Eudaimonia

A description of the state of being and of mind achievable through meditation.

There are so many other accounts of what meditation brings, so many of which I find faintly embarrassing and risible. Eudaimonia suits my purpose rather better.

I do not believe it  necessary or valuable to become ensnared in the many conflicting interpretations of Eudaimonia put forth by the various schools of philosophy in ancient Greece. Instead I will give a brief outline of what the word eudaimonia means to me and later I will describe in a little more detail how the practice of meditation seems to promote such a state.

I intend to avoid any references to religion or the supernatural. While I have a great passion for religion in the cultural sense, I do not believe religious belief to be essential to the achievement of Eudaimonia.  Religion is not a hindrance to the attainment of Eudaimonia, but it is not a prerequisite. Nor is belief in a soul  essential to the satisfactory accomplishment of the state, but such a belief is by no means an impediment.

While “tranquility” or “peace of mind” aren’t direct translations of eudaimonia, they are profoundly implicit consequences and components of achieving it. This sense of inner peace stems from the harmonious integration of all aspects of one’s being and life.

Eudaimonia cultivates a state of harmonious flourishing that arises from living a life guided by virtue and imbued with purpose.

What has any of that got to do with meditation? Developing a focused and unified mind through meditation leads to deeper understanding and insight. Understanding and insight lead to change – in one’s outlook, way of thinking, way of acting. Sitting in silence and simply letting go, allowing one’s thoughts to pass, gradually settles the mind. Over time, the Noble Eightfold Path (the very embodiment of virtue) simply overcomes you. Slowly the “rightness” of so many very similar philosophies overwhelms you, and you do your best to try to put them into action.

It isn’t about intelligence, or erudition. No learning is necessary, no study at learned schools or ancient universities will take you where you want to go.

Only practice will do that. There is nothing to learn.

And it is a journey, not an ending. You don’t suddenly become Socrates or the Buddha. Or develop the patience of a saint. You don’t transform into a holy man or a sage of infinite wisdom. But day by day a truth emerges. Slowly but surely you come to realise how absurd the world of men is and you try to behave in a preferable and less damaging way. Meditation seems to bring with it a growing desire to be better, to do less harm. To be kinder and less bad tempered. To be more understanding, more forgiving. Less self absorbed, more careful of others’ needs and feelings.

It’s a long road, but with the gradual cessation of greed for more and better and an end to the attempt to dominate and control your fellow humans, a deep peace descends. You no longer need to do all that. Be the Prime Minister, become a zillionaire, write a Booker Prize winner, conquer the universe. Be a Big Swinging Dick.

God knows it’s taken me long enough. To realise I don’t need to compete, be the best, devour knowledge, save mankind. Dispose of Trump and Putin and the countless other rogues and charlatans and beasts who have plagued our planet since the day of its birth.

So what is it then, meditation? I can only tell you what it is for me and what it is not. It has become, in many, ways my entire life. Sitting in silence and watching my thoughts pass until they slowly subside and very often just disappear. For an hour or two a day until a calm descends and the world seems a better place.

And slow, deliberate exercise. Often, frequently, as much as I can take. And again the mind settles and calms and empties.

Doing things by half has never worked for me. I’m all or nothing, no dimmer switch. Some may be able to achieve liberation with ten minutes of meditation three times a day but that has not been my experience.

What do I really want to say? Why am I writing? What am I getting at?

It’s simple enough really: if you want to change your life for the better, or, heaven forbid, the world then these age old practices are as good a way as any to achieve that.

Slow down, stop, remain quiet. Listen, go inwards.