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When you reach the summit of the meditation mountain, what do you see? If
we can trust the reports of the meditators and mystics who have climbed the
mountain before us, we can declare with some confidence that the top of the
mountain harbors the source of all love, wisdom, happiness, and joy. Some
people call it spirit or soul, true nature or true self, the ultimate truth or the
ground of being (or just being itself). Others call it God or the Divine or the
Holy Mystery, or simply the One. There are nearly as many names for it as
people who experience it. And some spiritual traditions consider it so sacred
and powerful that they hesitate to give it a name. |
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As for the experience of reaching the summit, seasoned meditators use words
like enlightenment (from ignorance), awakening (from a dream), liberation
(from bondage), freedom (from limitation), and union (with God or being).
An old saying likens all these words and names to fingers pointing at the moon.
If you pay too much attention to the finger, you risk missing the beautiful
moon, which is the reason for pointing the finger in the first place. Ultimately,
you need to experience the moon �?or in this case the summit �?for yourself. |
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Of course, you may have no interest in lofty states and experiences like
enlightenment or union. Perhaps you bought this book simply because you
want to reduce your stress or enhance your healing process or deal with
your emotions. Forget about the Holy Mystery �?a little more clarity and
peace of mind would suit you just fine, thank you very much! |
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Well, the truth is, you’re going to follow the same path no matter how high up
the mountain you want to go. The basic instructions remain the same �?but
you get to choose your destination. Among the most popular stopping places
and promontories en route to the summit are the following:
Stronger focus and concentration
Reduced tension, anxiety, and stress
Clearer thinking and less emotional turmoil
Lower blood pressure and cholesterol
Support in kicking addictions and other self-defeating behaviors
Greater creativity and enhanced performance in work and play
Increased self-understanding and self-acceptance More joy, love, and spontaneity
Greater intimacy with friends and family members
Deeper sense of meaning and purpose
Glimpses of a spiritual dimension of being
As you can see, these way stations are actually major destinations in their
own right, and all of them are well worth reaching. (For more on the benefits
of meditation, see Chapter 2.) You may be quite content to stop halfway up
the mountain, after you’ve reduced your stress, improved your health, and
experienced greater overall well-being. Or you may feel inspired to push on
for the higher altitudes that the great meditators describe. |
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