Half an hour's meditation is essential except when you are very
busy. Then, a full hour is needed. --Francis de Sales
Meditation is one of those things in life that benefits you the
most when you want to do it the least. It is a practice that
helps to calm a racing mind, while it refreshes and refuels your
passion and joy. It opens you up to a more conscious awareness
of your spirituality. Sometimes, it presents answers to problems
you thought were unsolvable. It's free, and the more you do it,
the more time you seem to have.
So why doesn't everybody meditate?
One reason is that there is some confusion about what meditation
is, and many people don't realize there are a number of
meditation techniques. There is a stereotype of meditation that
involves people in robes sitting for long painful hours on their
knees, but that is just one of many meditation techniques.
A basic understanding of meditation says that, if prayer is
talking to God, then meditation is listening. Here are just some
of the simple yet profound ways that people meditate:
-Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and say a familiar
prayer slowly, as you focus on the meaning of each line.
-Take a break from your thoughts by counting your breaths,
counting one through ten again and again.
-Listen to a meditation tape or CD.
-Sit still and watch your thoughts. Practice doing this without
becoming attached to any one thought. Just watch them come and
go.
-Walk outdoors slowly, noting as many details of your
surroundings as you can.
-Sit with a leaf, a flower, or any small object, and study its
features.
-Write without stopping for a pre-determined amount of time or
pages, as if you're "taking dictation" from God or the Universe.
In all of these meditation techniques, when you notice your
thoughts running away with you, gently bring your focus back to
your practice. If you want to delve more into a specific
meditation practice, there are numerous books, retreats, and
teachers to help you.
Whichever form your meditation takes, the one thing you'll
always hear from practitioners is that consistency is the key.
If you can only focus for five minutes at a time, start with
that, but do it every day. As you become more at home in your
practice, you'll find it easier to devote more time to it.
You'll know your meditation technique is working when it results
in greater peace, wisdom, and compassion. Not a bad return on
five minutes a day!
Just as you re-focus your thoughts gently during meditation, you
can be gentle with yourself if you miss a day. Just return to
your practice again and again. It won't always feel like you're
forcing yourself to do it. Frances de Sales, quoted above, also
wrote, "Choose the life that is the most useful, and habit will
make it the most agreeable." Whichever one of these meditation
techniques you find the most useful, you can be assured you'll
soon view it as one of your favorite parts of the day.
About the author:
Amy Biddle has been a lifetime student and teacher of spiritual
principles. Spiritual Healing Secrets is a fast-growing resource
for anyone who wants to improve her or himself, or simply to
learn practical spiritual principles. Let Amy help you improve
your life! Discover the secrets at
http://www.spiritual-healing-secrets.com
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