Meditation is less about hard concentration and more about gentle awareness. It involves observing your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them. This shift from doing to being – from active concentration to passive awareness – can be subtle but profound. Instead of trying to force your mind to be still, you gently guide your attention back to a point of focus, such as your breath, each time you notice it has wandered.

The root of much of our struggle lies in the mind’s tendency to become mechanical, repetitive, and confined within the limitations of its own conditioning. Our brains, shaped by tradition, education, and the constant need for adjustment, often operate within a limited and fragmented framework. This framework is centered around thought, which, being limited itself, creates a cycle of conflict and division.

In many spiritual traditions, desire is not labeled as inherently good or bad. Instead, it’s the attachment to desires and the intention behind them that matter most. Desires can be seen as natural impulses that motivate us to take action, pursue goals, and seek fulfillment in our lives. They become problematic when they lead to attachment, which can result in suffering, dissatisfaction, and a disconnection from our true selves.