The Essence of Meditation

Meditation can be categorised into three types: objective meditation, subjective meditation and non-meditation. Objective meditation, or the Progressive Path, involves focusing the mind on an object, such as the breath or a mantra. Subjective meditation, known as the Direct Path, turns attention inward to the source of awareness. Non-meditation, or the Pathless Path, is a state of self-resting and self-abiding without the use of the mind. The goal is to recognise our essential self, free from the influence of experience. Our self is always present in our thoughts, feelings, and actions, but clear self-knowledge is often veiled. Meditation helps us return to the transparent and luminous nature of our essential self. By emphasising the awareness of ‘I am’ in all experiences, we can uncover the shining essence of our being. Ultimately, meditation culminates in non-meditation, where meditation becomes our natural state of being, the water of our self.