I’m trying my best to awaken my state of fulfilment
I’m trying to meditate for 10 minutes. It’s not going well.
It’s day seven of the program my wife has told me to do (I mean, the program I have willingly and happily embarked on). It’s a “free experience” offered by the superstar spirituality duo of Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra.
It should be easy enough. Spend a few minutes listening to Oprah babble on in her relentlessly positive, vaguely encouraging way with lines like, “Well, we’re already completing our first week of connecting with our dreams and how to fulfil them.”
Then a few more minutes of Deepak unleashing the wisdom as New Agey music plays softly in the background.
“What really gives any desire its power is how strongly it’s connected to the ground of being. The true self.” Got it.
“The energy of attraction is most powerful near the source just as electricity is most powerful when it comes out of the generator.” I’m not sure that’s how electricity works, but OK.
“The more whole you are, the more powerful your intentions. It’s the same as seeing the whole picture of Niagara Falls instead of the scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.”
I like puzzles. And Niagara Falls.
Then Deepak starts the meditation process by unveiling the centring thought, “my deepest desire is for completeness,” and the mantra “Ananda Hum,” which “awakens the state of fulfilment that is your true self.”
Then there are basic instructions on breathing and relaxing and how to use the mantra. Then it’s just 10 minutes with the New Agey music until the soft bell rings.
It takes forever.
First of all, I have trouble getting comfortable: how people sit cross-legged for any period without both legs going completely numb is beyond me. I’ve tried benches, cushions, kneeling ... you know what works best? A chair.
Getting 10 minutes of even relative peace and quiet in my house is a struggle, too. The kids are banging around in the kitchen or playing music or thundering up and down the stairs. The dog barks. My neighbour is cutting his lawn with a mower made from a jet engine. My phone notifications keep going off.
“Whenever you find yourself distracted by thoughts, noises or physical sensations, simply return your attention to silently repeating the mantra,” Deepak says.
I say the mantra a lot while also sneaking frequent peeks at the timer on the Deepak and Oprah app.
The funny thing is, when the time is (finally) up, I usually do feel better, more relaxed. I can often remember the centring thought and find myself thinking about it, idly, throughout the day. After initially grumbling about having to do the meditations every single day, I find myself kinda, sorta looking forward to them.
And I’m hoping that Oprah will do the mantra on the last day.
“You get a car, you get a car, you get a car.”
Sounds very fulfilling to me.