Emotional mastery through meditation does not mean not to feel any negativity or to say or do nothing that is negative. It also doesn’t mean that being positive is unreal.
When Buddha speaks about life being suffering–it isn’t a negative statement. It isn’t even a positive statement. To Buddha, all experience was subjective. All experience arises in thought and ends in thought. He believed that the internal experience was as valid if not more valid than the external. He attained nirvana, a constant state of bliss, not by negating the negative but by observing it. He did not tell everyone to think only positive thoughts either–instead he argues against negating the negative or the positive with its opposite state.
The eight fold path, creates a resilient mental state, where non-attachment towards outcomes, people and one’s own desires create true freedom.
Negative or positive only arise because of a judgement. If there is no judgement–then whatever arises just is what it is, it vanishes into nothingness. Just like the lotus flower, that has its feet in the muck of the swamp, but sits cosily on the water, gleaming radiance in all directions, the mind, despite its attachment to negativity, can still flower giving radiant beauty. This can transform our life and our health.
Our experience on Earth has challenges as part of its core curriculum. But we can master the power of negativity with the work of Buddha. The greater the negativity, the greater the potential for enlightenment.
We have a group gathering on Introduction to Meditation in North Vancouver at Westcoast Osteopathy & Wellness (http://healthyosteo.com)
For information on registration and RSVP, please visit: http://www.meetup.com/guidedrelaxation
To connect with me: https://www.facebook.com/saimameditation