The balance between alertness and relaxation

Deeply relax while staying alert. We tend to get caught up and swept away. We become too intense, or sometimes the opposite too complacent, and give up. The Japanese have this expression for giving up, ‘medokusai,’ which means apathy or hopelessness. In this way we oscillate missing the balance between alertness and relaxation. We become tense and uptight, or we space out. Finding the right mix helps us to get in the zone. Finding the right balance between alertness and relaxation is very important for meditation. It is also very important in life. If we are too uptight, like a tightly strung guitar string, it will break. If we are too dull and sleepy, like a loosely stung guitar string, it will not produce good music. Get in the zone and balance alertness with relaxation.