How Do I Meditate?
How Do I Meditate?
There are so many ways to meditate.
Dr Herbert Benson, a cardiologist and a proffessor at Harvard, in his research found that any form of calming and stilling the mind is effective in reducing tension, reducing blood pressure and relieving anxiety and stress. He created the relaxation response which goes something like the following:
To induce the relaxation response, choose a word or sound that you like, it can be something like “Mmmm…”
- Choose a word or sound that you like, it can be “ommm”, “mmm”, “love” – anything.
- Sit quietly in a comfortable position
- Allow your eyes to close
- Think about each muscle, beginning at your feet and progressing up to your face. Deeply relax your muscles. Keep them relaxed.
- Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing. As you breathe out say your chosen sound or word. Breath easily and naturally.
- Do not worry about getting it right or not. Maintain a passive attitude and continue to allow relaxation to occur at its own pace.
This is a very effective way of meditating. However, if this style of meditation is not for you,
However, his research showed that repeating a mantra or prayer, yoga, non-competitive exercise, also had great relaxation benefits.
In my opinion, any activity you choose to do with your whole heart, where you are completely engaged and focused is a form of meditation. Drinking a cup of coffee and truely savouring the flavour, the texture, the cup in your hand, the feeling as it enters your body, being really present to the sensations, is a meditation.
Having said that, I do believe that sitting quietly and practicing nothingness, helps you to train your brain to understand that you are in control of your thoughts and not your thoughts being in control of you. This will benefit you greatly in healing, because your thoughts and beliefs create your world.
A very powerful meditation I use is:
Om Sat Chit Ananda Parabrahma Purushothama Paramatma
Sri Bhagavathi Sametha Sri Bhagavathe Namaha
Om Sat Chit Ananda Parabrahma Purushothama Paramatma
Sri Bhagavati Sametha Sri Bhagavathe Namaha
While writing this page I am listening to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2AGoDr8aDM&feature=related
Having this play in the background while sitting quietly, with my eyes closed and observing what goes on, in my body, in my mind, in the world around me, and letting all of that go… allowing myself to be, to exist without the constant chatter in my head, becoming a third party to the entity that is me.
Whatever method you use to meditate is perfect. Meditating daily, for 20 mintues in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening is the most ideal scenario.
Start off with just 5 minutes in a day. It will become easier to fit meditation into your day when you start noticing the calming and quiet space meditation creates for you.