Rev. angel Kyodo williams, an ordained Zen priest and author of Radical Dharma, shares insights on navigating anxiety through meditation. She discusses the challenges of finding stillness in a chaotic urban life, emphasizing the transformative power of quiet reflection. Rev. angel explores the emotional journey during meditation retreats, unveiling personal growth and empowerment. She champions the significance of embracing both joy and pain to cultivate a fulfilling existence, closing with an invitation to a transformative meditation event.
Meditation can provoke discomfort as it forces individuals to confront their inner thoughts, emphasizing the importance of embracing this challenge for self-discovery.
Rev. angel Kyodo williams advocates for a meditation practice that harmonizes with daily life, encouraging engagement with life's complexities rather than retreating from them.
Developing compassion through meditation helps individuals respond to anger and frustration with understanding, fostering empathy and reinforcing patience in a divided world.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Sitting Quietly
Sitting quietly can provoke feelings of anxiety and discomfort, as many struggle to confront their thoughts and emotions without distraction. The act of meditation can become intimidating, likened to facing a final boss in a video game. Many people often view this practice as an escape from a hectic life rather than an opportunity for profound self-discovery. Acknowledging this discomfort is a significant first step towards understanding how to engage with meditation meaningfully.
Meditation as a Practice of Presence
Meditation encourages returning to the present moment, promoting a deeper connection with oneself rather than escaping into distractions. This process involves recognizing and sitting with oneself amidst external chaos, allowing for a peaceful coexistence with life's challenges. The understanding that calmness and chaos coexist can lead to a clearer perspective on personal experiences. Through consistent practice, individuals learn to navigate their feelings, leading to a more profound sense of self-awareness and contentment.
Living with the Elbows of Life
Rev Angel Kyoto Williams emphasizes the importance of cultivating a meditation practice that integrates into one's everyday reality rather than retreating from it. Many mainstream meditation instruction styles stem from monastic traditions, which may not align with the busy lives most people lead. The idea is not to remove oneself from worldly influences but to learn how to engage with life’s challenges, represented metaphorically as 'elbows,' in ways that reduce friction and allow for a smoother existence. This approach recognizes that every environment has its complexity, and one can practice mindfulness amid it all.
Compassion in Meditation
A crucial aspect of meditation discussed is developing compassion, both for oneself and for others, including those one may disagree with intensely. By practicing compassion, individuals can navigate feelings of anger or frustration towards others, including public figures, with understanding rather than judgment. This practice involves recognizing that harm often reflects a person's own suffering, which can foster empathy and a desire for healing. Compassion meditation not only helps in dealing with challenging emotions but also reinforces the need for patience and grace in a polarized world.
Exploring Motivation and Practice
The motivation to engage in meditation often stems from a desire for escape or relief from anxiety and stress. However, true growth in meditation involves maturing beyond this initial impulse, recognizing the practice as a means to embrace the complexities of life. As one’s understanding deepens, the focus shifts from merely seeking calm to cultivating a genuine acceptance of life's joys and difficulties. This evolution highlights that meditation is not just about achieving silence; it's about fully experiencing and participating in one’s own life and existence.
What if there was an event in the future, the outcome of which you couldn’t personally control, but it was still causing you anguish?
This week, we talk to an ordained Zen priest and teacher to get some answers. Rev. angel Kyodo williams helps us learn how you could begin to quiet all the fears in your head that kidnap you from your actual life.
