Thanks Eileen,
For me, I’ve been meditating for over 30 years. Listening to everyone describe their practice as being difficult, I feel lucky. Without knowing it, I had such a thirst for the experience (I didn’t know it at the time). When I was taught the principle steps, my mind took to it like drinking water for the first time–how natural, simple, easy. I no longer follow the spiritual teacher that I had 30 years ago–that’s the only thing that’s different between my experience and those that learned from a book, or meditation course? A Master is just that, someone devoted to giving away what they have–that’s been my experience. Since I no longer follow a Master, my practice has shifted. I now can certainly relate to how others express difficulty in quieting their mind. But like Eileen, I just notice that my mind is wondering, I turn my focus back to the stillness time and time again. What it gives me in return, is beyond words–a subtle feeling of grace and peace permeates my experience throughout the day, for which. I am forever grateful.