How I Came to Accept Thinking and Really Meditate

We hear a lot about meditation these days, whether from our next-door neighbors, social media, or Dr. Phil. Clearly, meditation is a popular and positive subject in today’s world, and no one contests its benefits for physical and mental health. Most of us are interested or downright eager to get started. Then there’s the “but”—

I’d love to meditate, BUT….

That is usually followed by:

• I have to study for a test.

• I have a big work presentation due tomorrow.

• I’m looking for a job.

• I’ve got to go grocery shopping.

• I have to take the kids to school.

• I have to put the kids to bed.

• I need to focus on finding that special someone so I can have kids.

• Some of the above.

• Other.

However, one of the main reasons we don’t even get started is because we’ve convinced ourselves that we can’t turn off our thinking long enough to meditate effectively. Since our brains are permanently attached, what do we do?

Why Meditate?

Physical and mental health sound like pretty good reasons, and they are—but there are much greater benefits. As Dr. Michael Gottlieb, founder of Royal Way Spiritual Center, writes: “Meditation is one of a very few effective ways of learning how to live fully.”

He continues, “There is the vision of God—only within. That is what meditation is all about. We have all tasted the other stuff, and it is good. There is good stuff out there. But it is not enough. Meditation brings you to that place where there is not even a question of more. Each moment is total fulfillment. Each moment is indeed enough. Meditation is where you learn how to live each moment to its fullness.”

Meditation connects us to that which is deeper within, the divine, who we really are. When we’re able to connect with and live from that place, we not only experience the beauty of our connection and integration with the divine, but we also function better when taking tests, grocery shopping, getting the kids to school, and “other.”

How to Meditate

So, you want to start meditating but don’t know where to begin? What do we usually do when we don’t know something? Hello, search engine! Google “how to meditate for beginners” and you could spend the remainder of your life sorting and sifting through mind-boggling amounts of information about meditation—without ever experiencing it.

Good news: There’s a better way.

Royal Way Spiritual Center offers retreats, workshops, and other happenings where we can experience our deeper selves, our truth. One of the main tools or vessels through which we discover our truth is meditation. As Michael writes, “Meditation brings back our natural intelligence. That is the divine in all things. That is what is meant by the divine. The intelligence that turns a seed into a pear or an apple is far deeper, far richer in the human once he discovers it, once he returns to it—and this happens through meditation.” 

Can I Really Meditate Without Thinking?

The short answer: no. The more involved answer: no. Through meditation, the objective or goal, if you will, is to still the mind, not eliminate it—which we don’t really want to do anyway. As long as we have our minds, thinking will be there. But how can I stop thinking to meditate effectively? Ah, that’s the rub, isn’t it? There’s always a rub, which is great if you’re barbecuing brisket, but not so great for stilling the mind. Marinate on that for a while.

Since our thinking minds are right there with us when we meditate, what do we do? First, we don’t try to stop thinking, we simply accept the thinking. But won’t that get in the way of meditating? Once we accept our thinking, we can then move through to the next phase— witnessing.

Michael speaks of Gautama Buddha’s vipassana meditation: “The literal meaning (of vipassana) is ‘to look.’ And the metaphorical meaning is to watch, to witness.”   He continues: “All other meditations are different forms of witnessing.”

First we accept. Then by watching our thoughts, witnessing them, our thinking doesn’t prevent us from meditating effectively—in fact, it leads to it! We don’t judge our thoughts or engage with them. We watch them pass by like clouds in the sky. No interference. No issue.

Granted, this is a process, and when you first start to meditate, your thoughts may feel irritating or problematic. Accept the thinking. Watch your thoughts. Gently come back to your center. This practice is part of effectively meditating.

Now What?

Back to the beginning: How I Came to Accept Thinking and Really Meditate. Let’s review: We have plenty of excuses for not meditating. None are valid. There are significant benefits to meditating, including physical and mental health, but more importantly, living fully and connecting to the divine within.

How to meditate? First, limit your use of barbecue metaphors. Second, accept thinking as part of the process. Then move to watching/witnessing. Then begin to experience a deepened connection to nature, to the mysteries of the universe, to the divine—and our essential eternal being.