Yogi: Sayadaw’s book says that it is only with a free and light mind that I can meditate. Let’s say I have just come back from work with a heavy mind, how do I meditate?
Sayadaw: It is possible to meditate when you feel bad because I have clearly done it.
So long as we have the right attitude, even when we’re feeling tired and heavy, we can simply be aware that we’re tired and heavy. If we’re not reacting and expecting it to be different, it is okay because we can still be mindful.
In the book, it is more like saying when you practice continuously, sometimes you get to a state where the mind is light and free and it feels better to meditate. But, it doesn’t mean that it is the only way you can meditate.
Putting aside what is in the book, it really boils down to attitude. If there is no aversion towards the experience or greed for some other experience, then every experience is fine and we can be aware of it. It is like ‘I know this is happening and I can continue to know’ and that will grow the mindfulness – that is enough.
But, if we don’t have the right attitude, then it feels heavy to try to be knowing something is happening – and we’ll be struggling with what we’re knowing.