Here's what happened when I went to meditate the other day: The phone rang as I was about to start. I figured I hadn't even closed my eyes yet, so I answered. After finally extricating myself from the call, I had to search high and low for my lighter to get my candle glowing. Then I sat down and momentarily entered the stillness, only to be jarred by a honking car outside. Roughly five minutes in, I realized I had to go to the bathroom in the worst way.
Alas, this was not an uncommon session -- and it was an occasion when I actually got around to putting butt to cushion, which I freely admit isn't every day. Like many of you, I know I "should" meditate more often. These shifts in consciousness bring calmness and inner peace, and scientists have proven that regular meditation lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases the brain's gray matter, and according to a recent study, reduces healthcare costs.
But most people -- myself among them -- find meditating a challenge. We're so caught up in our busyness, the idea of stopping and being still may not even enter our minds. Or if it does, it can be tough to dial down our brains so abruptly. "I've tried meditating, and I can't do it," a yoga-loving friend recently confided. I knew that she meant: She'd tried stilling her mind, and it would not be stilled, because mine often won't either.
Yet, from studying with meditation teachers and muddling through my own sitting practice for years now, I've come to realize her comment stems from a misunderstanding of what meditation is, and what it isn't. Here's what I remind myself when the going gets rocky:
Meryl Davids Landau is the author of the new spiritual women's novel, "Downward Dog, Upward Fog," which was recommended by Yoga Journal's Buzz Blog and the Science of Mind national newsletter. ForeWord Reviews calls the novel "an inspirational gem that will appeal to introspective, evolving women. Read excerpts at www.DownwardDogUpwardFog.com. Meryl also writes for O: the Oprah Magazine, Whole Living, Reader's Digest and other national magazines.
Follow Meryl Davids Landau on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MerylDL
|
Post a Comment
have heard 3600 ticks by the time I stop. After a minute or so of hearing the ticks I forgot about the
clock and realized an hour later that I hadn't heard it for the rest of my session. It was a very satisfying realization.
As to all the distracting noises around, you might enjoy this Puppetji bit on meditation:
http://youtu.be/G5Z_EoyO_F8.
I once asked my yoga teacher how long I should meditate. He said, "Until you get bored." I think it was pretty good advice.
For me, meditation is definitely not about just sitting and watching or observing thoughts, but is about *transcending thoughts.* When you transcend, for example during TM, the mind is left experiencing pure consciousness, where the self is unbounded, the breath is momentarily suspended, and the brain shows maximum coherence. Transcending thought is the ultimate goal of any truly effective meditation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRDbr9wCB_Y
Glad you're inspired to begin a meditation. I hope my post played a role in your interest!
Since you specifically mention mindful meditation, which is one form of meditation--there are many! and there are a lot of great teachers--I'll direct you to Jon Kabat-Zinn, a down-to-earth teacher who has been researching mindfulness' benefits for many years at Mass General in Boston. He sells several CDs through Amazon, but there is also a Youtube clip of his talk and meditation at Google several years back (called Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn)--and there are probably others with him if you fish around over there.
Meditation is wonderful. I've no doubt you'll enjoy this!
maharishi :" an dhow is your meditation going John ? "
" well maharishi when i wa smeditating i starte dthinking about a song to write ; what should i do "
' when you are meditating and a song comes to you ,stop your meditation and write down the song, then come back to your meditation "
" you mean its that simple " " its that simple "
Thinking while outside of meditation practice may serve some useful purpose of its own, so that one can evaluate ideas, make plans, decisions, rehearse narration, etc., but during meditation, thoughts are always a sign of relatively high stress levels. The fact that they may or may not be truly profound can't be evaluated during meditation because, well, making an evaluation is ALSO a sign of stress in the nervous system.
This is problem because meditation is really indispensable for a fully satisfying experience of life. Therefore, we must practice where we are at and work our situation at the level of body. Then, when our body is balanced meditation will come naturally and will be a source of great wisdom and peace.
There are many means to achieving this balance. Many of the world's meditation traditions do so through the application of the "5 Elements" Views and Methods. Here's an introduction: http://www.energyofmindtherapy.com/body-mind-connection/health-and-happiness-harmonizing-the-five-elements-2/.
All the best,
-Yogi
Energy of Mind: A Sauhu Therapy.
www.energyofmindtherapy.com
Natural Wisdom for Optimal Health and Happiness:
We can do more than just talk about it!
My teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, advised that "one should practice the religion that one learned at your mother's knee," and gave equally practical guidelines for optional asana and pranayama practices. The old Zen adage, "meditate and chop wood," that is, mediate and then lead a normal, reasonably healthy life (where "healthy" includes mind, body and spirit), is sufficient to bring one to enlightenment, according to MMY.
I have found the benefits of meditation to be incredible, but the process can be a challenge, which is why I wanted to write this post. Chuck, funny to hear that the ancients said it would be easier to stop the wind! I hadn't known that.
I do dislike the word "meditation," though, which I suspect reminds me too much of "medication." It's no coincidence that the main character in my novel, Downward Dog, Upward Fog, who also discovers the joys of meditation as she grows spiritually, decides to instead call it a made-up word, "sujaling."
Happy sujaling, all!
Here is a way to view meditation I find helpful:
Meditation is an appointment with the Universe. Be it sitting, walking, or breathing, true meditation is breaking ALL appointments you have made with people, thoughts, or events. Meditation is a date with your Heart and being late for everything else.
Just another way to look at it....
Blessings,
Michael
p.s. I often share meditation tips on my website. If you enjoyed Meryl’s inspiring article, some of you out there might enjoy our tips too: http://lightworkersworld.com