How to find the Spaces of No Thought during Meditation

Every day I read about persons asking about meditation and how to do it. They share their frustration at not being able to ‘get it right’ because they cannot stop their thoughts. So instead of sitting and becoming quiet, emptying their minds and experiencing whatever they figure they should be experiencing, they end up with thoughts about work, their partner, their neighbour’s dog, their children, the economy, unemployment, the pandemic and…and as a consequence, no peace is felt. Then, upset and anxious, they see their ‘failed’ process as another thing they did not manage to get right.

I believe that there is no wrong or right when it comes to many things in life and meditation is one of them. Being unable to control our thoughts during meditation is not a sign of failure, it is a sign that we have a working mind. One of the things I encourage is to feel the space between. There are spaces between our breaths and spaces between our thoughts. Grab onto these and feel the quiet. At first, the space may only last a few seconds but eventually, it lengthens until almost an entire meditative session can be spent with little or no thought. I have not reached there as yet but I know it is possible. I have experienced my spaces lengthening and I relish the feeling, the quietness, the sinking into or rising up out these spaces.

On days when the spaces are short because mind is busy working overtime, I accept that is being the practice for the day and what was good for me at that time. When spaces are long, I experience the orgasmic bliss of it and accept that as being what was necessary for me to experience at that time.

Life is already full of judgments- being judged and judging others so we do not need to add our meditation practice to the pile.

Sit, if you want to, close your eyes and feel the calm.
Relish the spaces of no thought when they come.
Enjoy the marvel of the human mind whenever it decides to take charge.

It is always good, always.