When we need to get something done in the short term, it may be necessary to keep unpleasant information out of our awareness. But the price to be paid could be high in the long run. It can be easy to spot it in other people, in politics, in work life, or in our families. “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a famous—and amusing—example of what happens when the emperor tries to keep an inconvenient truth away. The others follow along with him until a small child says out loud what is actually clear to everyone. Still, what about us? What kinds of information do we try to block from entering our consciousness?

unconsciously

Denial and repression are both well-known defense mechanisms. Denial means refusing to accept unpleasant information being received from the environment. Repression is pushing our own unpleasant thoughts and feelings into the unconscious. However, these defense mechanisms don’t make the discomfort go away, and they can affect us in ways we don’t see. Our defense mechanisms are mainly unconscious, although, in the example of the emperor, the transition to conscious is smooth, as it can be in some cases in real life.

Meditation is a free field in which our various impulses manifest themselves. Ideally, all impulses to our attention should be equally welcome. However, we know from experience that they are not. Some impulses bring discomfort. We wouldn’t want to deal with them, because the emperor didn’t want to deal with the fact that he was actually duped by his tailor and walked around without clothes. Feelings like anxiety are usually unwanted in our attention. Desperation wants us to take the easy way out. I don’t want to stay here. Stop meditating so that I can get away from what is happening.

need to admit

Thoughts can also be auspicious. Something we didn’t succeed in, or challenges we didn’t want to deal with. The mind may ruminate over such things again and again, which can be very tiring. On top of all that, we have Meditation Sounds. Wasn’t it a bit vague? Without being fully aware of it, we distance ourselves from difficult thoughts and turn our attention to the healing sound of meditation. Later in the guidance, it becomes clear that we are focused. The narrow and focused attention that we direct toward a clear and distinct “meditational sound” restricts the wide-angle awareness that we can direct toward a more vague “meditational sound.” Such awareness also allows space for the periphery, where many different impulses can enter, including less welcome ones. Such impulses are also a part of us and need to be accepted.

A conflict between the perfectionist in us and the more agreeable and free-spirited parts of us can sometimes cloud our focus. Striving for perfection is good in many contexts, but in meditation ideals represent challenges. Esame meditation is a gentle technique, so there we work on achieving a more free mental attitude, not with force, but with tenderness. Repeat the sound as slowly as possible. Focusing freely on one meditation sound first, then another and then another. After a while the meditation got over and we made some free time for ourselves. It can be easy, but it can also be demanding at times.

becomes more clear

Meditation combined with guidance enables us to gradually understand more about ourselves. We better see what shape we got in our childhood and youth. The influence that our parents, siblings, friends and other significant people have had on us in our upbringing becomes apparent. The people in our current environment, and how they affect us, also become clear, as well as some of the choices we face. We become more aware of major events in the past and present and can better understand our own formative experiences.

When our own history and the impact of the times we live in are clear to us, it becomes easier for us to relate to others and to ourselves. We do more in line with our true nature and achieve more without exhausting ourselves. Relationships unfold and develop more easily. Accepting life more honestly has benefits for you, but also for those around you. Still, life being what it is, we have to expect some degree of discomfort along the way. “No pain. No gain.” Best wishes for your attention!

By Gunnar Brattas, Senior Researcher at SINTEF, Course Instructor, Head of ASEM Trondheim.