Being Present

The practice of mindfulness meditation places us firmly in a paradoxical situation. Engaging in the practice requires setting an intention, as all activity requires intention. And yet, sustaining the practice works when we release that intention.

This paradox describes an attitude or state that students of mindfulness meditation are encouraged to adopt – an attitude of non-striving.

So many beginning practitioners, including myself, come into meditation with some idea that we would like to accomplish something specific. Whether really conscious of it or not, we all come with some desired outcome – or we wouldn’t be taking on the practices. At its most basic, we start meditation because we want to feel better – less anxious, less depressed, less physical pain, less hunger, and craving, less addiction, less stress, better relationships, and more success financially or in our careers. One way or another we want something to change.

All very reasonable. If we weren’t suffering in some form we would not be considering meditation as medicine for the suffering. Likely we have tried many other interventions and “medicines” to help us feel better. Not always with the desired outcome. So we find ourselves here, learning about mindfulness, because we have heard it’s a “miracle” (which it is not!).

And yet, at its heart, mindfulness meditation and living a mindful life ask us to learn to accept what is happening in the present and let go of the desire to change what is happening. Thus non-striving. Just being with what is. No pushing away. No bringing closer and clinging. No ignoring or burying under inattentiveness. Simply being with what is here.

Non-striving invites us to be aware that we have set an intention and then let that intention go. Practice meeting each moment with acceptance and non-judgment, first becoming aware of then letting go of any desire to change what is happening.

Non-striving invites us to rest in this moment with nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to be (TCVC Retreat 2.2024). Non-striving asks us to let go of the need to change anything. In the acceptance of things as they are, the door to change opens.