the outer world a better place.
So, if you're struggling, if you are afraid, certainly take good care of yourself. Don't push too hard at anything. But DO get on that cushion (or yoga mat, or artist's canvas, etc.) and actively shift your brain from short-term negativity into wider-view peace and compassion.
You'll be glad you did!
