Meditation
Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101
Meditation means to be in a state in which your physical body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. People who faithfully practice this art report increased awareness, center, and concentration, as well as a more positive attitude in life.
Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, shaman and other spiritual disciplines. Nonetheless, you don’t have to be a monk or shaman to enjoy its benefits. And you do not even have to be in a special place to meditate. You could even try it in your own living room!
Although there are several varying methods to meditation, the fundamental principles never change. The most essential of these principles is that of doing away with obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This empties the mind of rubbish and prepares it for a higher level of activity.
The pessimistic thoughts you have - those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you received, and unwanted spam- are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’|”Cluttering”| of the mind, and shutting them out permits for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may center on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.
Some who practice meditation even shut out all sensory input - no sights, noises, and nothing to touch - and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them. You may now focus on a deep, reflective thought if this is your objective. It might seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and viewing things, but as you get use to this exercise you will discover yourself becoming more conscious of everything around you.
If you find the meditating methods you see on television threatening - those with ridiculously arched backs, and agonizing-looking contortions - you need not worry. The principle here is to be in a relaxing position conducive to concentration. This may consist of sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.
If the position allows you to stay calm and become centered, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the spine should be straight and aligned, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only things you want to refrain from is slouching or allowing yourself to fall asleep.
Unrestrictive, comfortable clothes makes a big difference in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and leave you feeling tense.
The place you perform meditation should have a calming atmosphere. It might be in your front room, or bedroom, or any other area that you feel comfortable in. You may want an exercise pad if you plan to attempt more challenging positions (if you feel more centered doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You may want to have the place situated so that it is calming to your senses.
Silence helps most people become at ease and meditate, so you may want a quiet, undisturbed area away from the ringing of the phone or the swishing of the washing machine. Sense friendly scents also assist in that regard, so having on hand many aromatic candles is not such a bad idea either.
The monks you see on T.V. making those repetitive sounds are in reality just performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a statement of belief, of sorts, a simple sound which, for these individuals, holds a mystic value.
You do not need to practice or do such exercises; although, it would be beneficial to note that centering on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner gain a higher state of consciousness.
The principle here is center. You may also try centering on a specific object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.
One sample routine would be to - during meditation - in your head name every part of you body and centering your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be conscious of any stress on any part of your body. Mentally picture releasing this tension. It works like magic.
In all, meditation is a reasonably risk-free practice and its benefits are most definitely worth the effort (or non-effort - remember we’re relaxing).
Studies have discovered that meditation does bring about beneficial physical effects to the body. And there has been a growing agreement in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So in the near future, who knows, that spiritual, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!
