Learn Meditation Easily
Several years ago I read a book by Deepak Chopra. The title of the book is Ageless Body Timeless Mind.
I remember being very resistant to any concepts that were outside my belief structure. I read the book with a sneering, I dare you, attitude.
What startled me was the realization that I was already doing what Chopra defined as meditation. In fact, anyone who takes the time to employ meta-cognition and reflection in their lives is conducting a meditative exercise.
I was also stunned to learn the things that meditation was not.
- Meditation is not about forcing our minds to be quiet, it is about finding the quiet that is already there.
- Meditation is not about forcing our will on some external power grid and manipulating it to our purpose, it is about becoming comfortable with the untapped power source that God has built within each of us.
- Meditation is not about uttering some magical chant that changes our reality, it is about listening to that quiet progress that is made between the exertion of each oar stroke of our thoughts.
- Meditation is not instantaneous. It may require several attempts to achieve the desired result.
Meditation can help you become more comfortable in your own skin and if done prayerfully can help you start paying the rent on that body God lent you.
Beginning
- Begin with a quiet place.
- Begin when you are not tired.
- Begin in a straight backed seated position, use a cushion if you like. Be neither sloucho groucho nor straighto greato.
- Begin with loose comfortable clothing.
- Begin at a time of day that you will be able to return to on a regular basis.
Body
- Begin an active mental excercise in which you individually contract and relax each individual muscle of your body.
- Begin with your toes and work sequentially to the crown of your head.
- Don’t be surprised if you fall asleep. Most people are unused to such a relaxed state when they are awake.
- Begin with three deep breaths that completely fill and expel all the air from your lungs to a slow mental count of 15.
Mind
- Begin by thinking of a great calm blue sea. Allow yourself to experience the natural rise and fall of the waves and tides. or
- Begin with a great grass plane. Smell the air as it comes the tall grass of the plane.
- Begin to allow your mind to process emotion and thought that channel through.
Awake
- Begin by allowing yourself to become gradually aware.
- Begin to feel the change in disposition and energy level.
Record
- Begin a meditation and prayer log. Enter into it not only times and dates but how you feel and relate to things when you take the time for prayerful mediation.
I hope you find this post useful and will return to Elemental Truths often.
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October 27th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Aloha Reg. While I appreciate this straight-forward way to look at meditation, you do describe a kind of ritual. I have never taken on the practice of meditation (always thinking of it as a practiced ritual) because frankly, I haven’t been able to link it to any reward that I do not already get via another means. Two questions: What am I missing, in considering it a duplication I don’t feel I need? and, What makes what you describe so necessary, in delivering healthy self-reflection, or connection to some inner source? That is, Is there some result from meditation that is exclusively a reward of the practice?
October 27th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Rosa, I knew I could count on you for an insightful question.
For me, meditation is a means of reaching the self-actualization we all seek.
The reward is the nudge I receive from the process itself.
I studied martial arts for years. I always resented to rigorous practiced ritual of the kata. Only after the rigor of ritual became automatic and relegated to muscle memory did I begin to experience the opening of channels within myself as they began to unblock and allow me access to creative energies and focus that I had unknowingly denied myself.
“What are you missing?” From reading your work, I would have to say very little. You seem to be a blessed spirit with a natural ability to tap into resources that those such as I can only reach through meditative prayer.
I wish you continued peace and grace.
October 28th, 2007 at 2:24 am
You are too kind Reg, for surely I can learn and experience more. Though I do agree I feel quite blessed much of the time and am sure to say my prayers of thankfulness, not for a moment do I feel close to that golden mastery of self-actualization.
I think another reason that meditation is not that attractive to me is simply a matter of priorities - I do not question the benefits that it can give, nor am I cynical about it at all, but higher on my list are exploring a few disciplines which can give me more of a physical work-out! Yoga is beckoning me more and more every day as something which may be a pleasing combination.
October 28th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
You make an excellent argument.
But, it isn’t an either or for me. Prayerful meditation before intense physical activity (a mixed martial arts session, or 9 holes of golf) primes me to higher performance and self tunes me for fewer injuries.
Yoga I have never tried. But, I understand it has many of the characteristic of Tai-Chi-chuan which I love.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
“Meditation is not about forcing our minds to be quiet, it is about finding the quiet that is already there.”
How very quotable
I really the down-to-earth approach in this article. I forget, sometimes, how many people are afraid of meditation, because they don’t really knowing what it is.
And I must say, Rosa and Reg, that I see why the two of you mesh well. There really is a grace in your exchanges. (And Rosa’s questions have me thinking…)
October 31st, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Mahalo nui MT, that is such a generous comment you give to us both! And thank you for joining the conversation, for you bring that quote back to my thoughts about all of this too; is really called out to me the first time I read it as well.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Quote it, modify it, incorporate, use it any way you like. You’re welcome to anything on Elemental Truths that you can use.
As for Rosa, I think one would have to be a true contrarian not to be able to synergize with her. She has a true spirit of giving.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hello guys,
Good to be back and I thought I’d add another comment. Its an interesting topic and should be discussed.
Anyhow I enjoyed reading your post as it is relevant to today! Ill check back soon for any added comments, thanks.
It would be great to get this thread really active again!
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February 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Post the thread on your site and we’ll see what happens!
