Mindfulness Practice: Let Go, Accept, and Find Inner Peace
In modern society, we are often driven by the external world and an endless list of goals. We are busy with work, pursuing achievements, and yearning for success, even in meditation and spiritual practices, we often bring a sense of purpose. However, true meditation is precisely about letting go of goals, returning to the present moment, and focusing on the simplest form of existence: the breath.
Focusing on the Breath: Returning to Simple Existence
The basic practice of meditation is to focus on the breath, simple yet profound. When we sit down, close our eyes, and focus intently on every inhale and exhale, we enter a meditative state. At that moment, nothing is more important than the breath; all distractions and external interferences are set aside. This is the moment we connect with our inner selves, a process of returning to our true nature and purifying our soul.
However, the interference of thoughts is often something we cannot avoid. Perhaps it is something we said yesterday, a movie we watched last week, a conversation from earlier, or even tasks for tomorrow. These thoughts come flooding in like waves, pulling our attention away from the breath. So, what should we do?
Do Nothing: Return to the Present Moment
When thoughts arise, we do not need to resist or intentionally reject them, nor do we need to get lost in them. As Buddha said in the Diamond Sutra: “One should not dwell anywhere and give rise to the mind.” This means that our mind should not be attached to anything, nor should it cling to any goal. The appearance of thoughts is a natural phenomenon, and there is no need to hastily dismiss them; rather, we should learn to accept their presence and gently bring our attention back to the breath.
This is the core of meditation—letting go of goals, focusing on the breath, and returning to the present. When we notice our attention drifting to other thoughts, we simply remind ourselves gently: “Come back.” Return to the breath, return to the present experience, with no other intervention needed. No matter how the external world changes, inner peace can still be maintained through focusing on the breath.
Letting Go in Meditation: The Mindset of Non-Attachment
Many people, during their spiritual practice, often harbor ambitious goals and set many targets, hoping to achieve breakthroughs or obtain certain results in meditation. In the early stages, many may even set “enlightenment” as a goal. This attachment causes anxiety and unrest, with thoughts always fixated on how to achieve that goal, rather than enjoying the present practice.
However, the true meaning of meditation lies not in achieving goals, but in “letting go of goals,” simply sitting, focusing on the breath. As the Nirvana Sutra says: “Without desires, without attachment.” We should let go of all desires and obsessions, and just breathe, quietly sitting, merging with the present moment. At this point, our minds are no longer bound by future goals, nor troubled by past regrets, but live fully in the moment, experiencing each breath as it enters and leaves.
Let the Mind Be Like Water: Unaffected by the External World
Meditation is not just a method of practice; it is also an attitude toward life. In our daily lives, we can also apply this wisdom of focus and letting go. When we face the complex world, with countless challenges and temptations, we should return to the breath, return to the present moment, just as we do in meditation. Regardless of how the external world changes, our inner peace and clarity should remain our constant state.
As Buddha said in the Agama Sutra: “Like water, without attachment, the mind is without attachment, the view is without attachment.” This means that we should be like water: clear and flexible, not fixed by anything. Our minds should flow like water, not bound by past pain and emotions, nor caught up in future expectations and anxieties. Each moment is a new beginning.
The Freedom in Meditation: No Desire, No Expectation
The beauty of meditation lies in its simplicity and freedom. We don’t need to strive for a specific goal; we simply focus on every breath, and this pure existence itself is the greatest freedom. As the Heart Sutra says: “Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form.” All attachments and goals are ultimately empty, and only by letting go of these obsessions can we truly experience freedom and tranquility.
Regardless of how our practice progresses, or whether others achieve enlightenment before us, there is no need for comparison. We only need to focus on the breath, sitting simply for the sake of sitting. This simple yet profound existence is the truest form of meditation.
Our Actions
In this world filled with pressure and goals, meditation reminds us to let go of all expectations and attachments, returning to the simplest form of existence. Every breath, every moment, is an opportunity to connect with our inner selves. Only by letting go of goals and desires can we truly find inner peace and freedom. As Buddha taught: “Without dwelling, one gives rise to the mind.” Only by letting go can we truly attain freedom and tranquility.
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