That was the title—Anywhere Anytime Meditation—of the meditation retreat I attended in Edinburgh, Scotland, in early July. Here are a few personal reflections.
Generosity
I think that’s the overarching impression that lingers. Mingyur Rinpoche’s generosity—that selfless giving, that open-heartedness, that pure offering—which he demonstrates every time I have the chance to study with him, but certainly even more so this time.
He conveys the heart of the teachings with surprising simplicity. Teachings on the nature of mind are traditionally secret in the Buddhist path and are revealed only after a long series of stages—most often after years of diligent practice and study and a great many retreats. Of course, we’ve been exposed to them from the very beginning—so they aren’t really that secret—but we have to travel a long path to finally recognize them in our own experience and then continue to cultivate that recognition day after day.
Rinpoche offers us the gift of trust in our innate intelligence and wisdom. He explains and demonstrates, very, very simply, that everything is already there from the very beginning. That all we need to do is relax into consciousness itself to access—perhaps fleetingly—the nature of the mind. Of course, we doubt whether we truly understand or recognize it; he laughs and reminds us that our awakened nature manifests itself in our very capacity to doubt.
My mind is well-trained, and I have years of study behind me, so yes, I understand; I no longer believe my doubts and know how to connect with the nature of the mind. But I can’t help but appreciate the value of these teachings, shared so effortlessly with an audience that is often new to this. Daring to be simple, daring to show that everything isn’t so complicated—or doesn’t have to be.
It’s exhilarating and inspiring to be in this state of presence. Meditation seems accessible to us in its most subtle nuances—effortlessly, without rituals, anywhere, anytime. Through his generosity and joyful presence, Rinpoche has demonstrated in an exceedingly convincing way that meditation is not something to do, but a space of being—something I have such a hard time conveying, certainly due to a lack of the right words.
In a world where “supermarket mindfulness” reigns supreme, such an authentic vision of meditation is both heartening and indispensable.
Gems
Here are some phrases I jotted down over the course of these three days; for me, they capture the essence of meditation. I can no longer say who said what, except on rare occasions—since there were so many speakers—but I dare to believe that on a path where personal territory is identified as a source of suffering, the intellectual ownership of these words no longer matters.
Meditation is not a tool for personal development; it is a process of self-discovery.
Meditation invites us to cultivate the mental dispositions that can alleviate suffering in the world—Mathieu Ricard
Meditation allows us to discover the “why” behind what we do (actions, thoughts, reactions, emotions).
What you are seeking is that which seeks.
Let us cultivate being while we are doing.
There’s a very common misconception: that meditation is about peace and calm. The essence of meditation is awareness; the rest are byproducts.
The goal is not to make the clouds go away, but to see the sky.
Let’s acknowledge our innate well-being, our awareness; with this acknowledgment, the clouds are already transformed.
Let’s be grateful to this mind that has allowed itself to be distracted, because it gives us the opportunity to return.
The part of you that knows you are afraid is not afraid.
The practice consists of simply being human.
Becoming friends with something doesn’t mean we end up loving it. We include it within a field of kindness.
We need not change what we feel; we simply need to surrender to that which is aware of our feelings.
Being with reality as it is—that is wisdom.