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Beginner's Mind Meditation

By Mila Diamond
November 4, 2007

I came across a deadly tendency in my meditation practice, many times throughout the years. Then I observed my students experiencing it too and decided to address it in this article. The tendency that I am talking about is a feeling of familiarity. Here how it goes: you sit down to meditate and settle into a comfortable daze; the energy raises a little, giving a pleasant sensation; your mind starts to drift off and without realizing it, you find yourself thinking about what ever it is on your mind, daydreaming, coming up with wonderful ideas, etc. As your meditation session winds down, you promise yourself that you are going to focus and meditate really well… the next time you meditate. You get the picture.

So, here are a couple of thoughts that may help you if you find yourself in this pattern:

The feeling of familiarity: Our mind is wired to label experiences. This way, the next time it finds itself in a similar situation, it can simply access the label or pattern and doesn't have to process the data. The mind is trying to conserve the energy… but it's only through active effort and exercise that we develop body and mind.

Why this is deadly: Labels are what stands between you and the true experience of life, people and yourself. When we experience life through labels, we are missing all the fun! To perceive life through labels is the opposite of being present, in the moment, here and now. It is the opposite of being alive! If you are experiencing familiarity, it is ONLY because you operate through the labels. While labels are convenient, they are your limitations.

Solution: As soon as something feels familiar, remember that you're accessing a label/pattern created by your mind. This label has nothing to do with the object of your perception, be it something or someone. Just think of your favorite food or dessert – the first bite feels like heaven, but by the tenth bite we're munching away. There is a tradition in France, to drink a gourmet coffee with cold water after each sip. The water clears the pallet, allowing taste the deliciousness of the next sip of coffee, fresh and anew. Think of your mind as a pallet that you clear after each bite of experience, be it meditation or life. Life doesn't even exist outside of your perception. You connect the dots with your mind, creating the experiences… Exploring the universe without connecting the dots is meditation. Imagine yourself being a new visitor to human existence. How would you feel each sensation? How would you experience a thought or a feeling that arises when you never thought or felt it before? How would you experience each moment of meditation if it were your first? When you use this beginner's mind approach, you will come up to the experiences and realizations that are outside of your current level of perception. But as these exciting new feelings come up, let them go and keep meditating. The further you go, the more powerful and beautiful the experience.

I wish you well on your journey!

With much love,

Mila Diamond

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