It’s Time To Meditate Outside the Box and Live Life Fully

Meditation is not what you think.

Some people meditate all day long. How is that possible?

Most of us meditate sitting on a chair or a cushion on the floor for a specified time. We sit down, get comfortable, place our hands in a certain way, close our eyes or keep them open.

Then we focus our minds on our breath, or a mantra — our meditation has begun.

We practice inside a box labeled “Meditation,” separate from the rest of our lives.

Perhaps we should meditate outside the box.

I meditate every morning. I’ve been doing it now for 412 consecutive days. And as my attention deepens, I’ve begun asking,

When does my meditation begin? And does it have anything to do with meditating for a certain number of days?

My Morning Routine

My morning routine does not begin at 4:30 AM.

It does not include a cold shower. I don’t put my running clothes beside my bed, so I can jump into them as soon as I’m awake and do a 5-mile run.

I get out of bed.

I weigh myself, get dressed in my meditation clothing, and go downstairs.

I take my thyroid pill and 1,000 MG of vitamin C. I pour a cup of coffee and watch some news on TV. Then I go into my office/meditation room to meditate.

I close the door with the “Meditating” sign hanging on the outside door handle.

My meditation begins as I close the door.

Then I attempt to do the following things with complete awareness. Of course, I fail, but I do the best I can.

• I light three candles.
• I set my meditation app/timer for 30 minutes.
• As the bell rings, I bow to my alter, walk over and light an incense stick.
• I bow to the incense; I bow to my chair, I turn around and bow again to the alter. I sit down and begin what most people call meditation.

What Is Meditation?

The “When does meditation begin” question begs this one: “What is meditation?”

Most people say it is sitting quietly in the present. And that is true, but is that all there is to it? The great 20th-century spiritual teacher Krishnamurti says this.

The Greatest Art in Life

Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life — perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it . . . When you learn about yourself, watch yourself, watch the way you walk, how you eat, what you say, the gossip, the hate, the jealousy — if you are aware of all that in yourself, without any choice, that is part of meditation. — J. Krishnamurti, Freedom From The Known

With those words, Krishnamurti expanded the definition of meditation. He took it from a chair in a quiet room to the subway, supermarket, workplace — anywhere!

The meditative mind is always aware of what is happening now, conscious of the suchness of things.

The meditative mind is not our never-ending thought stream.

Meditation is a particular way of paying attention. You are so attentive you forget about your thoughts.

You jack into the present moment.

You begin to live in reality, not in the dream-stream of your thoughts.

So When Does Your Meditation Begin?

Did my meditation begin when I sat done in my chair to focus on my breath? Or did it start when I lit the candles and incense? Or when I began my meditation timer? Took my vitamin C? Or when I got out of bed?

Meditation begins when you are aware. You’re aware you are eating, walking, talking, working, driving, bathing, or playing basketball.

So meditation can take place when you are sitting in a bus or walking in the woods full of light and shadows, or listening to the singing of birds or looking at the face of your wife or child. — J. Krishnanurti, Freedom From The Known

Am I completely present with my son when I’m texting with him? Or am I also glancing at the TV and eating peanuts? When I’m talking with my wife, do I hear her?

I’ve changed my mind about meditation. It’s not only something I do to calm my mind and improve my mental health.

Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life — maybe the greatest. We can all be artists and live life to the fullest if we give it our full attention.

Final Thoughts

Meditation is not just sitting alone in a chair.

Meditation is living your life, aware you are living it. Meditation is dialing your radio to the clear-channel station.

Meditation will expand your mind and move you closer to the essence of life.

If you’re a beginner, it’s best to think of meditation conventionally. Practice meditation as if it is 15-minutes of awareness. Keep practicing, and your awareness time will increase.

It took me more than 400 days of meditation before I came to this I conclusion.

Meditation Is Life.

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