The Gospel of Relaxation

In this book you will discover that the key to true meditation is realizing that meditation is relaxation, but not necessarily in the way you might think. In modern society we are obsessed with being busy. We complain about being too busy, not having enough time, and having too much to do, but at the same time we wear our busyness like a badge of honor that demonstrates our significance.

In a culture so conditioned to be busy, relaxation becomes something else to be busy with. We think of ourselves as relaxing, as if we are working towards being relaxed. In this book you will find that meditation is not about relaxing, it is about being relaxed. We must learn how to let go and be relaxed without turning it into something that takes effort.

If you follow the inquiry in this book deeply enough, you will see that being relaxed is only possible when you are satisfied with the way things are, and you can consciously choose to be satisfied with what is at any time. True meditation brings you into the immediate experience of the present moment and the recognition that from there you can always choose to be content with what is.