Uncontrived Meditation

If meditation has an objective, it is to be uncontrived. This means embracing the authentic art of not doing—not by switching off or becoming passive, but by being utterly awake and aware, free from even the slightest trace of judgement or conceptual opinion, including expectation and fear.

When observing the process and experience of meditation, there is very little to do beyond resting calmly and peacefully in awareness.

To manufacture what we imagine meditation should be—whether by seeking a pleasurable experience, escaping from reality, or indulging in emotions that bring us comfort—is simply another form of ‘doing’. Such efforts create an experience rather than allowing meditation to unfold naturally.

The Tibetan expression for ‘uncontrived’ is ma cho མ་བཅོས. Here, it is rendered in a free-flowing brush style, created through a meditative approach to the act of writing. Although the artwork itself comes into being through the physical act of doing, the intention is to capture the essence of the word while allowing the disciplined hand to move freely, without unnecessary interference or contrivance.

By surrendering to the simplicity of the process, something more natural and authentic may emerge. The resulting calligraphy can serve as a visual reminder to rest in an uncontrived state of awareness during meditation.

The small line of Tibetan script at the bottom of the artwork translates as:

“Ah! The uncontrived, innate Great Perfection – Dzogchen.”