When we hear the word “meditation”, it is often used to refer to an ideal state of mind that is peaceful and free from thoughts, a state of mind that we do not have, and that we strive to achieve. This is a very different meaning from “meditation” in the context of mindfulness and awareness practice. As Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche explained,

“We are talking about a completely different concept of meditation: unconditional meditation, without any object or idea in mind. In the Shambhala tradition meditation is simply training our state of being so that our mind and body are synchronized. Through the practice of meditation, we can learn to be without deception, to be fully genuine and alive.”

–Chogyam Trungpa, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior.Boston & London: Shambhala, 1988.