Meditation, Non-Doing, and Waiting for Godot

In the early 1950’s Samuel Beckett wrote a beautiful play titled “Waiting for Godot”. It is probably his most famous work. The play is powerful as it centers on the issues of nothingness and yearning. The critics at the time called this work and others like it “Theatre of the Absurd” as life in these plays appear to have no meaning.

An absurdist’s story generally ends up where it started; nothing has been accomplished and nothing gained. The characters may be uncertain of time and place, and they are virtually the same at the end of the play as they were at the beginning.

Nothing to Be Done
Over and over again in the play, the two main characters stand perplexed and say “Nothing to be done”. The play is packed full of non-doing. I have seen a number of performances of this play including one on Broadway in the late 80’s. Every one of these productions failed to capture the profound humanity and humor that Beckett expresses in his writing.

Just as in life, it is not just what we say—but how we say it. Mood, feeling and disposition are everything to a piece like this. These characters never lose hope. They are absolute innocents. Without the presence of innocence and hope, this play is intolerably long and boring. It is a metaphor for life. It is all about how we manage in spirit, regardless of circumstances. What is it that keeps us going?

Boredom, Non-Doing and Meditation
The French version of the play debuted in 1953 in Paris. The English version debuted in 1955 in London. The play has been produced and performed many times since, including those produced and performed by inmates in prisons all over the world. The theme is understandably fascinating to prisoners.

Doing nothing, or going nowhere is something those who meditate—particularly sitting meditation encounter head-on. I believe it is Osho who spoke of boredom as an important landmark on one’s inner journey. If you have reached absolute utter boredom then you are doing something right.

How do we bide our time? What do we do with our lives once we realize we are not actually going anywhere? Do we imagine there is someone with all the answers who we may eventually encounter? How do we make peace with this overwhelming limbo? Are the details of our simple lives enough? This play dramatizes these questions.

Waiting On Stage in Detroit, 1982
I was just beginning to meditate while in college around 1982. I majored in theatre and acting in Detroit, Michigan. While in college I was involved in a production of this amazing play. It was not an official production put on by the University. Instead it was a group of friends who put it together.

The experience of performing “Waiting for Godot” was profound. There was a magic that followed us around throughout the rehearsal period and the production. I felt guided by the beauty of what must have been Samuel Beckett’s chronicle of his own deep encounter and inquiry. It was a delight to perform. The experience was extremely meditative and the few of us involved formed a strange silent and intimate bond.

More information on Waiting for Godot.

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For those interested in a copy of the play—