Be The Watcher

“Ellliott, what do you do on the days when there is no time for meditation?”

There are days when we have scheduled so much, or we have surprise requirements for our time, and it appears as though there is no time for meditation. These days may be taxing to our spirit, if we allow ourselves to be caught up in them.

This is one reason we dedicate “formal” meditation time whenever we can. The practice of entering the silence, allows us to return there, in a hurry, when that need arises.

For those who are not skilled enough, to drop into the silence, in a one minute break, I offer the following:

Become the watcher. Observe yourself, the part of you caught up in the chaos, from a removed perspective. Notice how you react to each stressor; how you behave in each circumstance.

From this “removed” perspective, any occasion can become a meditation.

The first thing that will surprise you, if you are able to become the watcher, is how much of your life runs on “auto-pilot”; how much of your daily routine, even daily encounters are performed without conscious involvement.

When you are able to detach in this way, and watch yourself, you become your own teacher.

If you have no time for meditation, my first suggestion is to be totally present in all that you do. Being present frees up time you did not think you had. Secondly, be the watcher any time you are not present. Watching the amount of time you actually spend in automatic mode teaches you a great deal about yourself and your evolving consciousness.

In this way, nothing is wasted. Every day can contribute to our spiritual growth. Every day, even those with no formal meditation, can move us closer to a daily walk in peace.