 |
| Photo (c) Harish Davda |
 |
| Photo (c) Harish Davda
Meditation is not about blocking the mind
or controlling thoughts. You can't.
It is not tied to any religion although in many
spiritual traditions there has always been something
like meditation or similar so that those following the
spiritual path can go deep within themselves and 'be
touch with themselves.'
Meditation is not time consuming. Anything from
5 to 20 minutes, twice a day, everyday, is sufficient. Later on, when you begin to get into it, you will know how much time to spend. The main thing is that you follow the technique properly.
So, what is meditation? It is finding a quiet time
for yourself, preferably in the same place, away from any disturbance or distraction such as your smart phone.
Sit with a straight back, with not too much tension,
on a chair or on Zafu (meditation cushion).
Close your eyes, take few deep breaths. Then
concentrate on your breathing. Then just 'be'. If thoughts come, don't dwell on them (challenging in the beginning), gently go back to breathing, count from one to five. Carry on for 5 to 20 minutes. Then open your eyes. Use a gentle sound with the help of a timer to remind you when the time is up. You can download an app. there are many to choose from. I use 'Insight timer' app which also has various guided meditations of various lengths; the basic version is free! What I have just described is 'mindful meditation'. It's a good way of starting to learn to meditate. There are other types of meditation as well. Keep an eye on my future blogs!
So, what are the benefits of meditation? By going
into your inner world where your mind is least active, after meditation, when you come back into the outer world, you will gradually begin to notice some of the following: You will be relaxed and peaceful, you will
probably become deeper and begin to see some of the
things, for example your behaviour and other people's behaviour clearly. You will begin to judge other people and events less. This will not happen overnight but after some serious, regular practice. You may also
sleep better.
Sometimes negative emotions may arise during your meditation. By accepting these emotions, you will learn about its source. You will know how to deal with them when you come back to your outer world. This will help you to grow. More on this in another blog. Drop me a line and let me know how you are getting on with your meditation. See my video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YojdUKEVuVA I love this quotation by Thich Nhat Hanh: 
Photo credit: Instagram @thichnhathanhquotecollective
(c) Harish Davda - 2020 Enneagram and Conscious Business Coach/Consultant/Trainer harish.davda@gmail.com Instagram: @harish.davda |
