4 Powerful Reasons to Meditate and How

To Get Started


Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. When the mind is silent, concentration is
increased and we experience inner peace in the midst of worldly turmoil. This elusive
inner peace is what attracts so many people to meditation and is a quality everyone can
benefit from.
What are the Benefits of Meditation?
Ive been meditating twice a day for the past 9 years because I enjoy it. It may seem
strange, but I feel happiest when sitting in perfect silence. The experience is difficult to
express in words. It is akin to the peace that passeth understanding. It is also true that
every meditation is not the same. Sometimes meditation is a struggle to control the mind,
while at other times it feels effortless.
These are some of the benefits of meditation:
1. Improved concentration A clear mind makes you more productive, especially
in creative disciplines like writing.
2. Less bothered by little things Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by
little things? It is the nature of the mind to magnify small things into serious
problems. Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather
than worrying about the past or future. We do not worry about meaningless
things, but see the bigger picture.
3. Better Health There have been numerous studies pointing to the health benefits
of meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates
anxiety. If we can reduce stress, many health benefits follow.
4. Knowledge of Self Meditation enables us to have a deeper understanding of our
inner self. Through meditation we can gain a better understanding of our lifes
purpose.
Is Meditation Religious?
The great thing about meditation is that our philosophy/religious belief is not importanct.
Meditation is about consciousness. The beliefs of the mind become trivial. We dive deep
into the heart of the matter to gain access to our soul our inner reality. Therefore,
mediation can (and is ) practiced by people of different religions or no religion.
But I dont have time To Meditate
Many people like the idea of meditation, but feel they dont have enough time. When you
really want to do something you can find time. Get up earlier or watch 30 minutes less
TV. Meditation requires an investment of time, but clearing the mind makes the the rest
of the day more productive. Nothing is better than the feeling of inner peace. What is the
point in being tremendously busy but unable to enjoy it? Meditation is not about
retreating from the world; it gives us inspiration. Whatever you do, if you have peace of
mind, your work will be more enjoyable and productive.
How To Meditate
Like anything worthwhile, meditation requires practice. To get the most from meditation
you need to do it every day. This requires a place and time where you will not be
disturbed. Check out this cool mindmap pdf for inspiration: meditation.pdf
1. Sit with a straight back. Dont try to meditate lying down because you are likely
to fall asleep. Meditation brings relaxation and peace but at the same time this is a
dynamic peace. Meditation is quite different than the relaxation of sleep. When
we really meditate, we are fully alert and conscious. Our sense of awareness is
heightened. Afterwards youll have a positive feeling for the world and a renewed
sense of dynamism.
2. Dont eat before meditating. After a heavy meal your body will be lethargic with
digestion.
3. It is not necessary to mediate in the lotus posture. It is fine to meditate in a chair,
as long as the back is straight.
4. It is helpful to take a shower before meditating.
5. Burning incense and having a candle are not necessary, but they can add a little
extra inspiration.
6. It is good to meditate early in the morning. It is said the best time is 3am,
although, I feel it is more important to be awake and not sleepy, I meditate at
6.30am.
One Pointed Concentration
However you learn to meditate, you must learn to concentrate on one thing at a time.
Usually, the mind tries to hold several different thoughts and ideas at once. When you sit
down to meditate for the first time, you realize how cluttered the mind is. Mediation
teachers have described the mind as a mad monkey. However, the mind can be tamed
and forced to concentrate on a single thought.
One helpful technique is concentrating on a candle flame. Narrow your gaze to the small
tip and block out all other thoughts. When you get distracted, go back to focusing on the
candle flame. You can also use other objects like a small dot or flower. The important
thing is that you concentrate only on one thing at a time.
Mantra
Another way to learn concentration is through the use of mantra. A mantra is the
repetition of a sacred word. For example, you might repeat the mantra AUM a certain
number of times. Repeating a mantra forces the mind to focus on a single thought.
Silent Mind
After youve practiced concentration and learned to focus on one thing at a time, you can
proceed to the next stage: no thought at all. Achieving a silent mind is difficult, but when
to attain it the experience is powerful. A technique I advise is viewing your thoughts as
separate from your self. When a thought appears, make a conscious decision to throw it
out of your mind. Over time you realize that you are capable of allowing or rejecting
thoughts. Your real I is not a collection of thoughts, but something far deeper. This is
the most significant realization of meditation that you do not have to be a slave to your
thoughts.
Through meditation, you attain the power to control your thoughts, and on occasion stop
them completely. Dont be discouraged if you cant attain a silent mind straightaway. It
takes time and practice. There is nothing really else to it; meditation is a simple and
spontaneous action. Unfortunately, our mind is used to complication and it takes time to
unlearn bad habits.