Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101
Meditation refers to a state in which your body and mind are consciously relaxed and centered. People who faithfully practice this art give an account of enhanced understanding, center, and concentration, as well as a more optimistic attitude in life.
Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, shaman and other spiritual disciplines. Nonetheless, you do not have to be a monk or medium to enjoy its benefits. And you do not even need to have a special place to meditate. You could even try it in your own front room!
Even though there are several different methods to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. The most significant of these principles is that of removing obstructive, pessimistic, and drifting thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This empties the mind of rubbish and readies it for a higher level of activity.
The pessimistic thoughts you have - those of loud neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you received, and unwanted spam- are said to add to the ‘polluting’|”Cluttering”| of the mind, and blocking them out allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more important thoughts.
Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input - light, no sounds, and nothing to touch - and try to remove themselves from the commotion surrounding them. You may now focus on a deep, reflective thought if this is your objective. It might seem deafening in the beginning, seeing how we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this practice you will discover yourself becoming more conscious of all that is around you.
If you find the meditating practices you see on television threatening - the positions with impossibly arched backs, and agonizing-looking contortions - no worries. The principle here is to be in a relaxing position conducive to concentration. This might consist of sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even strolling around.
If the position permits you to be at ease and focus, then that would be a positive starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not so as to be uncomfortable. In other positions, the only things you want to refrain from is slouching or allowing yourself to fall asleep.
Loose, breathable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to bind you up and make you feel tense.
The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any other area that you feel relaxed in. You might want an exercise pad if you intend to take on the more difficult positions (if you feel more centered doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You might want to have the area arranged so that it is calming to your nerves.
Silence helps most people become at ease and meditate, so you may want a quiet, undisturbed area away from the jingling of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Sense friendly scents also aid in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.
The monks you see on television humming those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra. This, in layman terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a spiritual value.
You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, or humming help the practitioner gain a higher state of consciousness.
The principle here is focus. You might also try centering on a specific object or thought, or even, eyes open focusing on a single sight.
One example routine would be to - while in a meditative state - silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be conscious of any tension on any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works like magic.
In summary, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its rewards are well worth the effort (or non-effort - remember we’re relaxing).
Studies have found that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a rising agreement in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So soon, who knows, that mystical, obscure thing we call meditation might become a science itself!
