Jose Fonseca first discovered meditation in the 1970s. In 1991, she took her first vipassana course, and she now meditates daily. Here, she shares what her practice and The Meditator symbol means to her.
When did you begin meditating and how has your practice evolved?
I started doing transcendental meditation in the early 1970s but didn’t keep it up. I did my first course at the Vipassana Meditation Centre in Hereford in 1991 and I have continued since then. I followed a teacher called Burgs for five years who was a wonderful teacher, but I later returned to the vipassana practice. I find vipassana very powerful and helpful. When I was working it helped me to be less reactive. I now try to meditate mornings and evenings.
If a passer-by asked you what The Meditator symbol meant to you, what would you say?
If someone asked me why I wear it, I would say because I like the look of it, which is beautiful, and the symbol reminds me of the internal work I am trying to do. A few people have asked me where I got it.
Do you look at the symbol of The Meditator as a sense of self?
The Meditator is a reminder of trying to be a better version of myself. It also reminds me to try to be as present as possible!
Have you found the symbol of The Meditator helpful during the turbulence of the last two years?
Yes – it’s been a reminder that life sometimes brings great difficulty and made me think about how I deal with it. The last two years were difficult. I love The Meditator as it’s a beautiful reminder of what a blessing life is and to feel gratitude.
Do you feel like The Meditator holds a vibrational force? If so, what kind of force?
All objects have a vibration, but The Meditator definitely has a strong vibration, in my view…
If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to start meditating what would it be?
I personally would recommend vipassana, but there are many different kinds of meditation and it’s up to the individual to find the right practice that suits them.