E is for Enlightenment

Posted on April 6, 2015 by joey

No, no, I’m not going to tell you how to become enlightened — like I can even claim to possess such divine knowledge. Do I seem remotely enlightened to you? Am I free from worry? Hah! *cries*

Enlightenment

I am a student of life.
I dunno why we’re all here. I do hold the opinion that there is a purpose for everything, but I wouldn’t go so far as to quote Ecclesiastes.

I’ve had gobs of enlightening experiences and epiphanies, and what I’ve discovered is that they do not transfer.

I can tell you certain truths which may be considered universal, but they only resonate with those who are ready to hear them.

a-teacher-will-appear1

Until we’re ready, truths remain unknown.

Here’s one right now: Spending just 20 minutes a day in silent contemplation will change you.

I am hesitant to use the word meditation, although I call it that. The word meditation seems to evoke anxiety and confusion for many people. People get hung up on whether they’re doing it right, or berate themselves for inability to focus, or wonder if they need to chant, or have a guide, or listen to specific sounds, which really only adds stress to a situation that should be stress-relieving, and therefore defeats the purpose.

steps-to-enlightenment-2
There isn’t really a right way. There are methods, there are schools, there are types, and you will figure it all out when the time is right. The time will never be right until you begin.

Just be still. Turn off your ringer. Don’t talk. Close your eyes or stare at something beautiful. Think what you like. Don’t push things from your mind. Watch the images in your brain change. The number of scenes, memories, burdens, words, thoughts, and feelings will overwhelm you. Over time, the rapidity of the images lessen. The thoughts and feelings change. The words slow down. You change.

Like anything else you’ve ever done in your life, it might feel challenging and uncomfortable the first time. You may get distracted by the ticking clock, or the dog gnawing on a bone, or that chirping cricket. It may take practice. You may give up.
When you are ready for change, and open to possibility, you will find that 20 minutes of your day is a worthy commitment. Like flossing, or exercising, or prayer, or anything else you do on a daily basis, you might skip a day here or there, and your results will vary accordingly to your practice, as things do when you don’t allot time for them.

gregory-colbert-ashes-and-snow-v1

I do not promise enlightenment, or revelation, or even the tiniest epiphany. I can’t say you’ll find any deities or answers. I don’t promise more synchronicity or freedom from your body. I can’t say you’ll reap benefits in terms of spirituality or health. But I do promise people have experienced all of these things because of meditation.

I have struggles like everyone else, some shared, some completely my own.
Ones I share with others are better and worse because there are always people to talk to about them.
Ones I carry on my own are better and worse because no one tries to talk about them.
See how that works?

It doesn’t matter how big or small, universal or personal your struggles are. Meditation is free, it’s self-contained, it’s tidy.

The answers really are within you, and I hasten to add, the answer is often acceptance.

september-27-2012
Did you need to read any of this today?

About joey

Neurotic Bitch, Mother, Wife, Writer, Word Whore, Foodie and General Go-To-Girl
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

32 Responses to E is for Enlightenment

  1. Josh Wrenn says:
    April 6, 2015 at 10:25 AM

    Great post. I think this is where the term “hard truth” comes from. Sometimes facing the truth can be difficult, but once there and accepted, one usually feels better about things. I am trying to face some of my own realities and it is nice to be reminded that it may not be easy, it just is. Also, I want to share this with two of my friends who aren’t on WP, who I think really need to read this right now.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. meANXIETYme says:
    April 6, 2015 at 10:28 AM

    I’m working on taking the time to meditate daily. I do think that the zen-state I feel when I’m crocheting is very helpful for my anxiety, but it’s not the exact same thing as shutting everything down.
    I’m one of those people who try to do things perfectly and the berate myself when I can’t get it “right” even though there isn’t really a “right”. Like yoga…that infuriates me because I can’t do it the way the instructor is doing it and so I feel like a failure.
    Also, I am one to try to push things from my mind when I’m trying to meditate. I feel like if I’m sitting there and all these thoughts are rushing me, it ramps up my anxiety. So, still a work in progress. Imagine that. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Boeta: RumblingOcean & Having fun with camera blogs says:
    April 6, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Like the last part especially, acceptance…

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Poui Season says:
    April 6, 2015 at 11:26 AM

    I love, love, love this post. Over my life, I’ve struggled so badly with my relationship with my father. At one point, I thought that understanding him meant being closer, sharing that understanding with him – then when it backfired, it occurred to me that sometimes understanding a thing doesn’t mean that you CAN change it. Sometimes enlightenment really is just the simple act of acceptance or letting go.

    ❤ Lovely post!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Dan Antion says:
    April 6, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    Great post. 20 minutes seems like such a long time, until I think about all the time I’ve spent in meetings that served little or no purpose. 20 minutes for me sounds very nice. I’m not sure I “needed” to read this, but I’m glad I did.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Carrie Rubin says:
    April 6, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    Wonderful post. I don’t meditate (or practice silent contemplation), but I know the people who do swear by it. I always tell myself I should, and then I never do. I guess the closest I get is at the end of yoga when I’m doing corpse pose. Sometimes I let myself lie there for 5-10 minutes and just be. But inevitably the demands of the day call. Which probably means I’m the type of person who could really benefit from meditation!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. cardamone5 says:
    April 6, 2015 at 2:25 PM

    I was on the wheel in my mind, running, running, running until I read this post. It stopped my movement, and made my brow furrow, but it is good and I will try 20 minutes a day, starting right now…go.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Sammy D. says:
    April 6, 2015 at 2:44 PM

    Great post and message!! I needed to hear you call it ‘not meditation’ because I’m one who gets hung up on not doing it correctly and giving up ( even though I don’t have anyone I’ve disappointed!). I do, however sit still often and stare out the window at trees or spend a summer evening watching cloud formations. I will try to make a more regular practice of that to see if my thoughts recede.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. AJ Lauer (@ayjaylauer) says:
    April 6, 2015 at 6:09 PM

    I prefer moving meditation. Running, gardening.. Both allow me to have the thoughts come and go as I focus on my rhythmic movement. Lovely post 🙂
    ~AJ Lauer
    an A-Z Cohost
    @ayjaylauer on Twitter

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Deborah says:
    April 7, 2015 at 3:36 AM

    I’m thinking maybe I did need this today. Thanks 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. markbialczak says:
    April 7, 2015 at 4:39 PM

    I like it, Joey. I need to take some time every day to be me only, quietly.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. LindaGHill says:
    April 7, 2015 at 5:06 PM

    I do need to be reminded once in a while, thank you.
    I made it through the hardest time of my life with meditation. The ability to just let go and think about nothing (which is very very hard to do!) is healing indeed. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Sherry says:
    April 8, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    yes to all of it.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Britt Skrabanek says:
    April 8, 2015 at 11:54 PM

    Love this! Just the word “meditation” does scare people off, so I always try to explain as you did—that it’s different for everyone and you have to find what works for you. Great post, doll.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.