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Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101 |
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Written by Dick Ingersoll
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Friday, 05 September 2008 |
Meditation refers to a state where your physical body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art give an account of improved awareness, center, and concentration, not to mention a more positive outlook in life.
Meditation is typically thought of as being associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual controls. However, you don't have to be a monk or shaman to enjoy its benefits. And you don't even need to have a special place to meditate. You may even attempt it in your own living room!
Even though there are several different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles never change. The most essential of these principles is that of removing obstructive, pessimistic, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep feeling of focus. This empties the mind of debris and readies it for a higher level of activity.
The pessimistic thoughts you have - whether it be of loud neighbors, bossy co-workers, that parking ticket you received, and unwanted spam- are said to add to the "polluting" of the mind, and closing them out permits for the 'cleansing' of the mind so that it may center on deeper, more important thoughts.
Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input by disallowing - light, no sounds, and anything touchable - and try to detach themselves from the chaos around them. You may now focus on a deep, reflective thought if this is your goal. It might seem deafening in the beginning, seeing how we are all too accustomed to always hearing and viewing things, but as you get use to this practice you will discover yourself becoming more aware of all that is around you.
If you find the meditating practices you see on television threatening - the positions with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions - no worries. The principle here is to be in a relaxing position conducive to concentration. This might be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.
If the position allows you to relax and become centered, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.
Loose, comfortable clothes makes a big difference in the process since ill- fitting clothes have a tendency to bind you up and leave you feeling tense.
The place you perform meditation should have a calming atmosphere. It might be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel at ease in. You might want an exercise pad if you plan to attempt more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You might want to have the place situated so that it is soothing to your nerves.
Absolute quiet helps most people become at ease and meditate, so you might want a quiet, undisturbed area far from the ringing of the phone or the swishing of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also assist in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles is never a bad idea either.
The monks you see on T.V. making those monotonous 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 practitioners, holds a spiritual value.
You do not need to practice or do such exercises; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repetitive actions such as controlled breathing, or humming help the performer to gain a higher state of consciousness.
The principle here is focus. You may also try focusing on a particular object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.
One example routine would be to - during meditation - silently name every part of you body and focusing your awareness on that part. While in this process you should be aware of any stress on any part of your body. Mentally picture letting go of this tension. It works wonders.
In summary, meditation is a fairly risk-free practice and its rewards are most definitely worth the effort (or the lack of effort - don't forget we're relaxing).
Studies have found that meditation does have beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing agreement in the medical community to look into further the studying of the effects of such. So soon, who knows, that spiritual, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!
About the Author: Dick Ingersoll is an eternal student, and is excited to share what he is learning with others. He has pulled it all together for you at: Simple Meditation Advertise in this article
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