While reading “A Meditator’s Initiation”, I found myself connecting with the experiences that Jane was partaking in. As the piece started, I immediately felt like I was there with her, experiencing it alongside her. Jane described feelings of fear for this new experience that was occurring. Often times when I am fearful like this in new situations, I do exactly what Jane did in her experience. My mind is racing and I often second guess my intentions and abilities. Initially my fear can have the tendency to get the better of me. After her experience, she questions herself “Why had I been so afraid?”. I think that this is a common thought when we encounter new, scary, and exciting things. The key is finding a balance between our perceived fears and the actual situation enfolding around us.
I have attended some mediation classes here in Minneapolis at Tergar Meditation Center. My first time attending a mediation class I felt overwhelmed, yet excited, and like Jane I was deeply observing the room I was in, the people that attended and their rituals, and the teacher and his ways. I was very conscientious of everything around me, both externally and internally. I think that there is nothing that can take away from the purity of a true first experience.
I enjoy some of the teachings mentioned in this text that Buddha taught. There were a few phrases: dukkha, sukkha, and anicca. Dukkha is suffering or unsatisfactoriness caused by wanting, desire, craving, clinging, grasping. Sukkha is the elimination of all desires, including the desire to cling to life itself. Anicca is impermanence, or a constant decaying and changing that is common to all things. All of these words have to deal with the idea of detachment along with truly experiencing, something I am constantly working towards.
In regards to learning abroad, a goal that I have coming on this trip is is to go into this completely new experience and to detach from my expectations. I also hope to diminish my fears and experience what comes my way and go with the flow. I am excited for what is to come in Thailand!
Julia, your thoughtful post helped to distill some of the insights in Hamilton-Merrit's "A Meditator's Initiation" while helping us get to know you a little by connecting it to your previous experiences with meditation. I especially like your sentence about "…the purity of a true first experience."
Julia,
I never meditate before, so I don't know how it really feel. But from what I hear, people who meditate become more patient and thoughtful. I think it's kind of cool that you have experience. I think it will be cool if you also see Thai people meditate in their own way. See you soon.