Be still. Let go. Breathe. Realize.

Why meditate?

Every native culture has some tradition of sitting still with eyes closed, gaze fixed inward.

To realize the truth of who we are, that's why.

To realize we are not the content of our mind.

We're not the problems. The stories. The tomorrows. The yesterdays. The to do list. The husband. The wife. The parent. The job. Etc.

We meditate to realize we are the witnessing awareness behind the phenomena of our experience.

Consciousness.

Something that doesn't change. Something that has no needs. Something that simply is—i.e., is not this or that.

No wonder peace, relaxation, and a decrease in anxiety result from this ancient practice. For a period of time we disidentify with our stressors and untangle from the to and fro drama of the world.

Often and especially for beginners it's the first 10 - 15 minutes that are the most difficult.

"What do I do?" The mind is flooded with thought, so much so you can barely sit still.

Try this, even if you are a non beginner.

Sitting cross legged or kneeling, with eyes closed, hands resting on lap.

Breathe in, internally say be.

Breathe out, internally say still.

Settle down. Relax. There's nothing to do. Don't move.

Do this over and over and over again. Until you feel still, as if you were a mountain.

Then...

Breathe in, internally say let.

Breathe out, internally say go.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Turn the TV off and put down the remote.

In other words, pull back from the content of your mind. Observe it. Don't agree with it. Don't get wrapped up in it.

As you let go from (as opposed to of) the content of your mind, a quiet should come and an awareness that there is more to you than just your stream of thought, e.g., that you also belong to an entire body.

Then...

Breathe in, internally say inhale.

Breathe out, internally say exhale.

Focus on your breath. Now you begin to journey and the mind will get distracted. So you fix it on your breath. Breathing in. Breathing out. That's all you're doing.

Do this for some time.

Then, as you go deeper...

Breathe in, internally say realize.

Breathe out, internally say self.

Realize. Self. Realize. Self. Realize. Self.

Let the truth of who you are be revealed.

That you are something Supreme. Something Divine. Something beyond duality and time.

A loving, compassionate presence that is.