Meditation is a wonderful physical practice, but it is about much more than just sitting on the cushion. The Buddha said mindfulness meditation leads to a direct realization (in the Satipatthana, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness). The same is true for the year long Tibetan Buddhist practice of Lamrim, or Stages of the Path. Both train one for awareness and action off of the cushion.

Meditation has physical, mental and emotional benefits. We can become calmer and more relaxed. Through the practice of noticing thoughts arise and pass, we learn to not get caught up in repetitive thinking. Compassion, kindness, joy and equanimity can also be a result of sustained practice.

Considering our time on the cushion, we should ask ourselves "what is it really for?" Is it so we have perfect posture for the entire session? A clear and stable mind, devoid of internal distractions or "monkey mind"? Sitting every day without ever missing? The list of how we might imagine a perfect practice is individual, yet not the point.

In my opinion, we do not practice to become better at meditation, although that happens. Our skills do improve. The ability to abide in stillness, to allow the mind to settle as well as the length of time we can sit increases. The real reason however is to become better at life. Meditation allows us an opportunity to get to know our own minds using the core teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. We learn to relate to the present moment in a different and more skillful way. We see the three marks of existence, annica, annatta and dukkha with more clarity(impermanence, not-self and dissatisfaction). Mindfulness becomes something we embody slowly, and this building awareness changes how we relate and respond to the world.

Just think how different life becomes when we speak and act from a place of compassion and non-harming!

How has your meditation practice shown up off of the cushion?