Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog

from Thomas Peace

True meditation is not something that one can know that one is engaged in.  Like humility, true meditation occurs to the mind unawares; it is not something that can be recognized.  One can not “know” that one is humble.  Likewise, one cannot “know” that one is meditating. True meditation and true humility are both beyond the field of “the known.”  Therefore, both are beyond the realm of recognition by the self; for recognizing is in the field of “the known,” whereas humility and meditation are of “understanding” and not “knowing.”

To practice meditation is folly.  For one cannot practice what is beyond causality.  One can practice what is within a cause and effect continuum — such as learning to play a man-made instrument — but true meditation is an all-encompassing, non-conditioned, non-fragmentary thing.  Therefore, it is beyond the realm methodology within phenomena involving common causality.  Interestingly, a lot of people claim that they practice a form of meditation.  However, true meditation, being beyond what can be mechanically “practiced” within causality, does not exist for such erroneous individuals.  You can practice something rather dead and mechanical… but you can’t practice “aliveness,”  “awareness,” “insightful compassion,” and “holistic understanding”… and that (despite what many so-called experts say) is what meditation may really involve.

A wise, sagacious mind is (in itself) meditation.  However, such meditation is not something that it practices as part of some methodology.  A wise, sapient mind goes beyond the clutches of practice and methods… because such a mind intelligently goes beyond the field of the “known.”  Such a mind goes beyond the realm of mere symbols and representations that words and labels are a part of.  Such a mind goes beyond mere symbols… but not by any process of practice or methodology.  True insight is instantaneous: no time is involved for it to (finally) come about.  All methods and forms of practice take time.  A wise mind (of true meditation) exists beyond what takes time in order to manifest.  Interestingly, true meditation, being beyond mere practice and being beyond mere methods… is, in a significant way, beyond the causality of time.

Beware of those charlatans who offer a concrete form of meditation to you (for you to practice).  What they give you may make you feel happy or comfortable for a limited time. However, what is not true meditation is merely a crutch.  It is not the indelible gem of many indescribable facets.  So, regarding those that offer you some form of methodology or prayer to attain enlightenment: run from them and do not fall into their clutches.  Meditation is only what can occur for the individual of (and by) his (or her) own accord.  It is a harmony that others cannot bestow upon you.  Read my book (about self-awareness) at http://www.eternalfountainofyouth.com.  The book will not provide you with mechanical methods to practice (like some kind of robot); it will not give you methodologies to follow like some kind of lemming.  It will, however, encourage you to wake up and realize that what you do in infinitely important.  However, if you are merely a “follower” and a lemming, then what you do will always be limited and confined.  True meditation never blossoms forth from what is always merely limited and confined.  True meditation is an explosion of infinite awareness and understanding… an awareness and understanding that no one can merely regulate out to you.

from Emily Dickinson:

A COUNTERFEIT — a plated Person —

I would not be —

Whatever strata of Iniquity

My Nature underlie —

Truth is Good Health — and Safety, and the Sky,

How meager, what an Exile — is a Lie,

And Vocal — when we die —

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www.eternalfountainofyouth.com

Warm Regards,

Thomas Peace (author)

Photograph of Butterfly by Thomas Peace copyright 2012