Yesterday I again mentioned the importance of silence. Today I thought I would take the next logical step and talk to about using the silence. Now here comes the word which frightens so many people. The mention of this word is often followed by a look of horror and the phrase I can’t do it. It is too hard. Today I thought we could mention MEDITATION..........
Meditation, put in its most simple form is nothing more than reconnecting with you. Do you remember being in school and the teacher droning on about trigonometry and you just spacing out. Not really thinking of anything. Just sitting. In that moment you were actually meditating. It is as natural as that.
Now, how many times have you been told by your parents, by your teachers and by your bosses, it is not good to space out. It is not productive. I guess a lot. In fact now each time you begin to space out, you check yourself that little voice in the head screams Focus Focus Focus. Each scream getting louder and more shrill. Well I am here to tell you now that it is Ok. Spacing out is good for you. I have been told that meditation is the one thing that is benefits us in every aspect of our life, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So let’s get down to meditation.
Let’s begin with some simple rules
* Make it a habit.
* Find the same place in which to do it
* Do it at the same time every day.
These 3 rules are common sense. Just remember when you were a child and your parents had to remind you and check that you had brushed your teeth. Now, I hope, it is just natural that you do it. Meditation is a lot like brushing your teeth. You do it at the same time....after each meal and in the same place.....the bathroom every day. It is a habit. I would recommend that you get yourself a kitchen timer (a battery one, so it does not tick tick tick and drive you crazy). Set it for a few minutes and just begin.
Sit comfortably up against a wall or better yet a tree. Listen and listen good...... There is no “official” position for meditation. People talk about the lotus position well it really makes spacing out more difficult if your body is screaming in pain and you are worrying will I ever walk again. Cross your legs if it is comfortable if not just make yourself comfortable. Leave the lotus position to the meditation Nazis, unless you are one of those people who are naturally a pretzel.
Begin with something simple, just let your mind space out....you have my permission, it is OK. Stare about a couple of metres in front of you and really just think of nothing. Just experience everything that is going on around you. Listen to any sounds, feel any breezes and just become aware of yourself. Follow your breathing, heartbeat and any sensations you’re feeling. If you need to help yourself focus, you can concentrate on your breathing......inhaling goodness when you breathe in and exhaling any negativity as you breathe out.
Now your own mind will become your enemy and will begin to fill with distractions. You will think about have I left the Gas on. What is that Dog doing? And other such things. Just let these thoughts come and acknowledge them and let them go. Remember if you feel an itch it is ok to scratch....... If my friend Mark reads this then he will testify to distractions......old lady breathing and Eastenders comes to my mind.
Now this seemingly simple thing can take years to master. So there is no time like the present to begin.
Tomorrow we can look at some of the other meditation techniques out there but for today let’s just space out.