Forget Everything You Know About Meditation: Do This Instead

The road to reflection is paved with pit stops

Life is a beautiful journey.

Yet all too often we feel rushed to get to our destination. Avoiding breaks, we pull over only when our gas tanks near ‘empty’.

Meditation is simply a chance to get out and stretch our legs.

But it’s a stop we rarely make.

The truth is, everyone can benefit from meditation. And, even the most hectic schedules allow time to meditate. To truly unlock the power of mediation, forget everything you know.

And embrace nothing.

Meditation is the art of nothing

There are two types of people in this world: those who meditate and those who haven’t found a practice that works for them — yet.

I used to be person #2.

I panicked at the idea of being alone with my thoughts. And when I didn’t immediately reach a state of zen, I’d blame the practice.

But what I was doing wasn’t the problem. It’s what I wasn’t doing.

We often think of meditation as having rules.

You must sit cross-legged. No moving. No thinking.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Meditation is a state of mind. Not an action. It’s a chance to remove yourself from reality and let your subconscious drive. You can do this by practicing the art of nothing.

Nothing is the driving force behind meditation

In Buddhism, there’s a concept called “Anatta’’, which translates to “not-self” or “nothing”.

The idea behind not-self is that the idea of self does not exist. Our perception of who we are (what we refer to as “self”) is merely a collection of 5 aggregates:

1. Physical body — also known as “form” (eyes, ears, arms, legs, etc.)

2. Basic feelings — simple emotions (joy, sadness, fear, etc.)

3. Perceptions — (sights, sounds, pain, pleasure, etc.)

4. Mental formations — (thoughts, habits, decisions, complex emotions, etc.)

5. Consciousness — or “awareness” (namely, awareness of the other 4 aggregates)

The 5 aggregates make up the human experience — what we think of as “ourselves.”

In Robert Wright’s book, “Why Buddhism is True”, he explains how we all like to think we are in the driver’s seat.

But we’re not.

If we could control our aggregates, why would anyone choose to feel pain, heartbreak, or discomfort of any kind?

In reality, we are more like co-pilots — influential passengers.

There are 4 passengers of self

Back-seat drivers are… well, annoying and unhelpful. Their advice usually comes in the form of:

“You should have turned back there.” Or, “I think we’re going the wrong way.”

We can be back-seat drivers of our minds too — overthinking and winding up lost. As we navigate life, we play 4 distinct characters:

#1. The driver

Sits in the driver’s seat and follows the map. But, is blind to the journey around them. The driver gets us to our destination but can’t appreciate the beautiful scenery along the way. The driver is a glorified passenger who can’t let go of the wheel.

#2. The sleeper

Is asleep in the back seat. They will arrive at the destination along with the others with no recollection of how they got there.

#3: The back-seat driver

Incessantly nags the driver with suggestions while not offering any constructive advice. A back-seat driver never takes responsibility for wrong turns.

#4. The willing passenger

Stares out the window and enjoys the ride. Quietly observing, a willing passenger trusts the driver and offers help when needed.

By practicing Anatta (not-self), you can learn to become a willing passenger.

The first step is to trust the driver — by accepting that it’s not you.

How to practice nothing

Have you ever seen one of those pixelated images that when you unfocus your eyes, becomes something beautiful?

Well, those images are called autostereograms. Looking at an autostereogram is the visual equivalent of practicing Anatta — unfocusing your brain.

Anatta is the detachment from your 5 aggregates.

Practicing it can be as simple as:

- Examining the grain on your wooden desk.

- Repeating the same word until it’s lost all meaning.

- Taking a deep breath while imaging something peaceful.

I love this practice because it truly embraces what it means to meditate — to do nothing. To be nothing. To think nothing and expect nothing.

Simply put, Anatta is an easy way to practice mindfulness.

Meditative micro-dosing.

7 ways to apply Anatta for a better life

Anatta is a versatile back-pocket tool for reflection. No beginning, no end, and literally no rules. It’s a compass, blissfully guiding you to nowhere.

I use Anatta:

1. When I can’t think
2. To re-visit my “why”
3. When feeling overwhelmed
4. To appreciate desirable feelings
5. When writing — to empty my brain
6. When making decisions (big or small)
7. When encountering undesirable feelings
8. When I need a break (but don’t want to take one)

Some of the most beautiful scenery is found while taking the time to stretch your legs.

Final words: take the scenic route

When embarking on the beautiful journey of life, be a willing passenger.

Accept that you are not the driver, but do have influence over your journey.

And most importantly, don’t wait for a designated pit stop to get out and stretch your legs. When it’s safe, pull over, take some time, and appreciate the view.

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