Meditation

What is it Meditation?

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Meditation is a way of focusing the mind. It is a systematic technique for taking hold, calming the constant mental Meditation chatter, which drains our energy. Methodical meditation practice creates a healthy rhythm of activity and peace for both mind and body. Our minds are occupied, making plans for future, which we can not control. It creates stress and toll for our mental and physical health. Meditation helps us to live in the present moment, get rid of negative thought patterns. Meditating regularly, we can feel returning energy and clarity to us.

Meditation Techniques

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Meditation techniques in every culture are similar. They help to calm body and mind, release thoughts about past and future and concentrate the inner self. One of the techniques is exercise, consisting of moving with breath. It creates mental awareness, brings a feeling of relaxation for body and mind. The combination of stretches and breathing techniques reduces stress level. The breathing in and out, keeping focus when counting flow of air, will raise energy levels, clears the mind.

Various authors describe meditation in different ways. Lawrence LeShan, the author of the book How to Meditate,   instead of types of meditation, calls the “paths of meditation.” One is a path through intellect. It means, that ” the student first reaches an intellectual understanding of the two realities, the two ways of perceiving and relating to the world, and then, by series of training exercises-meditations-deepens this understanding.” The similar path is through emotions. It is a concentration through meditation on loosening feelings, expand the ability to relate to others, love and feel empathy. There is the path of action. Various skills used here. Completing tasks of every day, aikido, and karate, rug weaving in Sufi tradition help improve concentration and creates awareness of the present moment.

Time 

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The best time for meditation is early in the morning. It depends on your schedule, but best is time between five and six. It is better not think too much, but act. Get of bed, take a  shower and sit quietly for at least five minutes. In the beginning, is recommended to meditate no less as five minutes and no longer as the half hour. Do not increase the time without an experienced teacher. If you would like to meditate more, half of hour before bed is a good option. When meditating, is best not to think about time. Count breaths, let go of thoughts. If the mind wanders, do not be mad. Gently return to counting and focus intention toward yourself. You can meditate when you lay in bed or sit on the chair with erected spine or in the famous lotus pose.

Place

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It would be nice to have the separate room without distractions. It is not possible, reserve one corner for meditation. Use it just for it.  After consistently using the same spot, you will feel that it became holy, special place. The place should be calm, quiet and cool, well ventilated. If you have connections with religious figures as Jesus,  Buddha, there can be their pictures. Best is to keep a place uncluttered as much as possible. As  Eknath Easwaran wrote in his book Meditation, ” the only equipment you need is the will, and you can’t buy that through the mail.”

Benefits of Meditation

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Exercises such as yoga, usage of senses, completing everyday tasks with focus one thing at the time, forgetting yourself in hobbies, doing work into the play, let fit these forms of meditation into daily life. Meditating consistently, we expand our awareness of being in the world, perceiving and relating to reality. As we comprehend more of this, we reach an ability to feel our vitality,  a capacity to love and oneness. Meditation sharpens concentration, transforms anger, allows live fully in the present, forgetting past. The stress released through meditation and biological age slows down.

People, who use Transcendental Meditation(TM), report a sense of increased calm and inner silence. Repeating mantras, which are specific messages, sound vibrations gradually lead the mind out of general thinking. It guides into the silence and pure awareness. It exists in the gap between thoughts. The body is in the deeply relaxed state when the mind is awake. Contracted muscles loosened, energy flows freely in the body. Meditation helps to live our lives in a state of relaxed self-awareness.