Day 78

There are two extremes, or obstacles we may come across, in meditation:

1) sloth and torpor;
2) agitation

The first is characterized by a foggy mind, one that does not seem to be able to emerge from a very dull quality approaching sleep, as though switched off. The second is as though switched on, like a caffeine overdose or a hyperactive child, running all over the place without the ability to calm down. Buddhist practice always steers us toward the middle, so that no extreme catches hold of us. We want neither to be switched on nor off. With mindfulness, we can learn to be simultaneously present and alert (not off) and calm (not on).