Aug 8, 2024 2 min read Podcasts

Unlock the Power of the Present Moment With Clarity Meditation

Mindfulness teachers often talk about being "non-judgmental," but this can be unhelpful. We can't separate judgment from its underlying structure, which is comparison. And comparison is heavily influenced by culture and is a feature of the brain. We could find ourself 'trying not to judge or compare'.

THE CULTURAL LENS

Different cultures value different things. This shapes our judgments about what's good, bad, right, or wrong. Consumerism has made some experiences globally uniform, but deep down, values still vary widely.

Our modern minds are filled with judgments based on education, expectations, and cultural norms. We judge everything, from people to events to our own actions. Advertisers and policymakers further shape our perceptions to align with their goals.

THE POWER OF THE PRESENT

All this mental baggage hinders our ability to experience the present moment as it is. To break free, we need to reclaim control of the present. To paraphrase George Orwell from 1984,

"Who controls the present controls the past and who controls the past controls the future ." This isn't about control but it is about awareness. By focusing in the now, we can learn from the past without being trapped by it. Meditation is about releasing and letting go. This allows us to experience the present without the burden of past grievances.

THE BENEFITS OF PRESENCE

When we're fully present, we're less biased and better able to shape our future. We escape the hamster wheel of chasing external solutions and find what we need in the now.

Returning to the present moment is a journey of liberation. It's about shedding the baggage of expectations, fears, and regrets. In the present moment, we find freedom from suffering and the ability to make choices that truly benefit ourselves and others.

CLARITY MEDITATION

By practicing clarity meditation, we can observe judgment and comparison forming in our experience, and then see it drifting away to be replaced by the essence of the object that we are observing. This is an incredibly powerful practice that helps us to release the baggage of judgment from our experience.