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INTRODUCTION

The process of discernment is common to contemplative and mindful meditation practices. To discern is to recognize and label the ending of one thing with the beginning of another. All wisdom and knowledge is dependent on some form of discernment. Without this mental faculty, life could only be known as One single thing, and although this perception of reality might lead one to great insight, it isn’t very productive when we are called upon to act intently, which is practically every conscious moment of our waking life.

In order to act, we must distinguish between objects and learn to value some over others. Without this, action could only be arbitrary and meaningless.

While meditating we discern between different stimuli – a sound of a car in the distance, the smell of food cooking, or the bubbling sensation of a pain in our lower back. Through these observations we become more and more familiar with the reality of impermanence: the ever-changing state of conditions in our world. Even while still and sitting we are the focal point of a wide variety of different experiences that may arise. One moment we can be attending to an itch on our toe, the next we are dreaming about where and what we will eat for dinner. Mindfulness meditation teaches us to be better aware of when these changes in consciousness occur.

MEDITATING ON NEW BEGINNINGS

Even in the comfort of our own solitary meditation life remains uncertain. We never really know where the next moment might bring us. The unknown can be frightening on one hand, but tremendously powerful in other respects.

The future, especially for our self in our own life, is unpredictable. At the same time it is in our hands. In every precious moment we experience the spirit of free will; the ability to make decisions and perform action with intent and meaning. It is a type of energy that is inside all of us. It is the ability to attend to our environments and direct action.

To experience life without building upon this spirit would surely become a mundane existence. It lives inside all of us. It is the desire for a meaningful life, much like the Meaningful Life that is discussed in Positive psychologist, (and former president of the American Psychological Association, Martin Seligman in his 2002 book “Authentic Happiness.”