Meditation - A Guide
Meditation means different things to different people and there are various forms of meditation. It is seen as a:
method of coping with the stresses and strains of modern living
part of a personal development program.
spiritual practice.
It is all of these things but it is also a naturally occurring state of awareness common to all people at certain times - is a state that is so absorbing that the outside world and time itself seem to disappear. These moments can come when walking in the countryside or at the beach or when playing or listening to music or relaxing in the bath. The thing these all have in common is that there is a free flowing state of awareness - being totally in the moment, not dwelling on the past or the future, just the now. The naturally occurring states can be developed and enhanced by discovering more about a method of meditation.
Many people are struck by the simplicity of methods of meditation - that does not mean that it is always easy. The challenge is to stay focused on the meditation process. Meditation requires letting go. Once you have developed the process it becomes easier to go to the state of meditation. We are all able to spontaneously meditate from time to time - but if we want the benefits that can come from meditation then we need to do it regularly.
Meditation practices can generally be grouped into three types according to the purpose behind the meditation.
Mindfulness meditation - you seek to observe yourself in a passive relaxed way. You are patient and you let go and accept what you find in a non-judgemental way.
Working the will - you seek personal development using a combination of meditation and visualisation techniques and affirmations. For example, you may seek to develop a helpful thought pattern to overcome fear or to aid in the healing of some part of your body.
Inner focus - you focus inwards, either on the inner working of your body or consciousness or outwards to the world around you.
Before undertaking any meditation it is important to set the scene - in terms of your environment and the readiness of your mind and body. The following steps will help you with this process.
Make sure you have the time for meditation - it is best if you are able to set aside the same time each day.
Make sure that where you choose to meditate is peaceful and comfortable and that you won't be interrupted.
Make sure that your body is comfortable - that your bladder is empty and that you are not overly hungry or that your stomach is too full. Also it is better not to meditate if you have had alcohol or mind altering medication.
Make sure that your mind is at rest - it is better not to meditate if you are agitated about something. If you mind is 'pent up' try to do some exercise first so that the excess energy is released. Remove yourself from everyday concerns as you go to the place where you meditate. If your mind will not let go of its thought processes then try to focus on an image instead.
The main challenge with meditation is to remain focused - if you keep practicing you will find meditation an effective stress management tool. Awareness and visualisation can be the techniques that you use to meditate.
An audio of guided visualisation will assist you in the process of meditation - it will get you on the right track. You can find the link to the left of the page.
07.08.2007. 19:56
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