Beginning sub-ascetics

Meditation and meditative practices have been around for several thousand years, and it is tempting to think that if they had any efficacy, everyone would be meditating. The reason this argument isn’t valid is because meditation, besides everything else it is, is hard work, and the benefits are subtle (at least at the lower levels of practice.)

Another problem with meditative practices is the fact that they have frequently been tied to doctrines of theology that were at odds with the prevailing norms, and with credulity.

My own doctrine being limited to accepting that which is, I would like to propose an eminently practical rationale for meditating; the vast majority of people alive today have more control over the muscles that control their toes than they have of their mind.

Here is a simple illustrative test you can take to see how much control you have of your mind.

Sit somewhere comfortable, in a place that has few distractions. Turn off the T.V, shut off the lights, and close the door.

For the next ten minutes resolve to think only about your breathing.

Breathe in fully but comfortably, and then breathe out slowly. As you breathe out, count in your mind ‘One.’

Breathe in fully but comfortably, and then breathe out slowly. As you breathe out, count in your mind ‘Two.’

Continue this sequence until you breathe out counting in your mind ‘Nine’, and then start over again at one. Do this for about 10 cycles.

The first time I did this, I remembered about a day later that I had started it, and was quite embarrassed to find that I couldn’t remember having gotten to four. When I tried it again later that day, I realized that it was because, as had just happened, I had never gotten to four. My mind had wandered off, as I was inhaling for the count of ‘Three.’

Go ahead and try it.

Your mind is not under your conscious control.

But it can be, and more importantly, it should be.

Let this breath-counting meditation be your introduction to Heaven Path sub-ascetics.

Make a New Years resolution to practice the breathe-counting meditation for 10 minutes-a-day until you can maintain the breath count for the whole 10 minutes.

At that point, you will be able to see whether your long-term fulfillment would be improved by adding meditative practices to your daily routine.