The Easiest Meditation Can Be the Hardest

Most people agree that anything in your life that brings you closer to achieving inner peace is a "good" thing. By the same token, anything in your life that steals your inner peace is a "bad" thing. So something that brings you peace for just a short time, such as drinking, drugs, or casual sex, cannot be "good" because it does not impart genuine inner peace. To really qualify for being "good," an activity must bring you everlasting inner peace. But often that peace does not come easily.

For example, it often takes a war to bring about lasting peace between two enemies. Politics and history have demonstrated this through the ages. Deadly enemies throughout World War II, the countries of the United States, Germany, Russia, and Japan are now close partners involved in global mutual developments, at peace. There is a similar war-like interaction taking place within each of us, involving the mind, emotions, and body. This battle prevents us from achieving real inner peace. As the daily events of our life take place, we react emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically, in different ways to different events. This reactivity can make our life seem to be out of control, vacillating between sorrow and joy, without ever achieving lasting peace. The resulting conflict and anxiety is always evident to our inner awareness-our Real Self. The inner Witness to your life has always been with you, and has always been silent, non-judgmental, non-labeling, and without comment, and it will always be present.

Your Witness is always aware of your mind's thoughts, your bodily sensations, and your feelings. If you can get your inner chattering to stop, then you will be able to relax in your mind's eye and just witness the reactions of your body and your mind. When this occurs, your higher intuitive center will kick in, and you will inherently know what to do. You will be able to witness the actions of your mind, body, and emotions, and either end the reactivity that has stolen your peace, or begin doing things to achieve peace in your life.

You may have been struggling with an issue for years, despite the struggle causing you endless suffering and distress. Your friends and family may have told you over and over that your life would be filled with peace if only you would stop this foolish behavior. But you didn't listen, or maybe you justified it with an illogical reason, such as saying that it felt good whenever you stopped. When you read this just now, did your inner Witness react in embarrassment, recognizing your own struggle? Did you get angry and defensive, denying that this description could apply to you?

You would probably not keep banging your head against a wall if you would only allow your inner Witness to recognize that you are doing it. The 108 meditation technique is an excellent way to let your inner Witness observe your mind's activity and intervene. This technique begins simply, but is almost always difficult to master. Begin by relaxing yourself in the way that you have determined to be the best for meditating. Focus your attention completely on your breathing. Observe as you take air into your body, hold it for a moment, then exhale. Silently say to yourself, "One." Repeat your breathing, and say, "Two." Continue counting silently, all the way up to 108. Although this seems like it will be easy to do, do not be surprised when you find that it is actually difficult. It is usually hard to concentrate well enough to reach 108 without being distracted by thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations. Your mind has been in control for all of your life, and you have been a slave to your mind, so there is going to be a battle for control. You have frittered away parts of your life because you have spent far too much time rehashing the past and dreaming about the future. Your mind is constantly rebelling if you try to control your life as it is taking place.

Your breathing always takes place in the present. Therefore, if you pay attention to each breath and count it, you will have the potential to experience reality-because reality can occur only now, in the present. You cannot achieve inner peace in the past or the future; it is available right now, and present right now. All you must do is stop being distracted from the past or the future. When you practice the 108 meditation technique, if your mind takes you away from focusing on your breathing, you must not scold yourself. If you see that you are concentrating well, you must not become too happy with yourself. Both of these extremes will be distracting.

One of the greatest benefits of the 108 meditation technique is that counting allows you to gauge your own progress as you practice. When you first try it, you may reach only the number 15 before you become distracted by the chattering of your mind, the twitching and nervousness of your body, or your emotions or thoughts. But a week later, you may find that you have been able to keep your attention focused on your breath all the way to 52, or even higher! You will find over time that you will be able to be silent and witness your mind being obedient, and accomplishing the task you have set it to, You will eventually reach 108 successfully. Then you can consider yourself to be the master of your inner self, rather than being under the control of your mind, emotions, and body. You can then use them as tools to help achieve the inner peace you have been pursuing for your entire life. You will become more and more aware of your inner Witness-the blissful, serene, pure consciousness inside you that is your real self. Upon discovering this inner self, you will no longer need techniques, tools, or concepts, and you will live happily ever after.