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Why I Meditate - Amélie

Where and when did you begin to meditate?

A few years ago, doing a bit here and there, but with no continuous practice. I came to an introductory course at the School of Meditation, and it was amazing. I started from there with a regular practice.

I was always attracted to meditation, but would push it away, leave it till later, I was a bit dismissive of it. But once I started I really enjoyed it, it was something very deep – you don’t usually get that connection with the world when you are in union with the cosmos, the universe. When that happened, it was pure bliss.

When I did it more regularly, I felt the benefits in daily life, my hectic life. Doing group meditation every week anchors my mind and body, here and now. Even if I forget most of the time, when I meditate, I’m back there – I remember.

Why did you take up a regular practice? What was the spark?

I was ready. My eagerness to do it became bigger than my dismissiveness. Meditation in a group was a big part of it as previously I’d only done it alone. Coming into the room with people in 2023 after Covid was great. I tuned into the group energy and stillness, I love doing that, it’s pure bliss. It’s hard to put into words, but I’m part of it. After the session, in my daily life, there’s still something supporting me in the background.

What were your early experiences?

When I had the mantra, it was a very different way for me, I’d never had a mantra before. Previously, I’d used visualisations, and I thought that using the mantra would be a little bit boring. I also felt the pressure to do it right. We discussed it in the group a lot and after a while I thought, ‘I’m doing it and that’s enough.’

The key was stopping trying to have the perfect meditation. Whatever happens, happens. Sometimes my head is busier than at other times. I enjoy it a lot more by letting it be what it needs to be.

How does meditation affect your daily life?

Meditation in the group is an anchor point in my week. I make it a priority, work around it with childcare and so on. I’m not good at meditating in the evening; it’s very rare that I can do it. But meditation in the morning sets my day on a different course. Just taking the time gives me more clarity and intentionality, it gives me a better direction to my day. It’s really precious.

It gives me the ability to take a step back. If there’s something annoying, I sort of zoom out and ask ‘is it that important?’ The emotional charge or stress reduces. It’s an emotion regulation mechanism. A more indirect effect of meditation is that I notice when other people can’t step back. There’s no judgement; I notice, I don’t say anything. It’s the theatre, the play of life.

What has your experience been as a member of the School of Meditation?

During the course, I was going through a rough patch, I was almost depressed. It was a good group on the course. People talked about how they were feeling, and I appreciated the support I got from the group just hearing me say that I’m not doing well. I still remember that well, and the School generally is a support system.

What I feel strongly about is when I see the elders who have been at the School forever. There is something so anchored in their presence that is very inspiring for me. Last week, there were two groups together, we had dinner together with an older group, then took a pause together. They have done decades of meditation every day. It permeates your being and gives you a lot more presence.

I’m a people person, I like being in a meditation group with other people. We can share our experiences, and share the readings during the group. I like being in a community, I see other School members out in the street. I’m not in a vacuum or a void, even when I meditate on my own.

I hear others. One group member shared that every time they hear a bird singing, they stop, they pause.

My husband knows this is very important to me. My friends know Thursday is my meditation group night. And they become more interested if they are struggling. They think meditation might help them.

When I was young I was always the intellectual in the room, interested in philosophy and so on. Then that left my life. I like the depth of the readings. I also have an affinity with India, I enjoy the link to India.

Meditation is too much part of my life now to stop, it’s there to stay. It is important in my life in a way that is unseen.