YEWM.com

Meditating

The mind loves routine and thrives on expectation, so in a sense, just finding a quiet place at a preplanned time and sitting there for a few minutes, by quietly and calming the thoughts, counts as a meditation session. Like everything else, meditation takes time and has to begin somewhere.

There are, in fact, few rules governing meditation and everyone's objective should be to discover the way that suits them best. To begin with, it is sensible to make a routine of meditating in the same quiet place at the same time every week, or twice a week, or preferably every day. Immediately after a meal is not a good time, since digestion uses energy and causes sleepiness. Lying down also causes drowsiness, and standing can be a strain, so it is better to sit on the floor or in a chair.

First sessions should normally last for about ten minutes, and the first few minutes should be spent concentrating on breathing steadily and rhythmically, and encouraging a pleasant feeling of relaxation and peacefulness. The next stage is to focus the mind on a single thought. The difference between relaxation and meditation is that during meditation the mind remains aware of the body and its presence in place and time, but withdraws from the scene and focuses its energy on one, nonphysical object. At first, however, many people find it easier to visualize a physical image.

In the beginning it may be impossible to focus for more than a few seconds before something intervenes or the image fades. It is important not to allow of disappointment or failure over, but to continue concentrating on the sound and rhythm breathing. During the next session the image, which is now strongly associated with a feeling of tranquility and the regular rhythm of the breath, may be retained for longer. There will inevitably be days when, for a variety of reasons, recall and concentration will seem to be altogether impossible, but with regular practice control of the mind will gradually strengthen, so that the peaceful effect of the image will persist and deepen.

End each session by concentrating on the breathing as the image fades. The deeper the concentration, the more relaxed the body, so people who have been meditating do not feel stiff after they open their eyes and rarely need to stretch. Meditating leaves the mind feeling tranquil and positive, a body comfortable.

Custom Search

Yoga Meditation Videos

Meditating News

Buddhist builder buried alive for 2 hours survives by meditating

A buddhist builder buried alive for two hours survived by meditating on conserving his breath. Wang Jianxin, 52, should have died within five minutes of being entombed 6ft underground.

Meditating on Iran: Hossein Alizadeh and Pejman Hadadi

At a time when unsettling rumors of impending war seem inescapable, there’s something altogether fitting about a concert presenting two giants of Persian classical music at a West Berkeley center for yoga and meditation. Tehran’s Hossein Alizadeh and Los Angeles-based Pejman Hadadi conclude a North American tour Saturday at the Rudramandir Center on Bancroft Way. Alizadeh is best known in the ...

Slumping bench leaves Beilein meditating for solution

As Michigan has attempted to improve its bench production, coach John Beilein has tried "everything."

Silence please! The gods are meditating in Himachal villlage

Manali (Himachal Pradesh), Jan 28 (IANS) Visitors to Goshal village and nine tiny hamlets located in its vicinity in Kullu district have been warned not to make a noise as the 'gods' are in deep meditation.

I spent 10 days meditating in search of enlightenment

Unemployed and unsure what to do with my life, I went on a Vipassana retreat. No phone, no e-mail, no contact with the outside world - and sitting still up to 10 hours a day