---
name: Meditation
slug: meditation
type: practice
status: running
version: 3.2.1
released: "~1500 BCE"
maintainer: no single maintainer (contested, see forks)
dependencies:
  - breath
  - stillness
  - at least 4 minutes you were probably going to waste anyway
license: Public Domain (various regional forks under proprietary spiritual branding)
tags:
  - consciousness
  - attention
  - ancient-software
  - mind
  - silence
---

Meditation

What it actually is

Paying attention to attention itself, which sounds circular because it is.

How it works

The core loop is deceptively simple:

Sit. Or lie. Or walk slowly enough to seem suspicious.
Place attention on an anchor (breath, sound, sensation, mantra, void).
Notice when attention has drifted. It has already drifted.
Return attention to anchor. No penalty assessed.
Repeat until timer goes off, or until ego files a complaint.

The practice does not stop thoughts. It changes the relationship to them. You stop being the thoughts and start being the one watching them pile up like unread notifications.

Features

Reduced anxiety: Not eliminated. Reduced. Read the fine print.
Improved focus: Measurable in controlled settings, slippery in open offices.
Access to present moment: The only moment available, yet somehow the least visited.
Neuroplasticity support: Long-term use appears to rewire default-mode network activity. This is not a metaphor.
Portability: Runs on any body, no installation required.

Configuration

session:
  duration: 10m          # 20m preferred, 2m acceptable, 0m is just sitting
  anchor: breath         # options: breath | mantra | body-scan | open-awareness
  eyes: closed           # or soft-gaze; fully open triggers email-checking reflex
  guidance: optional     # app, teacher, silence, or Thich Nhat Hanh audiobook
  expectation: none      # this field must remain empty or the whole thing breaks

Note: Setting expectation: relaxation causes the system to surface every unresolved grievance from the past decade. Known issue. Not a bug. Sort of the point.

Known bugs

Users frequently attempt to "do it right," corrupting the process entirely.
Drowsiness in approximately 40% of sessions. Classified as a feature by certain schools.
Ego may briefly expand before contracting. Do not panic.
Enlightenment is listed as an output in legacy documentation. This claim has not been reproducibly benchmarked.
High likelihood of becoming annoying at dinner parties.

FAQ

Is my mind too busy to meditate? A busy mind is the intended input, not a disqualifier.

What's the difference between meditation and daydreaming? Intentionality. Roughly.

Do I need a cushion? No. The cushion is a dependency that grew into a lifestyle.

Which app should I use? The one you'll actually open. Failing that, a kitchen timer and a wall.

Changelog

Version	Notes
3.2.1	Mindfulness-based stress reduction fork goes mainstream
2.0.0	Buddhism packages major refactor, adds Eightfold Path integration
1.4.0	Stoics implement secular derivative; rename several modules
0.1.0	Someone sat under a tree and reported the process worked

License

Free to use, free to fork. Several forks now charge a subscription. The original remains open-source and requires nothing except your willingness to stop, briefly, and look.

drafting spec…