In the recent article on the Huffington Post, " Bringing the benefits of meditation into daily life", the author encourages readers to engage in a "meditation" while in activity and prescribes contriving behavior and controlling thoughts as a practice for gaining enlightenment. My comments were posted as follows:The qualities described in this article as a practice, such as observation of one's self while acting (detachment), attentiveness to the present moment (mindfulness), lack of expectation (surrender), are 'attributes' of a heightened state of consciousness, not the 'path' to it. I have found in my 35 years of teaching Transcendental Meditation that students easily transcend during the TM technique and reach the source of thought, their minds get energized with bliss and pure consciousness. Afterwards, their awareness can naturally focus more powerfully, and in a spontaneous way, without conscious intention to be mindful or attentive.
Trying to be detached or watchful of our thoughts while in the midst of action divides and weakens the mind and creates artificiality in behavior. Unfortunately, the goal of many great traditions of enlightenment has been mistaken for the path, leaving well-intentioned seekers trying to create a state of steadiness though contrivance. Enlightenment is cultivated through deep, effortless meditation that infuses pure consciousness into our daily activity.
