Psychologies Magazine, July 2001 —
Every summer, tens of thousands of French people devote a few days to taking care of their "souls." The hostels of Catholic monasteries are packed—sometimes you have to book more than a year in advance—and the approximately two hundred Buddhist centers in France are fully booked.
This craze has nothing to do with fashion. The phenomenon has grown over the years and reflects, I am convinced, a real need. Contrary to what one might imagine, a significant proportion of the people who attend these retreats are not practicing, or even believers. The need expressed is not necessarily "religious." It is rather a need to take a step back; to recharge oneself internally; to recharge not only the body's batteries, but also those of one's deepest being. Ancient philosophers affirmed that one could not philosophize without a "return to oneself," which requires silence and solitude. "Withdraw into yourself, and there you will find your good," said Epictetus.
This need for contemplation is all the more acute given that, in our current living conditions, the "outside" takes up so much of our time. Constantly solicited by our family, our friends, our social life, our work, our hobbies, and television, how much time do we devote each day to being alone with ourselves, in true inner silence? Yet, this time of daily renewal is as necessary for our minds as eating, sleeping, or breathing is for our bodies. Why? Because our minds need space. Too caught up in thoughts and worries, subjected to a multitude of external stimuli, it suffocates. As a result, we lose lucidity, discernment, and inner calm. We easily fall prey to our emotions: the slightest thing makes us angry, we experience anxiety and fear, and we become agitated.
This worry eats away at us and we sleep poorly, our relationships with others deteriorate, we enter the vicious spiral of stress. Yet, for many centuries, men have developed techniques that allow the mind to "breathe" and find the calm it needs. The basics of meditation are simple. Choose a place and a time that is conducive to meditating without being disturbed: a bedroom, a garden, a place of prayer. Morning, before beginning your activities, is the best time. Position is also important. A seated posture, legs crossed, possibly with a cushion to support the buttocks, is the most suitable: it is comfortable, allows the body to release its tensions and, according to Eastern traditions, promotes the circulation of subtle energies. Finally, we must allow the mind to be "present" to itself. We achieve this by letting thoughts flow, observing them without becoming attached to them, maintaining our attention on breathing. Although the mind may be distracted and agitated at first, one gradually achieves mental calm and a "conscious presence," as the Buddhists say, which allows the mind to find itself and take up all the space it needs. Even if one only has ten or fifteen minutes a day, it is essential to commit to this exercise daily.
I was fortunate enough to learn to meditate about twenty years ago, and I can attest to the inestimable value of those thirty minutes dedicated each day to developing this inner space. For it is a progressive process through which, little by little, day by day, the strength of disturbing emotions diminishes and inner peace increases. From this intimate silence, believers will be able to connect more intensely with God in prayer, and Buddhists will be able to meditate more deeply to allow wisdom and the natural light of the mind to grow. But without going so far on a religious level, everyone can already find inner relaxation and serenity in this simple daily practice. It is priceless… and it is as free as the air we breathe.
July 2001