Goals

As a rather goal oriented person, I have set out my 2013 Goals/Resolutions for the year. One in particular gave me difficulty. On the task list on my iPhone, was simply "meditation". What pray tell is a "meditation" goal? Is the very essence of "being present,"not setting goals? I haven't come up with an answer yet, but I framed some possible responses.

Fold

As we folded brochures before class for the upcoming retreat with a high ranking venerable, I tried to practice my mindfulness. "Be patient," I thought. Crease, fold, crease, fold, become one with the paper, the process.  Nope- not working, time to move on. New members had arrived and the leader quizzed them with the usual questions. What is your name, have you ever meditated, what is your interest in meditation? It was surprising the number like me who came because they had passed by the meditation center for months, years, and had finally made the plunge to check it out.
   This time I had felt optimistic about my meditation and was rewarded with a more prolonged pleasant experience. I had been practicing on not stopping in the middle of an intense, almost weightless feeling by suddenly jolting back to consciousness and thinking "wow, what was that?" and losing the state in the process. Normally the benefits of meditation lasted a couple hours after we finished, but this time I felt vestiges for a day and a half. I also noticed that my aches and pains from sitting in the half-lotus position had also diminished. This was a first.