What is Meditation?
Meditation is the quieting of the mind. The purpose of meditation is to clear your mind of everything. When you begin to practice meditation, you will find there is much more beyond what you think normally day to day or the thoughts that are in your mind
What are the Benefits of Meditation?
What benefits are there in meditation you wonder, is it just another fad, or worse, something left over from the sixties hippy days? Nothing could be farther from the truth, Wikipedia speaks of ancient Taoists and Buddhists in the 6th and 5th centuries BC practicing meditation. I believe that these peoples would have a better idea of inner peace than us today. Our lives have become so complicated. Meditation has become even more important in today’s world.
Clearer mind
You can gain a clearer mind that will really help with anxiety and calm you down. With this clarity comes presence. People around you will notice that you are actually there in mind as well as the body. Meditation helps to straighten out the tangled mess of ideas and frustrations in your mind and enable you to make clearer decisions. This tangled mess causes tons of frustration, then the self-doubts kick with that hateful inner voice that has nothing good to say to you. After that everything goes south. If I get up in the morning before anyone else to meditate without interruption, the day can start out with more focus.
Happiness
A clearer mind, the quieting of that self-talk will certainly bring more happiness. Think of that tangled mess in your mind as an anchor weighing you down. Every move is a difficult effort. Getting rid of that stress with show up in your walk, lighter and with more joy. Think of how much better your computer works after a defragmentation.
Compassion
As you learn who you are, through meditation, you will develop a compassion toward yourself and others. If you were to get out of your head and look down at yourself, you will see a beautiful person who has not only survived adversity but overcame it.
Improves Sleep
Sometimes when we try to go to sleep, we think about things that may or may not happen, things at work or family problems. We think about things that went wrong during the day. As you get better at meditating you will be able to keep these thoughts at bay.
What do you need?
A quiet place and maybe a cushion to start is what you need.
- There are special yoga cushions that are about 5 inches high, that provides relief of having all your weight on your feet. This is a zafu cushion, use of this will elevate the hips.
- If you are not comfortable with getting down on the floor, maybe sit on your bed or couch, to begin with.
- Make sure you can sit straight, tall and balanced.
- Place your hands on your lap, palms open to make sure your spine is straight and your legs are not crossed with your feet flat on the floor.
How to Meditate
This is a quick how- to -meditate to help you get started.
- Find your position of choice. If your feet are bare, maybe a towel over them to keep them warm.
- Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
- Keep your eyes closed or almost closed, whichever is more comfortable.
- Notice your breath, feel it filling different parts of your body if your mind wanders bring it back to your breathing.
- Start out at five minutes, each day increase by a little bit.
After awhile this will become easier. As thoughts come into our minds, we tend to judge each one as good or bad, try not to become involved with each thought but let it pass. I was reading on the Gaiam website: Contemporary researchers are now exploring whether a consistent meditation practice yields long-term benefits, and noting positive effects on brain and immune function among meditators. Yet it’s worth repeating that the purpose of meditation is not to achieve benefits. To put it as an Eastern philosopher may say, the goal of meditation is no goal. It’s simply to be present. In Buddhist philosophy, the ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from attachment to things it cannot control, such as external circumstances or strong internal emotions. The liberated or “enlightened” practitioner no longer needlessly follows desires or clings to experiences, but instead maintains a calm mind and sense of inner harmony. 1 1. Inner idea, “Meditation 101: Techniques, Benefits, and a Beginner’s How-to,” Gaiam, accessed October 21, 2018, https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/meditation-101-techniques-benefits-and-a-beginner-s-how-to#disqus_thread.