Sogyal Rinpoche – What Meditation Really Is

Meditation There are many levels or stages to meditation, but the ultimate purpose of meditation is to awaken the sky within us.-Like nature of mind, and to expose us to what we really are, our unchanging, pure awareness that underlies all of life and death.

Our lives are often dominated by endless activity and distractions that keep us from our real selves. Our lives are so fragmented that we don’t know who we are or which aspects of ourselves to identify with. Many contradictory voices, feelings, and dictates vie for control of our inner lives, leaving us scattered in every direction, without any place to call home.

MeditationThe goal is to bring the mind home.

Meditation can help our minds to settle and then something amazing happens: All the parts of us that are broken down come home and we become whole. Negativity, aggression, pain and suffering are all dispelled. The feeling of peace, freedom, and space is followed by a deep stillness.

As we grow and become more in touch with ourselves, our ordinary thoughts and emotions are disarmed and dissolved. As we progress, immense love and compassion start to shine through, just as the sun with all its warmth. It is not just that we feel in touch with ourselves; but also with others. Our tendency to grasp disappears and so does the conflict, suffering, and pain of fighting and fragmenting with ourselves. We feel content being who we are, wide-eyed, open-minded, awake, and at peace.