What is Meditation?
Dhyana (pronounced dee-YAH-nah) means meditation. Meditation is the process of quieting the mind to free ourselves from attachments and unproductive thoughts. The benefits of meditation seem endless! Through a consistent meditation practice we can gain emotional and mental stability, clarity in decision-making; peace of mind within communications and relationships, an unleashing of creative energy, and a beautiful sense of self-worth. On a physical level, regular meditation has been proven to greatly influence the body’s metabolic processes and reduce high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. So, the purpose of our meditation is to begin to focus our mental energy inward, so that we may tap into resources deep within ourselves. This process of stilling the mind allows us to experience our true nature, which is revealed as truth, consciousness, or bliss. In Sanskrit this is called satchitinananda.
Putting Meditation into Practice:
The stronger your meditation practice, the more you begin to establish a clearer vision of the truth about yourself, your life, and the world. Meditation is the process of attaining total awareness through the cessation of thought. You begin by relaxing. You concentrate on relaxing. As your mind and body relax, begin to notice the thoughts that come and go. Notice especially those thoughts that seem to be reoccurring in your mind daily. Can you let go of those thought patterns? This can be very difficult at first, because we are so used to having busy minds. This can be especially difficult in Western culture due to the over stimulation of our minds with the growing influx of computers, televisions, media information, etc. Sometimes it can even seem virtually impossible to stop following and obsessing over the thoughts racing through our minds- from what we’re going to eat for lunch, to the argument we had with our spouse, to the project deadline at work, to the endless to-do list that we have to complete. We have become conditioned to believe that every minute should count and that we should always be working, doing as much as possible. Meditation is the opposite of this notion. Meditation teaches us that occasionally we need to still the mind in order for it to work at it’s optimum capacity! Just like any type of perpetual motion machinery, the mind needs care and maintenance. By learning to release, relax, and let go of stress in the mind, we begin to clear out all of the cobwebs, and establish a beautiful foundation for some really good stuff to come in! We begin to learn to let go of trivial concerns, to observe and control our emotions, and to focus our mind power on the work that is truly important in our lives.
Preparation for Meditation:
* Choose a regular place and time in the beginning of your practice. Becoming accostumed to this place and time, your meditation will deepen.
* Twice a day is wonderful if possible, for 15-20 minutes during each sitting
* In the beginning of our practice, it is helpful to choose a place that is clean, well-ventilated, and quiet, without stimulants such as sound and bright light. However, eventually the true heart of our meditation practice lies in being able to maintain mindfulness even amidst the sounds of traffic, subways, cluttered buildings, etc. Under these circumstances we are given a very potent opportunity to practice staying present, aware of the breath, and the mind’s reactions.
* Sit either on a straight-backed chair or in a comfortable sitting position, allowing the spine to be erect. Use a cushion or a folded blanket to tilt the pelvis slightly forward. You may also use a wall for support of the spine-try your best not to slump, so that the lungs may expand fully.
* Begin with a relaxed body. Some preparatory relaxing and focusing breathing exercises will be very helpful. Ujjayi breath is my favorite pranayam techniques to begin with.
* Enjoy! Let go of any expectations of yourself, and give it a shot. It’s fun to observe yourself just being!
Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace
