Meditation Secrets Revealed

When we are kids, our mind is in its early stages of development, extremely pliable and relatively unconditioned. For many it is their happiest time. Not because there is a lack of responsibilities, but because the mind has not yet taken control of us. Have you ever observed kids playing? One falls or hits the other, “ouch that hurt.” They cry, and they cry, and soon they get distracted by a fluttering butterfly or a rolling ball and they are off, happy as a bird, completely forgetting that they were crying and upset just a moment ago. That is the power of the mind, or should I say the lack of control of the mind over us at that tender age.

Now let’s go forward in time to a similar situation. We are hurt, we are in pain, a loved one said something hurtful or painful to us and we cry. No ball or butterfly will bring us out of this state. What has changed? We may think to ourselves at this point, “Aha, we are adults now, our lives are much more complicated and we have so many responsibilities. Life is not so simple anymore!” The truth of the matter is that although we do have more responsibilities as adults, this does not mean that life has gotten more complicated. Rather, we have allowed our mind to steering us, and now it says, “I want all emotions: negative, positive, hurtful, and joyful. It does not matter. Give me anything and I will cling to it.” That is the current state for many people. If only we could get that pesky mind to stop for just a moment, how wonderful would that be! How peaceful would we feel!

As we grow up, we begin to identify ourselves with the mind deluding ourselves into thinking that we are our minds. Through meditation and constant self observation we can reach the realization that we are not our mind. We are something different. In yoga it is called the seer. We are the seer and the mind is a pool of water which reflects that seer. Through some blunder we have associated ourselves with the reflection instead of the original image. It is like staring at yourself in the mirror and thinking that the image in the mirror is the real you.

See also: Meditation Techniques: How to Master Your Mind

Meditation is like a vast unexplored continent, the further you travel the more splendor and beauty you will see. To begin the great adventure, one must prepare for the journey and bring appropriate equipment, clothing and fuel. A well equipped expedition will ensure minimal setbacks and determine the success of the journey. Here is an inventory list of some “equipment” you will need on your meditation journey in order to establishing and maintaining a successful meditation practice.

1. Set the intention: Be clear and realistic with your expectations. Ask yourself, what are you willing to sacrifice in order to set aside the time necessary to meditate?

2. Creating the atmosphere: Dedicate a little corner, mat, or chair for meditation, use it only for this purpose. Put on some music, make some tea, develop a meditation ritual. This does not mean you must be sitting there on a cushion, with lit candles and an incense stick, but it does mean that there should be a special place where you go only for meditation.

3. Set aside a time: This may be obvious to some, but have a specific time of day when you know you will be alone and in relative quiet. Be selfish in maintaining your inner peace and don’t let anyone disturb you.

4. Unplug: Turn off your phone, the computer, and the T.V. Without these distractions, you know you can have some peace and quiet to dedicate to your meditation.

5. Stay Consistent: Consistency is the major stumbling block for any practice and developing a good habit is crucial. How do you develop a habit? It takes three weeks of doing the same thing over and over again for your body and mind to adjust and then it becomes easy and natural.

6. Keep a journal: After every meditation session, take a few minutes to write down your experiences, thoughts, mental imagery, or bodily sensations. You can look back and check on your progress and its a great way to share your experiences with friends. Keep a record of the date, time of day, and duration of the meditation.

7. Experiment: There are many different types of meditations and you never know which one will work best for until you try them. Amongst the many types, the most common are: guided visualizations, music, no music, sitting, walking, slow repetitive movements, mantras, and watching the breath.

The first change was in my emotional states. I became much more calm, centered, and at peace with myself and the outside world. Small things that had previously annoyed or given me great anxiety became inconsequential. Instead, of responding with anger or annoyance, I would notice my feelings and be able to examine them before reacting. In this way, I was able to save myself a lot of inner turmoil and pain. Along with the feelings of calm and inner peace, I also began to experience prolonged periods of inner joy and happiness. Simple things like a person saying hello, or a pretty picture, would bring immense pleasure and satisfaction. I believe this is due, in part, to the meditation practice of eliminating stray thoughts along with the ability to stay present. Along the way, two books have been instrumental in my self discovery: The Ptanjali Yoga Sutras and the Toa Te Ching have been my beacons and continue to guide my life, adding their ancient yet profoundly useful wisdom and guidance.

For more information about the Yoga Sutras, see my post Best Books About Meditation and Yoga

With so many books being published on the topics of yoga and meditation, it can be difficult, confusing, and frustrating to know exactly which book to pick, who to believe and which path to follow.

One of my favorite books on the subject is The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sutra in Sanskrit means strand and the book is a compilation of ancient strands of text that are woven together to form the foundation of yoga philosophy. With over four thousand years of recorded history, yoga is surprisingly scientific and logical in its approach to enlightenment and the achieving of Samadhi – the ultimate meditative state. Unlike many watered-down new age books out there, this is the real deal and I can honestly say that reading and following the wisdom in this book has dramatically transformed my life. I check in with the book from time to time to find out where I am at and how far I have come in my understanding of the sutras. I would encourage anybody interested in yoga, meditation, awareness, stress relief, and inner peace to get this book. There are many meditation practices out there and you can find numerous techniques on this website but ultimately it’s not so much about the road you take, rather it’s your level of dedication and consistent practice that will make the difference. Ultimately, all roads lead to the same place.

I have been interested in Yoga for almost as long as I can remember, for me this was not a question of why, but rather a question of where do I learn and which path do I follow. My own path has lead to a complete transformation of my entire person. There are many benefits to taking up yoga- the obvious ones being  improved health,  flexibility in the body, and relaxation. This is a no-brainer since almost everyone has seen flexible women and men doing interesting and sometimes strange poses – showing off their flexibility, balance and strength. What most people do not realize is the intense concentration, focus, and mental control that is necessary to correctly perform these poses.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg because the all the other major benefits are under the surface and cannot be seen as easily. By conducting interviews with average people on the street, I am learning that the predominant belief is that meditation and yoga helps relax and calm. While this is true, the same can be said about going for a walk or riding a bicycle. The vast difference between these recreational activities and yoga is that the latter is a complex, ancient, and highly developed system that has been scientifically designed to raise one’s consciousness and completely transform one’s life in every aspect. This is only true if the person doing yoga is willing to immerse in the study of all the different elements, as opposed to just doing the stretches in class and then forgetting about it once the class is over. The transformative power of yoga is tremendous if it is embraced completely.

As part of my research for this blog, I have begun to interview people on the streets in order to gain a better understand of what people think of meditation. In asking these three simple questions, I want to determine the common beliefs, depth of knowledge, and values of the average person.

When asked, “what does meditation mean to you?”  people’s responses typicaly follow a predictable script about relaxation, sitting with eyes closed, cross legged, and so on. Having studied yoga scriptures and practiced meditation for many years I can say that most people have a very narrow and mistaken view of meditation.

Meditation, for me, is a skill and a state of mind where a person’s concentration is focused on an object of contemplation.The object can be a place, thing, emotion, or thought. This of course is a very broad definition and there are many traditions and paths from all over the world that have found different ways of interpreting, ritualizing, and training this state of mind and skill without imposing strict rules of posture, length of time, location, and other attributes typically associated with this overused word. As you read, I invite you to begin to explore and imagine all possibilities and opportunities for bringing meditation into your life.

Related Links:

Russells Ashtanga – Meditation and 8 Limbs

National Center for Contemplative & Alternative Medicine: Meditation

Quite often, our thoughts and memories play tricks on us. When we think of a situation that has occurred, it is generally the same no matter how many times we run through it in our mind. Now, try taking a walk in a familiar place. One of the things you will notice is that it is not the same as you remember it. The world has changed, and it is constantly changing. Being present in the moment forces awareness of your surroundings and the ever-changing world. It is a well known fact from neuro-science that your eyes only capture a partial impression of the external reality. The rest of what you perceive to be reality is actually filled in by your mind. To have a fresh perspective and to see without assuming and expecting is the goal of being present in the moment.

Take notice of these changes and become aware of the liquidity of life. This new awareness can inspire you to become more flexible and pliable in all aspects of your life. Born, we are soft and supple, dead we are hard and stiff. Movement and change is the way of life, rigidity and stiffness is the way of death. To be present, truly present, is a joy that is beyond words. Once you become aware that you are living a real moment, a unique moment given specifically to you, no matter what it is, you can appreciate it and be grateful for being alive. Be grateful that you are having this breath, having this food, having this ache, because it’s the only one like it that you will ever have.

My favorite and most frequent way of showing appreciation is during meals. At every meal, I take a moment to reflect on the food that I are about to eat as well as the state of mind that I am in. Whatever is going through the mind at that moment disappears and all that is left is the thought and feeling of appreciation. A slow, deep breath combined with a deep sense of gratitude for the meal goes a long way to restoring peace of mind. As I catch my thoughts drifting, I can make a conscious effort to bring them back to the meal at hand. When I do this, I find myself appreciating the food more and as a result my enjoyment, taste, and overall experience of the meal are dramatically enhanced. It also encourages me to feel compassion for all the people in the world who do not have such wonderful food. They may have only eaten once this day, or maybe not at all. With but a wave of the appreciation wand, this change in perspective can turn even the most simple and meager meal into a feast. Routines such as, eating, waking up, going to sleep, brushing teeth, or going to the bathroom, and the many other activities that are commonly performed throughout the day are perfect for this type of practice. I have found that by practicing this daily, I have created a permanent shift in my attitude and perspective on daily routines, re-invigorating and enlightening the mundane.

It can be hard to forgive others for wrongs that have been inflicted on us. Frequently, it is even harder to forgive ourselves. Self-blame and judgments can be cancerous, devouring us from the inside. Often, people hold onto a memory or event so tightly that they become stuck, and are unable to move beyond to grow and build on that experience. It’s no easy feat, but forgiveness allows us to let go of the past, thereby freeing up the present and the future for infinite possibilities. We can start with self-forgiveness by thinking of anything that we may still be holding on to from our past and allowing that to come to mind. Looking at it with a fresh perspective, we can realize that nothing is worth clinging to. Developing the ability to forgiveness is the fruit of the labor of become self-aware and practicing not-clinging. Sometimes just a simple action, word or gesture can free us of these past burdens. In doing so, we can make our life simple and lighter, opening new doors to joy and happiness.