A question often asked at meetings of meditators is “How long have you been practicing for?” I heard a lovely response from a Dharma Teacher which made me smile, which was “Today”.

Your experience today is all there is, there is no Truth beyond this moment. So as you begin the path of meditation remember there is no need to be disatisfied with your lack of experience. There is no other.

Zen practice is not just about the time we spend in formal meditation. It is an expression of our innermost vows during daily life. Does this sound too much, unknowable or simply scary? Our discomfort with this is the grit we need to develop our practice. The vows we repeat in meditation, the mindfulness verses we use are simply frames to see ourselves within. Not to judge or criticize, but to clearly see our true nature. Much of practice is spent noticing we are not present, that we continue to buy into our delusions. This is not failure, this is the path.

 As Joko Beck said in ‘Nothing Special - Living Zen’   “This tedium - this wandering in the desert - is in fact the face of God”

The Dharma talk from Jon Kabatt-Zinns book ‘Everywhere you go There you are’ reflected on how meditation practice is unique in that it is an opportunity to let go of our constant striving for improvement and simply be just as we are. Our difficulty with the practice often lies with our belief that we are insufficient, that we are essentially lacking in some way. Sitting and walking meditation offers the opportunity to practice ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’, settling into our experience. Whatever judgements arise about ourselves, we can notice them as mental events and return to this moment. This process is not a sign of weak meditation, THIS IS THE PRACTICE! Let go of trying to be a good meditator and just do it. As the quote at the end of the chapter we read said - “If your mind isn’t clouded by uneccessary  things, this is the best season of your life”.