Meditation

What is Meditation?

Meditation is a state of consciousness.  It is considered to be a gift from the cosmic mind that is given to a person that has a pure or “sattvic” nature.  It isn’t something that you can actually do.  What it is is something that you practice to receive.  Meditation practice is simply the process of noticing the thoughts that float through your mind and then bringing yourself back again and again to a point of focus.  Meditation is NOT not thinking.  In fact, you will find that it is impossible to completely still the thoughts of the mind.

Thoughts derive from the Vata dosha or The Wind. The Wind is responsible for movement and your thoughts are always moving. We think 60,000 thoughts a day…none of them new. Meditation gives you a break from these thoughts and also the ability to notice that you are having stressful, harmful, From a spiritual perspective, a quiet mind connects with the soul. From a physical perspective, a quiet mind reduces stress and the effects of stress. It fosters imagination, creativity and health.

The disconnect between body and mind is where disease lives.

To establish a meditation practice try the following: 

The first 7 days: Committing to Silence

Make a 7-day commitment to yourself to spend 10 minutes in silence each morning. This may mean that you get up 10 minutes earlier and sit quietly outside or by a window gazing at nature. You may drink your tea or coffee. Be comfortable. Be alone. Be in silence.

The next 21 days: Starting your practice

After this initial phase is complete, spend the next 21 days sitting in silence with your eyes closed for 10 or 20 minutes. Make sure you are comfortable. You may sit in a chair or on a couch. You may sit on the floor. If you experience discomfort from sitting, it is okay to lie down. Connect through breath. Breath comes in through your nose and out through your nose. Think the following mantra repetitively:

“So Hum” which means “I am”

As you breathe in think “so” and as you breath out think “hum”.

A mantra is simply a word or phrase that you say over and over again to give your mind something to do other than think thoughts of your day. If Sanskrit is uncomfortable for you, then just pick any word or phrase that resonates with you and think that instead:

Peace
Love
Harmony
Happiness

As thoughts arise, acknowledge them, release them and bring your attention back to your mantra.

What will happen?

Three things may happen during your practice:

1. You may fall asleep. If you fall asleep, that is okay. It just means you are tired.

2. You may think thoughts. If you think thoughts, that is okay.  It’s part of the practice.

3. You may experience thoughtlessness.  You may emerge from your meditation surprised at how quickly time has passed.  That just means you were meditating.  Congrats!

When you are done meditating, give yourself a few minutes to slowly open your eyes and bring yourself back to consciousness.  Relax for 5 or 10 minutes prior to beginning your day.

Meditating is very powerful and you will begin to process emotional situations from your past. This is good. You may question your life and its purpose. This is also good. You may experience great extremes of emotion. Just acknowledge that you are healing and let the emotions pass. Do not judge yourself. It is helpful to begin a journal practice with your meditation practice.