Meditation is retiring into the still place within in which there is very deep peace and the mind is silent and calm but alert. You can be in this state or out of it irrespective of what you are doing.
So, you can be in meditation when you are playing a game or working. You can also be seated in the lotus position in a room or on top of the mountain but be out of the meditative state.
Meditation is the first step towards inner transformation that takes the practitioner to a higher level of spiritual growth that enables him/her to achieve his/her real human potential.
“You can say meditation is a way of transforming human through transformation of the mind”
12 Benefits of Meditation
Meditation has many physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental benefits that enhance every area of your life. That is why you should consider learning how to do it.
Decreases tension.
Lowers blood pressure.
Calms and soothes the mind.
Slows down the aging process.
Strengthens the immune system.
Energizes and recharges batteries.
Enhances the sense of self and increases self-confidence.
Clears up psychosomatic illnesses that are caused by tension.
Teaches you to live in the present, to let go of the past and to stop worrying about the future.
Improves memory, clears the mind, improves focus and decreases capacity for being distracted at work.
Heightens enjoyment through the senses and increases capacity for total involvement and light-heartedness.
Is a powerful and enjoyable anti-dote to stress which helps you to gain entry into the pleasurable state of deep relaxation.
With more mental calmness, less stress, better health, ability to enjoy play and focus on work that result from meditation, your performance at work improves, relationships at work and at home improve and generally the quality of life improves.
Meditation Techniques
Just as the word “sports” refers to many different activities, the word “meditation” refers to a family of activities, not just one thing. There are many meditation techniques which require different mental skills. There is no right or wrong practice therefore simply find the one that works better for you and stick with it as your daily practice.
Chakra Meditation
The seven major chakras are the points through which the physical body receives energy from the environment. Sometimes a chakra can get blocked and you end up with an imbalance. If you study the chakras you can understand the physical, emotional and mental symptoms that you may have that indicate imbalance. Chakra meditation is a very effective and safe way of healing yourself by restoring balance in your chakra system without the use of medication.
Concentration Meditation
This technique teaches your mind how to concentrate. It involves focusing your attention on a single thing such as the breath, a single word, a mantra, a repetitive gong, counting beads on a mala or staring at a candle. When the mind wonders you refocus your awareness on the chosen object of attention. When thoughts arise, you do not pursue them, you let them go. The moment you pursue a thought, you will lose focus completely and realize that you have been day dreaming for thirty minutes or more.
Mindfulness Meditation
This technique teaches the student to observe wondering thoughts as they arise and pass through the mind. The student learns not to get involved in the thoughts but to be aware of each thought. The idea is to see understand the patterns of the thoughts and feelings. Over time the student becomes aware of the human tendency to judge experiences too quickly as good, bad, pleasant or unpleasant. Inner balance is the result of this practice.
Walking Meditation
If you do not like sitting you can try the walking meditation technique. Walk in the garden or any other pleasing environment especially in nature. Focus on your body as it moves, your legs as they bend and extend, the feet as thy rise and touch the ground, and the arms as they swing on your sides. When you find your mind wandering you simply bring it back to the movement without judging.
Empty Mind Meditation
There is no specific focus in this technique. You sit quietly with eyes closed and then allow thoughts to float freely through your mind. Observe the thoughts without judgment or attachment.
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation is the use of a recorded voice that guides you through a meditation and helps you to find a calm and peaceful state-one step at a time. Free and paid resources are available online.
Present Moment Meditation
This technique focuses on the breath, then extends to the feelings, then the sense of touch, then the sense of hearing while the eyes are closed. Then you reverse the process and end up with focus only on the breath.
There are definitely many meditation techniques.
Try them at different times till you find one that suits you and stick with it. Remember that focusing does not mean holding the breath. Continue breathing slowly so that the whole body stays oxygenated. Better still, take a course in meditation so that you learn the correct way of doing the meditation techniques.
