I have met many people who do not want to meditate; yet they seek peace of mind. They just do not want to concentrate here or focus there. Their main point of contention is that they just do not have the power of concentration. I simply ask them, if they lacked power of concentration, how come they still retained their jobs? How could they possibly work for so many hours at a stretch?

Forget Concentration

People are surprised when I tell them that meditation needs NO concentration. When you try to concentrate, you force your mind to do something it does not want to do. In fact, you are creating more tension than providing release! What happens when someone imposes his will on you? It creates tension, does it not? The same applies to the mind. So, how can you expect to find peace coercing your mind to focus or concentrate? Forget this concentration business!

Awareness is the Answer

The simplest form of meditation is being AWARE of what you are doing. Here is a simple technique for those who DO NOT want to meditate.

Sit in your chair – slouch by all means, if that is what you want to do. Gently close your eyes. Just be aware of your breath. You will notice how shallow it is. The shallower your breath, the more tense you become. You will have to get out of your slouched position somewhat. Now, notice the way you breathe. It will not be as shallow as it was before. If you sit with your spine erect, it will facilitate deeper breathing.

So, gently close your eyes again, breathe softly and deeply while being aware of your breath. Be aware of the beautiful deep rhythm your breath settles down to. As your breath gets progressively slower and deeper, your consciousness may wander into another dimension of existence, where peace prevails. You may have been there for a second or a fraction thereof; but, when you come back, you will find yourself in an absolutely relaxed state.