Blueprint >> Meditation

Disclaimer: This document is in raw form as I process and distill 4 years-worth of my personal development notes. Expect some typos and cryptic language for now. I will be updating frequently and polishing up.

Prescription: Meditate for 20 minutes every day, no matter what.
Related Concepts: Consciousness, Enlightenment, Waking Daze, Happiness

What is Meditation?

The idea that you should develop a habit of daily meditation as a way to calm and discipline your mind. Mediate for 20 minutes every day and the quality of your life will dramatically improve after a few months.

Why is it Important?

Meditation solves so many problems at once: it builds discipline and willpower, it eliminates stress and negative thinking, it makes you present and happy without external stimulation, it cures loneliness, it improves work performance, and it can lead to enlightenment.

Meditation Videos

Meditation: Key Points

Biggest reason to meditate is get control over your automatic negative thoughts. Your mind is like a drunken monkey stung by a scorpion, and it's keeping you for success and happiness. 2

How to meditate: there's a lot of needlessly complex theory floating around. In fact, meditation is the simplest thing in the world:

• Sit in a chair in an quiet room all by yourself, away from distracting images or scenes. Sit with a relaxed upright posture. Breath slowly, deeply, and consistently using your stomach. Keep your eyes open. Quiet your mind and try not to think about anything at all. Sit perfectly still. Be totally present. As soon as a thought comes up, notice it and release it, clearing your mind once again. Keep doing this every time you notice a new thought come up. Do not fall asleep. Do this for 20 minutes straight. Do it daily, without ever missing a day.

Meditation must be made into a daily habit. There is no point in meditating if you skip days all the time. It takes weeks and months of consistency to start getting the real benefits. It's vital that you do it every day.

Although meditation is extremely simple, it is not easy. In fact, it's extremely difficult, especially at first, because your mind is out of control. You cannot maintain control over your mind for probably more than 5 seconds. That's okay, are just now been humbled and are starting to realize what it will take to develop true self-control.

Raise the priority of meditation relative to everything else in your life. The hard part about doing meditation is blocking out the time. You will never do it unless you put meditation ahead of work, and other "urgent" things. Schedule a fixed time when you can meditate. Morning or night works best because you have less distractions.

Common doubts about meditation:

• Thinking that missing a day is okay. No, it's absolutely not! If you miss a day, you might as well not start, because you will never be able to keep it up.
• Thinking that it's not as important as work. It amplifies your work. It makes you focused and clear-minded to do great work.
• Thinking that you need special pillows, a special seating position, a special breathing technique, or a special guided meditation CD. You don't need anything but a chair.
• Thinking that because you're doing it wrong, it's okay to quit. You aren't doing it wrong.
• Wondering if you're doing it wrong. Am I just supposed to sit here and not think of anything? Yes! Exactly! It will be very hard. Your mind will wander. Don't judge yourself, just notice it as soon as you can and empty your mind.
• Wondering if it should be this hard. Yes! It should be extremely hard. Cool, huh?
• Thinking that you need to take a class or read a book on meditation. No. You are procrastinating. Just meditate.
• Thinking that there is something specific you ought to be thinking about while meditating. No! The point is to clear your mind of all thought. If you are contemplating the meaning of life, who you are, etc. that is a totally different form of meditation. Don't use that as an excuse. The point is to clear your time.
• Finishing a 20 minute session and thinking that you've failed. You can't fail. Stop judging yourself. The point of meditation is to do a daily activity that has no immediate benefit.
• Thinking that because you are having an especially rough or busy day, you can skip meditation. On this day you especially need to make sure you meditate.

All the power of meditation is in the exercise of disciplining your mind. That is the only point. Rituals, theory, dogma, pillows, correct posture, group classes, etc. is not necessary at all, and often counter-productive. You can meditate on the couch, in your bed, on the toilet… doesn't matter. Don't get distracted by the ritualistic side of meditation. Those are just distractions.

The real reason why you don't meditate is that you lack discipline. You are lazy. That's it.

References

1. RSD Nation, Owen Cook
2. Optimal Living 101, Brian Johnson