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.
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 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.
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 your 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 this is my favorite method.
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!
Keep
Dancin’ Larry B
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