Meditation
Whether you're seeking greater focus to get your job done more efficiently, less stress and more peace of mind, or a deeper appreciation of the beauty and richness of life, the simple practice of sitting down and turning your attention inward can do wonders for your body and your mind.
Some of the wonderful benefits of meditation can include:
- Stronger focus and concentration
- Reduced tension, anxiety and stress
- Increased self-understanding and self-acceptance
- More joy, love and spontaneity in your life
- A deeper sense of meaning and purpose
- Glimpses of the spiritual dimension of being
Try this Breathing Meditation:
The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid.
This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation.
Choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position.
You can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If you wish, you can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep your back straight to prevent your mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.
Sit with your eyes partially closed and turn your attention to your breathing.
Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control your breath.
Try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is your object of meditation. Try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.
At first, your mind will be very busy, and you may even feel that the meditation is making your mind busier; in reality you are just becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is.
There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but you should resist this and remain focused on the sensation of the breath.
If you discover that your mind has wandered and is following your thoughts, you should immediately return it to the breath. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.
If you practise patiently in this way, gradually your distracting thoughts will subside and you will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation.
Your mind will feel clear and spacious and you will feel refreshed.
Try to stay with this state of mental calm for a while.
That's it... you just meditated!
Even though breathing meditation is only a preliminary stage of meditation, it can be quite powerful, and it is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by this simple exercise.
Try practising and let me know what you think :)