The essential, simple, nature of meditation and its importance to us as a daily activity is presented in three quotations to be found in a wonderful article by Paul Foreman who produces his wonderful MindMaps as the medium for writing about personal development, spirituality and life generally. Compare the three;
From Dr Norman Vincent Peale from “The Power of Positive Thinking”:
“Everyone should insist upon not less than a quarter of an hour of absolute quiet every twenty-four hours. Go alone into the quietest place available to you and sit or lie down for fifteen minutes and practice the art of silence. Do not talk to anyone. Do not write. Do not read. Think as little as possible. Throw your mind into neutral. Conceive of your mind as quiescent, inactive. When you have attained a quiescent state, then begin to listen for the deeper sounds of harmony and beauty and that of God that are to be found in the essence of silence.”
From Thich Nhat Hanh from “Walking Meditation”:
“If you think that peace and happiness are somewhere else and you run after them, you will never arrive. It is only when you realise that peace and happiness are available here in the present moment that you will be able to relax. In daily life, there is so much to do and so little time. You may feel pressured to run all the time. Just stop! Touch the ground of the present moment deeply, and you will touch real peace and joy.”
From “One Minute Wisdom” by Anthony De Mello ISBN 0385242905
“The governor on his travels stepped in to pay homage to the Master.
“Affairs of state leave me no time for lengthy dissertations,” he said. “Could you put the essence of religion into a paragraph or two for a busy man like me?”
“I shall put it into a single word for the benefit of your highness.”
“Incredible! What is that unusual word?”
“Silence.”
“And what is the way to Silence?”
“Meditation.”
“And what, may I ask, is meditation?”
“Silence.”
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