Path of Meditation

Meditation…

A quick Google search of the word meditate may yield results such as: “think deeply or focus for a time for spiritual purposes or to relax” or “to engage in contemplation or reflection.” These definitions are accurate but do not touch the power that a state of meditation may hold. Meditation, in Buddhist terms, is a step in the Eightfold Path known as Right Concentration. It is a way to align one’s mind.

Mediation means a lot of different things to an array people. I would encourage any form of mediation. If you use a time of silence to actually think about your day, your actions, and their consequences: this is a good thing. It will help you see things a little more clearly. You may meditate and call it prayer. You may chant. Whatever works for you to help you see the world and your circumstances from an objective point of view is a powerful thing.

What mediation means to me…

I am a newbie to meditation and I have discovered that there are many types of meditation and it is commonly used by many cultures and transcends religious walls. From my discovery, I have found that meditation in the Buddhist tradition is meant to clear the mind to a state of Emptiness, or Nothingness. The result of the act will be the ability to see things clearly from a non-biased perspective. The mind is clear of all aggravates. The mind is not clouded by emotion or tasks. Meditation is a place of silence and clam. It is a place where I can see that we are all just energy floating around in the universe. We are all connected.

Our body may die, but our mind’s energy will never dissipate in any form or fashion. In simple physics, you cannot create or destroy energy. You can simply transfer it. That is how we reach reincarnation. I do not necessarily believe we are born again into another human body, though I do not disbelieve this idea, either. I do believe with all certainty, however, that our energy will always exist somewhere. Think of our bodies. We die. What happens of our energy? If we are buried, our bodies rot and decompose but feed the earth and its living creatures. We know this of our body’s energy, so just think about our mind’s energy. It has to go somewhere! It is never ending, never beginning. It is a timeless form.

Gee, that sounds ritualistic…

Well, it is ritualistic and I am not one to push religious rituals of any sort down someone’s throat. I am not even a fan of religious rituals. Why does one go to Confession if they believe prayer and right action will absolve their sins? Why pray if you believe a higher being hears every thought in your head? Why go to a place of worship if you hold your own spiritual destiny? Rituals are good for some and bad for others. Some people need a place to go and be among others of similar beliefs to affirm their faith. Some people need that Confessional booth to feel they can move on from their unmoral behavior. If that works for you, go for it.

I do not necessarily see meditation as a religious ritual. Atheists practice mediation. Christians do. Jews. Buddhists. Muslims. All people can reap the benefits. It is amazing. Look into mediation, the different types. How to do it. Where to do it. Find out what might work for you. Try different things. Keep on it for a while. Give it a chance. Keep an open mind. This takes practice! Do not feel discouraged if your mind wanders. That is just how we have been conditioned. Be nice to yourself and kindly bring your focus back to your intended path of meditation. Do not let your mind think negatively about yourself! You will need time to hone your skills and when you do…

How I meditate…

Meditation is a personal thing. I meditate by setting a serene environment for myself. I make myself comfortable so that I can open myself up. I turn off the lights. I light incense. I turn on the sound of running water or the sound of rain. This is a sound that has always relaxed me. It is also something that will not distract me from concentration. Music would distract me, though it may work for you! (If you do chose music make sure it’s something calm, relaxing, and make sure that it will not disturb you.) I also have an app on my computer which sets a gentle reminder for me when I can stop meditating which allows me to meditate freely without worry of missing an appointment.

I sit up straight, legs crossed, with my hands resting palm up on my lap. I start by taking deep breaths and counting them…one…two…three…four…five…It is a struggle but if I concentrate hard enough on just my breathing, eventually I can tune all other internal dialogue out. If I am really distracted I will hum the mantra “Om” over and over until I am back on track to counting my breath. (“Om” is a syllable meant to symbolize generosity and help purify against pride and ego. The soft rattle of the “mmm” in the chest is something I also find soothing!) It takes a while but there comes a point where I am no longer “Om”ing or counting my breaths. There comes a time of silence. And it is beautiful. It is stimulating. I have never felt as alive as I do in the moments of deep concentration in the act of meditation. I really do feel the energy around me. I feel warm. I feel safe. I feel tranquility. I feel love. I feel peace.

Final thought…

The man on the left shows what meditation should NOT look like! Ha!

Much love and peace,

Charlie