MEDITATION
Can you think of anything more natural than sitting still and pausing for some time every day? Doing nothing for a while to unwind and relax? But how often do you do that?
The modern world is a busy one, full of multi tasking and multi talent. Modern technology moves fast and there’s always something new to tempt our desire to learn more. As a result some of the more natural practices like meditation have fallen away.
But when the current trend tips too much in one direction, people start to remember the age-old practices and a resurgence of the old become new again. This is the story of meditation. An ancient practice brought back to the new age! With each resurgence new techniques blend with the old making meditation fuller, richer and perhaps more complicated.
Choices abound in modern living, where once there was only tea with or without milk, now there are numerous types of milk to choose from and equally as many ways to serve it! The choices of what type of meditation to practice are as vast as most other things in life these days. But one thing is the same no matter what style of meditation you choose: the need to slow down and re-centre.
But that’s easier said than done, especially when one’s lifestyle has been fast paced and un-centred for a long time. The need to return to basics is required and an understanding of meditation from a more traditional perspective.
The aspect within you that is constantly looking for the next thrill, the next drama, is the mind. The store-house of all your emotions, desires and memories. It rarely lives in the present but prefers to dwell in the past and future. As fun and exciting as the mind can be, it has no off button, no discipline and no sense of consequences. In Yogic philosophy (Vedanta), the mind is likened to a child – full of emotion but in need of boundaries and an adult’s care. The adult within you is called the Intellect, or higher mind.
Meditation is caring for the mind, teaching it how to calm down and focus on one thing at a time. When this is achieved you are in control of yourself. But for most, this takes time, a long term consistent practice of meditation.
In meditation, the intellect continually guides the mind back to a chosen focus. This focus could be a range of things, but to stay with the basics, let us use the most natural focus – the breath.
It is advisable to start your meditation with some pranayama – breath control, and the simplest is to breathe slowly and deeply, without strain. Focus on your breathing and when your breath naturally becomes more passive, allow that and stay focused on your breathing.
Every time the mind wanders away from the breath, simply bring it back, without annoyance, without thinking or analysing. It does not matter how many times you bring the mind back to the breath, this is the practice of meditation.
In time, you will find the mind cooperating more and perhaps for the first time in a long time you experience the present moment without the noisy mind in the background.
When you’re able to get to this level, you are hooked and meditation becomes an important aspect of daily life.
The fun truly begins now, but that’s another story….
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Ideally practice meditation first thing in the morning, the earlier the better - before the world wakes up.
Find a quiet and uncluttered room for meditation. You can use candles, incense, essential oils, gentle music.
If you are an absolute beginner, start with no more than 15 min every day and gradually increase that time when you feel you are up for more challenge.
Sit with your back straight on the floor with cushions under your hips, or on a chair.
Remember – Rome wasn’t built in a day; consistent chipping away will build your bridge to inner peace.
By Kym Oliver