We’ve probably all been told as children to sit quietly. It wasn’t easy then, and it still isn’t. So why would we adults choose to sit and do nothing—to meditate? Of course we know that unplugging from our busyness and enjoying a time of quiet feels good. And while we may experience good feelings while we meditate, that isn’t the ultimate goal. In fact, ideally, we come to each sitting with only one intention—to sit and experience our mind. We simply sit. Honest, open sitting.

And while we sit, if we’re willing to allow everything that arises—every thought, every feeling, every sensation—without judging it, without explaining it, we begin to know what is going on in our mind. With that, we begin to see how what is in our mind always manifests in our life—perhaps physically, maybe emotionally or spiritually—and how our mind often undercuts the joy and clarity that we can have in our lives.

So if we’re willing to sit as still and as open as children, willing to experience our mind, we can decide how to use what we discover to live a more fulfilling life. Also, getting to know our mind is the first step in knowing ourselves, so that we can eventually love ourselves. And if we could do that, we might just have a chance at loving one another.

Click on each entry in this FAQ list to learn more about meditation:

I know that I won’t be able to shut off my mind.

We all come to meditation with this fear. It’s impossible to shut off our minds, so I guarantee you that whenever you’re sitting with others during meditation, you’re sitting with people, including myself, who are also not shutting off their minds. In fact, we don’t meditate to shut off our minds; we meditate to experience our minds, so you’ll fit right in.

So if we’re not trying to shut off our minds, what are we trying to do?

For one, we’re trying to provide a break for our minds from the “chatter” that it incessantly carries out. That means that we are developing a practice of sitting that allows the mental dialogue that we spin when we experience something to relax for a bit (by mental dialogue I mean the commenting that our mind does silently for every experience, comments such as, “I know I’m going to be late. Why did I wear this? Is she looking at me funny? I’m hungry. That’s a pretty color for a house”). Just as our bodies perform better after given rest, so do our minds.

The main reason we meditate, however, is to get to know our minds so that we can get to know ourselves as we truly are—no pretending.

What if I can’t sit cross-legged on the floor?

There’s no rule about sitting cross-legged during meditation, or about sitting on the floor at all. A chair is fine, if you prefer. I always have chairs and cushions available.

Good posture is what is essential. We’ll review the basics of sitting during each session.

I’m not sure that my religion allows meditation.

Everybody must decide if meditation is for them, of course. It’s true that meditation has been practiced in different ways by people of different faiths for thousands of years. But meditation, by nature, does not adhere to any particular religious doctrine. You meditate simply to get to know yourself, and to love and respect yourself.

How do I prepare for a session?

Making the time to sit is the most important thing. It’s more beneficial to sit quietly for a few minutes each day than to try to squeeze a long session in every now and again. So finding a quiet spot and just doing it is great. Some people find that limiting caffeine intake prior to sitting is beneficial.

How is meditation different from hypnosis?

Meditation is a tool, a technique for getting to know yourself. So is hypnosis. They both share relaxation as part of the experience, but there are differences. For instance, when you come to meditation, your desire is to experience your mind—whatever your mind is like on the day that you’re meditating. When you come to a hypnosis session you are also open to experiencing your mind, but you come with a specific goal—to achieve a specific outcome, such as to conquer a fear of public speaking.

Both techniques involve a recognition that when we quiet the conscious mind (the one that “chatters” practically non-stop) that we can focus on the truth of ourselves, but the means to achieve that quiet are different in the two techniques.

 I find it interesting that Dr. Oz said during a recent Oprah show (about overcoming habits and addictions): “Hypnosis and mindful meditation are extremely effective. And unlike other methods, their results last a lifetime.”

Check out our event schedule, as well, for our new and ongoing meditation programs.