Stillness · “Stillness Reveals”
Passage Meditation
To steady and transform the mind by concentrating slowly on the words of a memorized inspirational passage.
What it is
Passage meditation was developed by spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran in the 1960s, first taught systematically at the University of California, Berkeley.
Rather than reflecting on a text, the practitioner concentrates on the words themselves of a memorized inspirational passage from the world’s wisdom traditions. Easwaran’s guiding principle is that ‘we become what we meditate on,’ so the chosen passage gradually reshapes the heart and mind through sustained attention.
The Method
Step 1 — Choose a passage.
Select a positive, practical, uplifting passage from a great wisdom tradition, and memorize it. Step 2 — Sit upright and still. Find a quiet place, sit with the back straight, and close your eyes, ideally in the early morning. Step 3 — Go word by word. Move through the memorized passage slowly and silently in the mind, giving full attention to each word as it passes. Step 4 — Return when distracted. Whenever the mind wanders, gently bring it back to the next word of the passage, without irritation. Step 5 — Continue for thirty minutes. Sustain this each morning. Over time the concentration deepens and the passage’s meaning is absorbed into daily life.