MenoSunday; Life Lived Lovingly

Meditation defeats most people. Sitting thinking over all the world's woes, or one's own is not meditation. Pondering the finer points of any philosophical point would be considered contemplation, and can certainly yield benefits to the thinker, but this again is not meditation.

When one sits to meditate, it is with the intention that this will be the endpoint. All else leading up to that point is only rumination, observation, contemplation, cogitation... and often agitation!

Meditation is the point reached where all thoughts are suspended and one sits in awareness of consciousness but oblivious to all else. Including the flow of mind. If one has developed the ability to meditate purely, it can be done quickly and in any setting. For most people, though, until the skill is developed, it is conducive to have peaceful surroundings, minimal distractions, and any pressing tasks dealt with. If all external factors are settled, all that remains is to wrangle with oneself...