Meditation: Between the Thoughts

Maureen Clyne has practiced yoga for more than thirty years and is still trying to figure out how to meditate.  Here she shares a lesson from her favorite teacher, Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.  May this bring peace and light into your heart.

For years I tried, and failed, to establish a meditation practice.  Many teachers vaguely said, “…just sit and quiet the mind".  I even subscribed to a Buddhist magazine in hopes of learning meditation technique, but it seemed that every article repeated the same thing over and over to the point where it became cliche: sit, empty the mind and watch the breath.  Easy for them to say.  The problem was, no one mentioned the most important thing: how in the world do you quiet the mind? I'm sure you can relate to that one, yes?

In 2002 I had the amazing fortune to begin a two-year teacher training with Georg Feuerstein, Ph. D. – one of the greatest authorities on yoga in the West.  Georg was also a deep and devoted Buddhist practitioner.  I had wanted to study with Georg for years and here was my chance.

On our first morning, we took our seats for morning meditation (at 5:00 am!).  Georg placed great emphasis on meditation, and indeed the entire premise of yoga is, ultimately, meditation.  I felt a bit intimidated in his presence and deep down, suspected that I was a “bad” yogini because I was a lousy meditator.

That morning, as the sun rose over the California mountains Georg said something that changed my life. 

I was struggling with all the thoughts crowding into my head... 

My legs hurt.   

I’m hungry.   

I wonder what kind of food the ashram serves?   

Do they have pancakes?   

I could really go for some right now.   

I don’t know anyone here - who am I going to sit with at breakfast?  

 What if nobody wants to sit with me?  

“Seek the silences between the thoughts.”  Georg’s deep, resonant voice and German accent suddenly brought me back.  He continued, “Everything in nature has a beginning, a middle and an end, including thoughts.  If a thought comes into your mind, simply wait for the silence that is sure to come when it ends.”

Wow.

Simple and yet so profound.  So when a thought arrives, don’t panic!!  You’re not a bad yogi because you had a thought - thinking is what the brain does.  Relax and wait for the thought to end – you know it will.  When it does end, sink into that silence before the next thought comes around.  It may be only a split second – that doesn't matter.  What matters is having the patience to wait for one thing to end before another begins.  As the mind becomes accustomed to meditation, those silences between the thoughts will become longer, deeper, wider.  And that is where consciousness lies. 

So tomorrow morning, take a comfortable seat in a quiet place.  Relax the head, the neck, back and torso.  Relax the legs and feet, root down through the sit bones. Breathe gently through the nostrils and soften the face.  And then...  Seek the silences between the thoughts.

Offered in memory of my beloved teacher Georg Feuerstein, Ph. D.  

Meet Maureen by signing up for her 6:00am  core yoga flow class! A wonderful way to start your day!