So today is going to be a broad overview of what meditation is, why it's important, the different kinds of meditations that are out there and how you might be able to get started with the practice if that's what you were interested in.

So first, what is this weird thing called meditation?

Is it saying, ohm?

Is it reciting a mantra?

Is it sitting cross-legged? Is it visualization? Is it paying attention to the breath?

The short answer is yes.

Meditation can be any of those things

because meditation really is a category of practices

mental training practices designed to cultivate certain qualities of mind and

that can be developed through a lot of different practices from using a mantra to visualization to focus on the breath to just practicing being.

But in general, in my experience at least, when someone says they are engaging in a meditation

practice, they're usually referring to something that is training their attention to be a bit more attuned to the

present moment.

Now, let's not write that off as just a one-dimensional simple thing because being attuned to the present moment

requires focus, it requires courage, it requires non-reactivity and not getting up every time you It requires learning how to work with thoughts,

learning how to work with thoughts, difficult emotions,

learning how to settle the mind and find peace in this moment as it is without

pushing or pulling.

So that training of being attuned to the present moment, holding the present moment,

and building the inner container

to be with it in its fullness is like

the biggest work in the world.

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