Loud footsteps echoed down the hall outside of the conference room. She used it to discuss distractions. "You hear those footsteps, but they mean nothing. Let them go. They're just a sensation without meaning. Don't think. A sound is just noise when you hear it. Then when you don't hear it anymore, it's nothing. No residual thoughts. . ." Nick made a light grunt of acknowledgment.
He looks so peaceful sitting there. Constance was impressed with the way he had settled. It gave her hope that he might be able to find some information. And it was thrilling to consider that her dream man might be able to join her on a spiritual journey someday. She tried not to think about all the roadblocks that stood between now and any such day.
Constance watched him meditate for a few minutes. He opened his eyes and noticed her watching. "How am I doing?"
"You're doing very well. But you're impatient. When you first learn to meditate, it's hard to let go of thoughts, especially thoughts about whether or not you're meditating right. You might think that you've been sitting there forever, especially when you spend hours doing it in a jail cell. So accept that. Tell yourself that you will be sitting there forever, dwelling on your existence.
"The present moment is all that matters now, and it stretches out forever. Seasoned meditators are able to stay in a light meditative state all the time, coming out of it only when called upon to act. Then they drop right back in. Some can even function normally-speaking and moving about-all while meditating. So imagine that you are a Samurai warrior, waiting calmly, but ready to act on a moment's notice."
"How can I keep from falling asleep?"
"That won't happen when you're in the right posture. Don't meditate lying down. Sitting up straight takes muscles, it forces you to stay awake. Also, don't let my posture rules seem like the only way to do it. Feel free to experiment and see what works best for you."
"Okay, I think I can do it."
"Good. Let's try it some more." They meditated together for a few minutes. When they were finished, she did something fairly impulsive. She reached across the table and took his hands in hers, squeezing him and holding on tightly. They were alone in the conference room, so this was their own private moment. He held her hands just as firmly, prolonging their contact.
Then she let go and smiled. "Just a little something to keep you going when you're not meditating." She laughed lightly. "See you next week, Nick."
His eyebrows rose in a look of peaceful delight. "Thanks Constance. I look forward to it."