Exploring Awareness Through Meditation
Exploring Awareness in Meditation: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Meditation is not a one-size-fits-all practice; it’s a journey of self-discovery where you can explore different types of awareness to find what resonates best with you. Many people give up on meditation because they feel they're doing it wrong or haven't found the right approach. The truth is, there's no wrong way to meditate, and understanding the variety of awareness types can be enlightening.
Focused Awareness: Honing Your Concentration
One of the most familiar forms of meditative awareness is focused awareness. Here, you concentrate on a single point—whether it's a sound, your breath, a candle flame, or guided meditation. The key is gently bringing your attention back whenever it wanders. While challenging, this practice strengthens your focus muscle. Personally, it's the type of awareness I find most challenging, which likely means I need more practice (we all do!).
Flexible Awareness: Finding Flow
In flexible awareness, you let your attention flow naturally from one thing to another. It's like following the rhythm of a river, allowing your awareness to dance with whatever captures your attention. While you still need to guide yourself back when distracted, this approach can be more beginner-friendly. My favorite way to engage in flexible awareness is by immersing myself in nature: savouring the feeling of the sun on my skin, and then being carried away by the song of a bird, then noticing the rustle of wind in the trees, and perhaps the feeling of the wind on my face, and so on…
Open Awareness: Embracing Multiplicity
Open awareness invites everything in at once. Unlike the one-at-a-time focus of the previous types, this practice involves holding multiple perspectives simultaneously. It's a powerful tool for expanding your mind towards non-dualistic thinking. While initially it can feel overwhelming, practice makes it easier, revealing the harmonious symphony of the world. Again, nature is my preferred setting for this (you may see a trend here), engaging as many senses as possible. What I love about this practice is it helps you to contemplate your role in the orchestra: If you weren’t observing, how would you be contributing?
Natural Awareness: Observing the Observer
Lastly, there is natural awareness and this is where it gets trippy. Natural awareness delves into the observer within. It's about being aware of who is aware. We all have a witness consciousness; we can observe our thoughts and emotions, yet we are separate from them. When we observe these aspects from a distance or from a third-party perspective, we ask, "Who is observing?" This practice leads to the fundamental question of "Who am I?" and invites us to sit with that question in contemplation. Like all forms of meditation, natural awareness can bring about feelings of bliss and euphoria. Personally, I find this awareness type particularly meaningful, as it connects us deeply to our core essence.
Experimenting with Awareness: Your Personal Journey
I invite you to play with these awareness types and notice which resonates most with you. You can try them individually or in a sequence that feels right. Remember, the essence of meditation lies in persistence and self-compassion. Whether you meditate for a minute or an hour, each session strengthens your awareness muscle. Embrace the journey, and imagine the depths of insight waiting to be uncovered!