An attitude of self acceptance is essential to meditation. This begins with the mind; learning to accept everything that is happening within the mind-all the thoughts, all the feelings, whatever-and coming to terms with it. Any attitude of wanting to change or manipulate the mind, or enforce a different mind state constitutes non-acceptance and will lead to trouble. This makes sense if you think about it. If you had to live with someone who did not accept you as you were, but was always trying to change you, manipulate you, or mold you into their idea of what you should be, you would not like it and would eventually become rebellious. In the end your relationship with that person would be a bad one, full of conflict and tension. Working with the mind is the same, because the mind is what we think of as me or self. If there is no inner acceptance then there is no basis for inner harmony or peace.
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| — | Rob Nairn (via buddhistboer) |
