Awakening Through Meditation

The body and mind must be consciously relaxed and focused when we meditate. Individual optimal results can be achieved in various ways. The more you meditate, you will find your best position, physically and mentally.

The basic principles stay the same: eliminate disruptive, negative, and drifting thoughts and fantasies - and fill the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity. Some block all sensory input - no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch - completely separate themselves from the distractions around them. Pleasing scents also invoke serenity, so stocking up on aromatic candles might be a good idea.

Try to block all negative thoughts - they pollute the mind. A 'purified' mind can more readily center on deeper thoughts, thus enabling a higher spiritual state.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, that's a good start. The back should be straight, but not tense or tight. A suggestion is to lie flat, pretending you are a vial on its side, evenly distributing a level of water: balanced.

Loose, comfortable clothing is ideal, of course, as comfort is vital. The atmosphere should be soothing- again, probably the place where you feel most comfortable.

Just relax - and breathe....

The chakras are the energy centers in a person's biological field and are responsible for his or her physiological and psychological condition as well as certain groups of organs. All vital functions of the human body are determined by energy that spins in the chakras.

The process of energy transformation happens exactly in these centers. Vital energy, along with blood, circulates around the meridians in the chakras and fuels all organs and systems in the human body. When the circulation in these meridians stagnates, the human body becomes susceptible to various disorders.

From the perspective of Eastern Medicine, our health depends on the distribution of our energy-consciousness informational field. A shortage of energy inevitably causes ailments. According to Tibetan Medicine, the only difference between youth and old age, and between a sick and healthy individual, is the difference in the rotating speed of the whirlpool energy centers of the chakras.

Daily chakra rituals are necessary not only for revitalizing the body, but also for achieving success in every facet of life.

Meditation is controlled focus on an object, thought, or task without judgment.
This process makes it possible to look at all situations objectively. You can find solutions, turn negative situations into positive learning experiences, and create your own positive mindset. As a result of this you will make new friends, reach goals, handle problems easily, and develop an indomitable spirit.

Serenity is a state of peacefulness where the mind is calm and unruffled by the external environment. This higher spiritual echelon, or inner peace, is accompanied by a sense of contentment and bliss.
Human beings are distinct from all other life forms due to their intelligence and consciousness. The conscious mind perceives the external world and feels various emotions based on experiences and perception.
These feelings, emotions, and sentiments, in turn, determine our inner equilibrium or "inner life." Without proper balance, the mind is never at peace, and chaos reigns due to anger, shame, feelings of guilt, and sadness.
Self-love is the key to serenity. Self-love doesn't require one to be directed by the inner child. One should take control as a conscious being and love one's self, yet not be dictated by it. Some find serenity in nature; for others, serenity is found in visiting with family and friends. True serenity is achieved by empowering the inner life and allowing it to reflect the external life.

Some of the benefits of meditation include:

1. Deep relaxation.
2. More profound more restful and energizing sleep.
3. Higher levels of creativity.
4. A slower aging rate.
5. Releasing of past negative emotional turmoil.
6. Relief from Stress.
7. Heightened physical energy.
8. Heightened focus and concentration.
9. Better retention of learned information.
10. Faster recovery times after surgery.

Meditation is a form of getting in touch with You. Like prayer, it will leave you feeling a sense of calm, a soothing touch Both prayer and meditation bring us closer to who we are.

How do I meditate?
You will need to follow basic steps to learn how you can focus on what you intend to accomplish from meditation. When you start to meditate, realize that at first it will be difficult - at least for most. Meditation is the process of removing all thoughts from your mind for a short time and then allowing the mind to focus. Sometimes your mind my wander or ramble on, which you should allow. Once the thoughts feel a sense of relief, then you can move to meditate.

How to begin:
As you begin to meditate, start by finding a snug position. You want the body to sit upright in your relaxed spot. Your back should be upright and aligned. Once you are relaxed, use the hands to bear your body weight. Now take a deep breath and breathe in the air, inhaling it into your lungs. Now hold and release. Relax again, continuing your position. When you learn to focus on your breathing and how to take deep breaths, it helps you to remove unwarranted stress.

When you learn to meditate, it helps you to find peace within, since your thoughts will gradually quiet. Meditation helps you to clear up clutter. Once you feel that sense of serenity, you will have affirmed your mind. This helps you to pay firm to what you intend to accomplish.

Try to practice meditation on a daily basis Practice helps gain control over our thoughts. As you continue your journey through meditation, you may find areas of disturbance. In some instances, your mind may wander backwards to memories you do not like. Allow room to accept your discomforts and the thoughts to freely come forward. Remember, you lived it once, how can it harm you again? While you meditate, try not to force any actions or thoughts on your mind and body. Allow room for freedom. Once you have completed your meditation, say a little prayer for those people suffering in the world. This will make room for added comfort.

"Just close your eyes and count your breaths," they say. How simple can it be? "Don't think about anything else though. Just concentrate on your breathing." Well, anyone who has tried this "simple" meditation knows that it just isn't that easy.

There are many obstacles to this seemingly effortless task. Naturally, our minds tend to wander . If we try to completely focus on anything for more than a few seconds, random thoughts take over. And breathing is boring; let's face it. How can you concentrate on something so mundane when there are much more interesting things racing around in your head?

A typical session might go like this: I close my eyes, sit comfortably, and begin counting. Inhale one, inhale two, inhale... "Am I doing this right? I guess so, I'm already on... oh three." Inhale four... "Now, am I supposed to start over at one or just keep going?" Inhale one, inhale two, inhale three, inhale four. "Wow, I'm really getting the hang of this. Oops." Inhale one, inhale two... "Did I remember to pay the phone bill? I'm sure I did. I'm really good at staying on top of my bills. Not like Susan, she's always... Darn, I did it again." Inhale one, inhale two...

The good news is it does get better with practice. The bad news is it can still be a struggle for experienced meditators, especially during busy or turbulent periods in one's life.
There are, however, some specific things you can do to help you focus and reduce the frustration in your meditation practice. In this article, I would like to offer three tips to help you with your practice. They are: Observe don't control, be compassionate, and enjoy yourself.

--First, don't force or try to control your breathing. This is a mistake that a lot of beginners make. Many inexperienced meditators consciously or unconsciously alter their breathing in an effort to focus on it. What results is an exaggerated and often irregular breathing pattern. This can actually inhibit your meditation rather than help it.

What you want to do is just "watch" your breathing. You don't have to exert any additional effort at all. If you just wait and observe, you will breathe. Then, you can count. Of course, we all know this but many people still find themselves forcing it. If you catch yourself controlling your breaths, just gently remind yourself that it's not necessary and then wait for the next breath to come naturally.

This brings me to the next tip, compassion. In this case I mean for yourself in your meditation practice. As we've been discussing, it's not an easy thing to concentrate on one's breath. It's very important not to scold yourself when your mind wanders or you catch yourself controlling your breathing. If you think about it, the time you would spend reprimanding yourself for breaking your focus is just more time away from your meditation. It is best to softly bring yourself back to your practice as soon as you notice you're wavering. Don't get down on yourself and start thinking, "I can't do this. This is never going to work for me." These negative thoughts do nothing to help your practice and waste valuable time. Be compassionate. Just brush it off and return to your meditation.

In your meditation practice, your mind will likely wander more in the beginning. But don't give up. It will get better. You will realize fewer mistakes over time and you will learn to recover from them more quickly. Sure, you will still have challenges and even slumps from time to time but you will also have more successes.

The final tip I would like to offer is to find enjoyment in your practice. Even though it may be tough at times, daily meditation can greatly enhance your life. Don't rate yourself and expect to progress or improve to a particular degree or within a particular timeframe. It is a life-long experience.

Remember, this is your time. Let it be your oasis, not a chore. No matter what else is going on in your life, your meditation time can be your escape. As a Zen master once said, "It's just you and your breath and then it's just your breath." Breathe in, breathe out, and forget about the world around you. Even when you're busy or preoccupied with some problem; even if you can only find ten or fifteen minutes to be alone with your breath, enjoy it.

MEMBER