Waking Up by Sam Harrisby Parker on TwosMindfulness must be synonymous with dispelling the illusion of the selfThoughts and emotions arise in consciousness the way that images appear on the surface of a mirrorMeditation doesn't entail the suppression of such thoughts, but it does require that we notice thoughts as they emerge and recognize them to be transitory appearances in consciousness. You are consciousness itself—you are not the next, evanescent image or string of words that appears in your mind. Not seeing it arise, however, the next thought will seem to become what you areThe deeper purpose of meditation is to recognize that which is common to all states of experience, both pleasant and unpleasant. The goal is to realize those qualities that are intrinsic to consciousness in every present moment, no matter what arises to be noticedWhen you are able to rest naturally, merely witnessing the totality of experience, and thoughts themselves are left to arise and vanish as they will, you can recognize that consciousness is intrinsically undividedMeditation requires total acceptance of what is given in the present momentEmbracing the contents of consciousness in any moment is a very powerful way of training yourself to respond differently too adversityOne of the first things one learns in practicing meditation is that nothing is intrinsically boring. Boredom is simply a lack of attentionA person's eyes convey a powerful illusion of inner life. The illusion is true, but it is an illusion all the sameThe ability to meditate—to rest as consciousness for a few moments prior to the arising of the next thought—can offer a profound relief from mental suffering