"The word 'meditation' covers many mental experiences, but the goal of Buddhist meditation is to see things as they are; it is a state of awakened attention. And this is a very simple thing. It isn't complicated or difficult or something that takes years to achieve. It is so easy, in fact, that you don't even notice it...
You are [likely] conceiving of it as something you have to attain -- you have to subdue your defilements, you have to control your emotions, you have to develop virtues in order to attain some kind of ideal state of mind...
The real challenge is to develop attention, awakenedness, in the flow of life. This doesn't remove the option of going on retreat or diminish the value of it in any way. The point is to look at meditation as awakenedness and awareness throughout daily life in whatever conditions. There is in that the sense of allowing things to be in this present moment, allowing whatever way the body is or the emotional and mental states right now to be the way they are. Just be the observer of what is. Right now the mood is 'this', 'I feel this.' Just be aware whether you are confused, indifferent, happy, sad, uncertain or whatever. Be that which allows things to be as they are."
Ajahn Sumedho
Chapter One, Starting From Here
Don't Take Your Life Personally
Our current cyber course for our dana group for experienced sharma students is at: http://v1.lore.com/03-2012.rees-2 Contact me so we can connect on Skype and for entry code
