Why meditate?
On one level, meditation is a tool. It can help combat
stress, fosters physical health, helps with chronic pain, can make you sleep
better, feel happier, be more peaceful, as well as be present.
But on a deeper level, meditation is a doorway into the
unknown. It can help us get a sense of the mystery of who we are.
When you start meditating, you will notice how unruly the
mind is. I remember being quite shocked by this! I noticed that my mind was all
over the place. Profound thoughts about my past or future jostled with mundane
thought clips about what groceries I needed to buy. Some time afterwards I
would come too and notice that I had spend 15 minutes running a painful memory
over and over. It was like sitting in a crazy cinema!
So, if you’re starting out with meditation, please don’t
beat yourself up about your wild mind. It is a natural condition. In time you
will learn to work kindly with the barrage of thoughts and you will find some
clarity and peacefulness.
Here are some simple tips on how to start meditating. Maybe
those of you who already practice meditation could please add your comments of
what has worked for you.
1. Posture
Whether you sit on a chair or cross-legged on the floor,
make sure that your spine is upright with head up. If you are slumped your mind
will drift. Mind and body are intertwined. If your body is well-balanced, your
mind will also be in balance. To straighten up, imagine that your head is
touching the sky.
2. Eyes
Try and keep you eyes open. Open eyes allow you to be more
present. Just lower your eyes and let your gaze be soft.
