Object meditation is simply meditation on a thing, concrete, like a flower; or abstract, like a concept. Object meditation offers numerous benefits, one of which is that it teaches us to concentrate and to sustain focus. This is why, in some formal meditation practices, object meditation is the first thing a student learns.

When the novice begins to meditate on an object, something interesting happens. She or he quickly realizes that: (1) the mind wanders incessantly; (2) taming the mind is going to be no small task; (3) disciplining the mind is necessary to achieve self-mastery; and (4) meditation offers a solution. Early attempts at object meditation thus tend to be simultaneously inspiring and humbling.

In most cases, object meditation is not meant to elicit a particular type of experience. Rather, the idea is to work with whatever presents itself. Anything can happen during object meditation: one may encounter personal demons, become bored, experience some profound realization or enter worlds of light. Or a guide may appear and give some instruction. The meditator learns to let whatever comes up teach, heal or reveal, as the case may be -- all the while going ever deeper into the meditation.


The challenge of object meditation is to hold the focus without trying too hard or letting the mind wander. When this happens, the focus is gently redirected to the object. When through sustained effort the meditator is finally able to hold the mind steadily on the object, real progress can be made, and magnificent breakthroughs in consciousness can occur.

Sue Annabrooke Jones
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