A Guide To Practicing Meditation.
Relax And Focus
Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are
consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report
increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more
positive outlook in life.
Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other
spiritual disciplines. However, you don’t have to be a monk or
mystic to enjoy its benefits. And you don’t even have to be in a
special place to practice it. You could even try it in your own
living room!
Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the
fundamental principles remain the same. The most important among
these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and
wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep
sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a
higher quality of activity. . . (Continued below)
A Guide To Practicing Meditation. Relax And
Focus (-
continued)
The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy
neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and
unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the
mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the
mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.
Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no
sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the
commotion around them. You may now focus on a deep, profound thought
if this is your goal. It may seem deafening at first, since we are
all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as
you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more
aware of everything around you.
If you find the meditating positions you see on television
threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and
painful-looking contortions – you need not worry. The principle here
is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This
may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even
walking.
If the position allows you to relax and focus, 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 help a lot in the process since tight
fitting clothes have a tendency to choke 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 place that you
feel comfortable in. You might want an exercise mat if you plan to
take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused
doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release).
You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to
your senses.
Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a
quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the
humming of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also help in that
regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea
either.
The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are
actually performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short
creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic
value.
You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that
focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the
practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.
The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a
certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open,
focus on a single sight.
One sample 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 aware of any tension on
any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It
works wonders.
In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its
benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re
relaxing).
Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial
physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing
consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of
such. So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric
thing we call meditation might become a science itself! A
Guide To Practicing Meditation. Relax And Focus
A Guide To
Practicing Meditation. Relax And Focus |
