December 2020 Featured Article: Abstract Meditation: The Free-Form Art
Abstract Meditation: The Free-Form Art
Written by Jessica Enyioha & Dominico Kantor
“Do you meditate?” asked Dominico.
“No, I don’t meditate” responded Jessica.
As the conversation wove between topics of interest Jessica brought up her love for running outdoors. She spoke about running being her favorite workout routine, how she enjoyed listening to the birds, looking at the sky, seeing the different insects in their environment, jamming music, and greeting the neighbors as she passed by. Most importantly, Jessica stated that running three miles outdoors is her tool for clearing her mind.
“So you just described your form of mediation” Dominico expressed.
This story reveals an example of how meditation can be perceived as taking a set form. Ironically, meditation is said to be free-flowing yet the hegemonic society teaches in schools that meditation, also referred to as mindfulness, consists of silence, stillness, and breathing exercises. These aspects do indeed make up a form of meditation however, it does not necessarily describe what mediation looks like in communities of color. Mental health is a historically taboo topic amongst Black and Brown people. While mental health is very much real is it often not talked about or ignored. Openly discussing the act of clearing one’s mind to promote mental health and especially using the term mindfulness is not typically a norm within communities of color. So when Jessica, who identifies as AfroLatina and who grew up attending public school in Austin, Texas, was initially asked if she meditated her system one thinking (Kahneman, 2011) immediately only thought of what she had been taught in school, breathing exercises in silence. This writing works to provide a brief history of meditation, shed light on the phenomenon of the practice of meditation in forms that are abstract, and encourage people of color to engage in their own forms of clearing their minds.
Historical evidence suggests that meditation has been practiced as early as 5000 BC in India in conjunction with yoga, and even earlier in African countries (Ross, 2016). Yogi’s have described meditation or Dhyana, as it is referred to by Yogi’s, as a state of pure consciousness. In Buddhism meditation is described as a technique used to clear one’s mind of negative thoughts for the purpose of advancement toward enlightenment. Based on these early practices of meditation it is evident that there are more than just one way to practice meditation.
Meditation has been practiced for centuries resulting in the evolution of its varying forms. Too often practitioners of meditation become so entrenched in their set practice of mediation that they don’t observe other forms. They begin to place meditation in a box setting limitations on what it is and can be, and educating people to practice their set form as if it is the only correct way to meditate. Abstract meditation is a term we have coined to describe unconventional methods of meditation.
Dominico who identifies as a Black Costa Rican describes his personal, evolving experience with abstract meditation as one of creation, exploration, and liberation. His initial experience with meditation consisted of a 45-minute process sitting in the dark, in silence, and stilling the mind achieved through the releasing of thoughts as they form. He would engage in this process twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. His morning meditation focused on appreciation and having a positive outlook toward the upcoming day essentially speaking into existence the positive goals he hoped to achieve. His evening meditation is an unwinding, relaxing process, consisting of the same duration and setting but now focusing on having gratitude for the day’s happenings. Dominico enjoyed this form of meditation for about two and a half years until one day he noticed that he was able to achieve the same gratitude for life and clarity of the mind without having to specifically sit in silence and focus on clearing thoughts. It was from this moment that he realized the possibilities for meditation are abstract, active, and endless.
According to Dominico, his purpose of engaging in different forms of mediation is to achieve a stillness of the mind to aid in experiencing life at the greatest possible level of enjoyment. When Dominico participates in activities that bring him joy he feels that he is at the greatest level of enjoyment in his life. He is able to allow himself to become fully consumed in the activity essentially not focusing on anything else in that moment. Being in the present moment at the emotional level of bliss/passion/love/happiness/and other similar feelings is one of the greatest levels of enjoyment in his life. Abstract meditation has taken on various forms in Dominico’s life such as running, cycling, listening to music, DJing, creating music, sitting in the woods, swimming in the ocean, roller skating, doing art, intimacy, cooking, driving a boat, and flying a plane.
Abstract meditation acknowledges the various forms of meditation practices and embraces them in their freeness. Abstract meditation can be specific to the many passions and goals of the practicing individuals. Running can be a form of meditation for a person who is passionate about keeping his/her body healthy. Listening to music or drawing can be a form of meditation for a person who enjoys the arts. Writing can be a form of meditation for a person who enjoys seeing their thoughts on paper. A person who is fully engaged in his/her passion is in a pure state of consciousness thus allowing the mind to be free from other distractions. Focusing and engaging in an activity of passion leaves little mental capacity to focus on anything else including negativity and other things outside of the enjoyment of the present moment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a drastic toll on the physical and mental well-being of communities of color. Now is the time to develop a routine to take care of your mind. We encourage you to reflect on what brings you joy and peace in life. What is an activity that you can commit to engaging in daily or weekly that will allow you to become fully consumed leaving no space for clouding thoughts? What time in the day will you practice your form of mediation? Set a reminder in your calendar to make sure you designate time to freeing your mind of the chaos life brings. Lastly, we hope that you will initiate conversations with your loved ones about the importance of taking care of their minds and establishing their own free-forms of meditation.
References
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Ross, A. (2016). How meditation went mainstream. Time.
