Q: Even though I understand that mindfulness is a mind practice, can’t it just prepare the ground by settling the mind?
A: I am not against meditation but I align myself with Nisargadatta’s advice on meditation “Do it if you are doing it and don’t do it if you are not”. If you feel called to meditate then honour that impulse. And if you have no interest in it right now, don’t do it, which doesn’t mean be lazy and do nothing.
If you feel inclined to meditate, by all means do it but keep it simple. In the end, meditation is simple. Sit down and let everything be as it is. Any attempt to manipulate just interferes with the natural state of true meditation
As awareness settles in itself, some energetic and physical experiences may occur. You may experience rushes of energy up your spine, your centre of awareness shifts from your forehead to the back of the head or even the heart or stomach. You may experience strong or subtle vibrations throughout the body, giving rise to bliss.
Be careful not to interpret these states as meaning that awakening has occurred. These are just energetic experiences which come and go. But you always remain, as the unshakable presence awareness in which all experiences appear and disappear.
