Meditation
by Serenity

Meditation is important because it releases stress and tension from the mind as well as the body. While the body is at rest, the mind empties itself and you emerge from meditation physically revived and more mentally alert. It can also help you to look inward and analyse your personal thoughts and feelings.

This process is not an easy one and will take time to develop. Who can sit still for fifteen or twenty minutes and clear your mind of all the nonsense and trivia that tends to clutter up the corners of your mind. It does take practice. During meditation there is a drop in the breathing rate and your heart slows and brain patterns change to a more relaxed state. I find that I tend to see problems more objectively and solutions naturally come when I take time to meditate. The solutions become clearer. It is always advisable to seek a practised meditator to help you understand and develop the technique for yourself. Otherwise try these simple steps to start meditating.

Choose a comfortable position. You can sit cross-legged but it might take time to become accustomed to sitting this way. Sitting cross-legged helps to achieve a regular relaxed breathing pattern.

• Breathe slowly and rhythmically, taking twice as long to breathe out as to breathe in.
• Now determine which sound you will use, or visualise a series of images, or concentrate on an object.
• To start you might want to just focus on your breathing.
• Traditional "mantras" - sounds, are all like vowel sounds of ah-eh-ih-oh-uh. Repeat them all and decide which one suits you best. It is said that the "ah" sound relieves anxiety, the "eh" sound relieves tension, the "ih" sound relieves aggression, the "oh" sound relieves pain, and the "uh" sound sexual excitement.
• Introduce the chosen sound into your mind, saying it aloud at first if it helps you to concentrate.
• Repeat it over and over again in your head, pushing all other thoughts out of your mind - gently, calmly and slowly not with force, more like an observation or a gentle mind wandering.

At first your mind might run wild, and not want to slow down, but just continue to practice.

If you find it difficult to concentrate with your eyes closed, then keep your eyes open and use an object to focus on, and develop your concentration techniques. Use pictures that have a natural calming influence, like a seascape or mountains.
Try to sit and learn this technique for a minimum of fifteen minutes a day. Make it into a regular habit.

Choose the time of day that most suits your lifestyle, and when you need to let go the most.

Make it a time to look forward to, to be enjoyed.

Choose surroundings that give you the most benefit. Colours, room temperature, music playing can all be used to enhance your meditation process.

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself
and know that everything in this life has a purpose."
-- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Meditation is a simple, powerful technique....

Meditation is a simple, powerful technique in which, for a minimum of 20 minutes a day, you focus on a series of images or concentrate on your breathing, or an object. It is a skill that requires regular application and practice. Besides a growing sense of peace, benefits include increased confidence and competence, clarity or mind, creativity and inspiration in all aspects of living, being more relaxed, having more fun and enjoying oneself more.

The transformative effect of regular meditation over a period of time is quite extraordinary. It moves an individual from a state of stress and mental lack of focus to a state of clarity, calm and focus. It can be described as the experience of our 'natural' selves, in harmony with our inner being and the whole existence. It enables us to access the deeper, wiser and more compassionate aspect of ourselves.

There are many different types of meditation available and it is important to select a method that is right for you. Sometimes the intuitive choice is the wisest here. Many people teach themselves from numerous books available. However attending a class can be very valuable, as a group meditation is much more powerful initially than meditating on your own. The experience afforded by attending regular classes often gives the initial encouragement and direction needed. The length of time it takes to become proficient in the skill of meditation varies from person to person, yet it remains one of the most important things one could ever bring into life.