Meditation Focus

In meditation practice it isn’t our chosen focus that is most important, but the ability to direct a steady flow of attention; the act of remaining focused itself, that is key to success. Of course, having something to focus on – mantra, symbol, breath, etc. – is essential, otherwise attention scatters and fluctuates, and we remain mind oriented. We meditate to transcend thought processing and mental excursions to realize conditionless clarified awareness, which yogis refer to as “superconsciousness.”

At first, attempts to sustain a single focus of attention for an extended period can be difficult or can seem nearly impossible when first learning to meditate, especially for us in the west. This is due to our prevalent cultural conditioning which emphasizes “stimulation through diversity.” However, with regular application, beginning with short sessions and gradually increasing the length of practice, this conditioning can be overcome.