Samadhi

A first step toward mindfulness is samadhi, the concentration of the mind.  This begins as we train our heart and mind in the practice of stillness.  As we practice this we become aware of the moment; past and future, worry and anxiety recede as we establish an inner order of peace and clarity in this realization of being only in the moment.

We  develop this steadfastness of mind as we direct our attention to a single pointed focus.  This might be the breath, a mantra, a visualization, or a feeling such as loving kindness.  We hold our focus and if our mind wanders, as it often does, we direct it back to our focus.  As we breathe in and we breathe out through our focus stillness begins to return and we stay there until we lose our focus and we practice returning to stillness again.

Steadfastness of mind, being mindful, and holding single pointed focus takes practice.  If we have not been born to this practice then we must be kind and gentle with ourselves as we develop into this.  

  
As we let go of thoughts of past and future, of fantasies, of attachments we arrive in the now, of being present in the moment, and we touch our breath in a mindful way.  Samadhi does not come on its own; we, the practitioner, need to create a space to bring it in and encourage its growth. Loving kindness toward ourselves encourages this to happen.  Until we lovingly and kindly accept ourselves as we are it is difficult to create a mindful presence within.

When I am self critical I cannot be mindful. At these moments I am caught up in criticizing me and this thinking envelopes my being.  When I am critical of others I project my thoughts outward in an attempt to help me feel better about me but I only disperse negative thought patterns to others.  This interferes with my practice of mindfulness.  
  
Samadhi is described as a natural state beyond waking, sleeping and dreaming that is an unlimited reservoir of energy, intelligence and creative power and a place of infinite peace and tranquility.  We must learn to observe ourselves with a silent mind free of judgement and attachment.  In this focused silence we begin to experience samadhi.

With this steadfastness of mind we begin our practice.  We release attachment and begin to observe our thoughts and actions from the place of the witness.  When we do or think something that does not seem correct we watch it unfold and touch it with compassion as we move on.  If we feel good about our thoughts or actions we accept them with this compassionate presence and move on. In this practice we do not attach, we witness and move forward, learning what ever lessons our lives hold for us and then letting go.

Letting go is more about our attitude than it is about the actual thing or event.  We often hang on to a feeling, a thought, a person, an attitude, or possession and it is this feeling that attaches us.  Practicing mindfulness allows us to be born and to die in each situation and within each relationship.  This teaches us that impermanence is a constant part of our lives.  When we realize this we begin to soften to life.  As we soften we become truly alive and in this we become mindful.  

As we learn to be steady in mind and as we focus on being present only in  each moment we are engaging in the practice of samadhi.  When we begin a meal we are born there and when we complete the meal we die there.  When we embrace a relationship into our lives we are born when we separate from that relationship we die but are reborn when we meet again.  So in every moment we embrace, let go, embrace again, to let go again.  This is the impermanence of life and as we accept this mindfulness becomes our practice.

The point where our consciousness embraces samahdi we open to this place within ourselves of infinite tranquility, peace and to our innate intelligence and creativity. By observing ourselves with a steady, silent mind we can penetrate our most inner resistance to becoming a mindful being.