In the first of a series of articles, The Rev. Canon Renée Miller examines Buddhist practices from her perspective as a Christian.
The Dalai Lama believes meditation can solve any problem. That’s quite a bold statement. When we look at all the issues in our lives, big or small, it’s hard to see how sitting in silence and counting breaths could help. How can meditation address physical pain, fear of death, a lack of purpose, or even a baking mishap?
It turns out that meditation can apply to every problem, regardless of its size or complexity. This principle is illustrated by a story from the Christian tradition about two sisters, Martha and Mary. When Jesus visited them, Mary chose to sit and listen to him, avoiding any tasks. Martha, however, was preoccupied with preparations and felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities on her shoulders, leaving her frustrated and unable to meditate.
Jesus told Martha that Mary had made the better choice, implying that meditation and stillness were valuable, even amidst household chores and social obligations. This perspective aligns with the Dalai Lama’s view that meditation is a universal solution.
Typically, we deal with problems by trying to solve them or by escaping them. We stress, plan, and seek advice, or distract ourselves with activities and entertainment. However, neither of these approaches often brings the desired results, even though we feel like we’re doing something.
In my experience, two principles of meditation make it effective: letting go and detachment from outcomes. The most crucial is letting go, which goes against our instinct to control and fix things through our actions. Letting go strips away the drama and stress from our problems, leaving us with nothing to act upon or worry about. It’s liberating because it removes problems’ power over us.
When we master letting go, we can then detach from specific outcomes. This allows us to remain curious and open, unafraid of how things will turn out. We may address our problems, but without fixating on expected results.
Meditation teaches us to let go regularly, enabling us to detach from external influences and experience the freedom that comes with it. However, letting go isn’t easy, especially in daily life. Whether waiting impatiently at a grocery store, dealing with miscommunications, financial concerns, technical difficulties, or personal betrayals, our habitual responses often lead to the same frustrating outcomes.
Imagine how different life could be if we learned to let go and detach from results. We might notice more peace and joy filling our lives, even in challenging situations. We might become braver and more resilient.
The invitation to sit and breathe is always there. When we do, we may be pleasantly surprised by a newfound sense of calm and fulfillment.