How to train the mind to meditate

Dhr. Seven, Ellie Askew, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly, Wiki edit

To train a wild elephant (the mind), tether it to a post until it calms down.

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The goad

B. Alan Wallace and Daniel Goleman discuss shamatha (serenity), mindfulness, and introspection, which they tie to metacognition:

"Throughout Buddhist literature the training in shamatha [serenity meditation] is often likened to training a wild elephant, and the two primary instruments for this are the tether of mindfulness and the goad of introspection."

• The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind (2006, Wisdom Publications, p. 79):

The Attention Revolution (B. Alan Wallace)

"Buddhist psychology classifies introspection as a form of intelligence (prajna), and its development has long been an important element of Buddhist meditation.

"A similar mental faculty, usually called metacognition, is now coming under the scrutiny of modern psychologists.

"Cognitive researchers have defined metacognition as knowing of one's own cognitive and affective processes and states, as well as the ability to consciously and deliberately monitor and regulate those processes and states.

"This appears to be an especially rich area for collaborative research between Buddhist contemplatives and cognitive scientists."