When it comes to contemplative practices and meditation, the most common question I am asked is how to deal with all the thoughts that seem to pop up.
I certainly get it. You approach your practice carefully to cultivate space - you get settled and grounded. You settle in with a few deep, slow breaths, close your eyes and … it's like the circus comes to town with a multitude of thoughts. Some are banal, others are more pressing, and some are just weird.
It’s a challenge to settle in for your contemplative time in this space.
I have found this practice helpful:
I imagine a stream or river in a beautiful setting. I focus my attention on the water - how it moves, keeps flowing and the sound it makes as it passes by me. The river represents the flow of consciousness.
First, thoughts are par for the course. The issue is not the thoughts themselves (in this context). The issue is what we do with the thoughts.
Often, the temptation is to grab onto them and be carried away with them - distracting us from our practice.
My practice is to see the thoughts of pieces of driftwood or debris in the river in my mind. I see /acknowledge the thought and let it go - down the river as I return my attention to the river.
Some days, my contemplative practice is more about letting go and returning my focus to the river, but most days (now), it’s more about the river.
The object of the practice is letting go and returning to the relational, contemplative space between you and the source of life, the God who is love.
Be kind to yourself.
Many find themselves frustrated with the intrusion of thoughts and get angry with themselves. The truth is getting angry with yourself will undoubtedly take you further away from your practice.
“But, Michael, I really want to focus on God.”
I hear you, but being hard on yourself won’t get you there.
Thomas Keating used to say that 1000 distractions are 1000 opportunities to return to God. This is good practice.
The key is not having any thoughts but not clinging to them. Letting them continue down the river.
Regular practice of letting go will make letting go easier (and quicker) in our contemplative practices and other areas of our lives.
Sola Caritas,
Michael
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