To deal with things, knowledge of things is needed. To deal with people, you need insight and sympathy. To deal with yourself, you need nothing. Be what you are—conscious being—and don’t stray away from yourself. ~Sri Nisargadatta
What is letting go? And what exactly are we letting go of during meditation? And…how deep does it go? Is there any end to how much we can let go? And also, how healthy is it to let go? What are the benefits? Are there any dangers? These are the questions we explore in this episode of The OneMind Podcast.
I’ve wanted to do a show about ‘the art of letting go’ for a while. Here’s why—letting go is really the heart of meditation practice. It’s the essence of what you do when you sit down to meditate. No matter what kind of meditation practice you do, 95% of it is going to be about this one simple choice to let go over and over again.
Letting go is an incredibly important part of being human. We all carry so much baggage around. Learning how to let go on occasion helps us revitalize and rejuvenate our mind, our emotions, our body, and our spirit.
If at times you feel like you’re mind is like a washing machine on steroids spinning in your head, then letting go will help you deal with that. In truth, a lot of us have that choppy washing machine experience before we learn how to periodically let go and unplug from our thoughts.
We’re often tortured, distracted, stressed, or confused by the frenzy of activity in our minds, but we don’t need to be. Learning how to let go in meditation is a key part of gaining perspective on that experience and finding a new way to relate to it all.
This episode on the art of letting go is broken into 5 parts:
Chapter 1. What governs the movement of our minds?
Chapter 2. Take out the trash
Chapter 3. How Do you Let go?
Chapter 4. Your Mind Is Not The Enemy
Chapter 5. There are different levels of letting go
Show Notes
- Learn how to let go and sign up for our free How To Meditate Mini Course
(Photo Credit via Flickr Creative Commons:James Wheeler)
Wonderful, thank you!
Thanks Esperanza,
Really glad you liked it :-).
Thank you Morgan
“Taking out the Trash” sounds so simple but is quite difficult for most of us, being new to meditation it seems we need to not overthink and try and engage in “simplicity”.
But it is so much easier said than done……..turning down our minds. Thank you again for wonderful insight.
Cheers
Hi Reg,
I couldn’t agree more. It takes a lot of practice. You’re right about that. And I love what you’re saying about simplicity. Letting go and simplicity go hand in hand. Thanks so much for your feedback and glad you found this useful.
Exactly the right words at the right time. Thank you so much, Morgan.
Thanks so much Germaine. I am really happy to hear that!
The washing machine of my mind really hit home for me.
I’m encouraged that by your insights I will be able to let go of the AGITATION that so often whirls around when I am meditating.
Thank you Morgan
Hi Anne – Thanks for your kind words. That washing machine metaphor is obviously from my own direct experience. With steady practice, I think we can definitely let go of that agitation. Of course it takes time and patience, but that’s definitely my experience.
wonderful- love the analogies
Thanks Anne Marie, I’m glad you enjoyed the analogies 🙂
Great podcast – as are they all. Many thanks.
Hi Hillary,
Thanks so much!
Morgan
Thank you for good explanation of letting-go 🙂 It’s really hard, even during hatha-yoga practice.
After practicing yoga for some time, even there mind starts working automatically like a washing machine )))
I just understood that we need to check what we are thinking while doing yoga asanas. Not to make it automatically with wandering mind… Because only asanas without meditation don’t change mind and way of thinking, hence way of living.
Thank you for inspiration!
Hi Olga,
Thanks for sharing your experience like this. Very interesting. I practiced hatha yoga for about 15 years (a daily Iyengar Yoga practice) and for me meditation was a big help and support in terms of letting go both on and off the mat. I’m glad you found some inspiration here. Thanks again and keep in touch!
Great and wonderful. I need to read or hear about “let it go” in a day like that. Only listening I relax, breath deeper and find what I was looking for today, a way to let go my tension and fear. Thank you! 🙂
I know my english isn´t good enough, but I hope you can unserstand the idea.
Hi Deborah,
You’re very welcome. I totally understand and your english is clear. Thank you for sharing your experience here and I’m happy to hear you found a window to let go of tension and fear. That’s a great result. Keep in touch! Morgan
Thank you ! very inspiring, I tend to hold on tightly. Listening to your words I believe I can start to let go. Let in some light.
Thank you .
Awesome Sandi. Thanks for your response. I don’t know you of course, but that willingness and belief you’re speaking about is key so it’s a great sign that you’re ready to let go more deeply. One thing about letting go, it never ends and I don’t thing we can ever get to the point where there is nothing else to let go of and into.
Thank you for your response, Morgan. My fear and desire really is noticeable, once i became more aware of the nasty thinking and how often my thinking is my worry about health – family – life
I hear your words,
I hanging on so tightly !
Taking that step out is where I want to be.
Thank you again
Thanku i am doing a Trans Personal Counselling course and have found this most helpful i both letting go and learning
Hi Bella, I’m delighted to hear that. Thanks for sharing that with me.