Meditation Without Mysticism
Strip the incense and the claims, and a stubborn, useful technique remains.
By Ajarn Shaman Shu · · 1 min read
The claim I will defend
Sustained attention training changes what you notice, how fast you react, and how long you stay reactive. Everything beyond that is optional.
Three methods worth your time
- Breath at the nostrils (Theravada) — narrow object, high feedback
- Shikantaza (Zen) — open awareness, low structure, high patience cost
- Deity or mantra focus (Tantric) — strong anchor for restless minds
Dose
Twenty minutes daily beats ninety minutes on Sunday. The variable that predicts change is unbroken weeks.
When it stops working
Plateaus are usually a sign the object is too easy or the posture is too comfortable. Change one, not both.
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