“Stand here. From this point there is no words necessary but only heart.”

During my stay in Japan I saw this calligraphed writing as I walking into a main part of a temple, and thought these words are relevant to the process of meditation. When you sit and close your eyes, the mind disengages from external stimuli and it starts paying attention to what’s happening internally. During the practice, various thoughts and emotions will rise to the surface in the beginning.The practice is to see calmness underneath the ever rising and falling waves of thoughts and emotions.

Also, words are conveyed thoughts in the mind and feelings in the heart. Some feelings are able to be named or phrased, yet there are times when words fail to express what you are feeling. Wording has a limitation to express our experiences fully. It’s said the experience of meditation is beyond mind and senses; it is feeling rather thinking. While meditating you will encounter the moment when there is no thoughts but only feelings, where the mind becomes a silent witness; non-judgemental, not-analysing, and not-imagining. From this point there is no words necessary but only heart. When you are established in the silence of the mind, it is like you are standing firmly with open arms to welcome whatever is in front of you. Stand there.

Practice:

Sit in a comfortable position with closed eyes.

1.Breathe in through the nose, breathe out through the mouth.

2.Take 12 breaths in this manner.

3.Come back to normal breathing.

4.Remind yourself that for now there is no words necessary but only heart.

5.Remain in silence for 5 minutes.

6.Bring your awareness back to the breath and the body.

7.Slowly open your eyes.