Meditation - Some quick tips...

Read on for some useful tips on the graceful art of meditation

“ It is a misconception that we need to get rid of unwanted thoughts to succeed in the art of meditation”

Certainly, more people are waking up and getting tired and becoming unsatisfied with external temporary fix’s for fulfillment. More and more are turning inwards to seek peace, clarity and joy. Our state of being is an inside job, yet all of us at some point have fallen for the illusion that the more we have externally, the better our state becomes. This can be true for a temporary amount of time. Living like this can be a roller coaster ride.

Many are turning to the age-old practice of meditation to deepen their connection with self and gain a deeper & simpler understanding of life and the world around them. especially with the chaotic state of our lives and the world that we live in. But with the growing amount of information available on the internet and even in our trusty neighborhoods, it’s understandable to get overwhelmed and confused. If you’re one of those people, then I hope this post will help you at least get a head start in beginning your meditation practice.

There is no rush whatsoever

We are used to instant gratification, so it can only seem natural to have an end goal and to get there quickly and efficiently. While this can be helpful to start with, the #grace and #bliss which can be experienced through the practice of meditation makes the practitioner realize that there is no need to hurry. It can be counter productive to ‘try’ and achieve a desired state. Meditation at the core is first and foremost, acceptance of the current state we are in. Being still with it, allowing it to be and not trying to actually do anything.

Being forceful does not help, for it is the door which opens from the other side. We do not push it down. We simply wait, in stillness, in peace. Then the door opens not of our will, but by the will of what is on the other side. It is important to remember this during our practice, sometimes the long wait is intended to strengthen the virtues of patience & humility within us. When one realises the thoughts which present themselves to us during meditation or at any time, are not actually us, but simply a contrast of our identities or ego they become less powerful and less gripping.

Everything has a purpose, Everything is a teacher

Think of the drop of a leave from a tree onto the forest bed. This leaf has fallen under universal law and has been placed so perfectly, even if we do not see beyond our own judgment.  Everything has a purpose, including the thoughts and situations we are confronted with on a daily basis. Often the situations which we are confronted with just happen and they can seem out of control. But ask the question, who says they need controlling? Only you or ‘I’, the ego.  As we raise our awareness and spiritual strength, clarity is gained with an understanding that we ultimately have choices on how to respond to situations. This itself is extremely liberating. What may seem like the harshest afflictions sent to us are often the strongest platforms for developing ourselves further. Treat everything that happens to you as a teacher.

Realistic Mentality Over a Positive One

The term ‘positive mentality’ is used often these days. Meditation is the raising of our awareness to be whole again. To become whole again, we need to understand both sides of the negative and positive spectrum. What even is negative and positive from pure consciousness? It is a misconception that we need to get rid of unwanted thoughts to succeed.

There will be things that you do not want to see, things that you will feel that will be painful. Yes, there may be tears and from a teacher’s point of view, tears are a good sign, a sign of release. Is putting negativity in a box and hoping it will go away or completly overiding it with positivity the best way around it? Take time to listen and understand the parts of you which you do not like, the darkers sides to your being. Only when we have an awareness of this, we can really embrace ourselves fully and confront all the fears which lurk deep in your mind.

Be Diligent in Your Practice

Without proper guidance, meditation can seem like just sitting down for an amount of time with your thoughts. Sitting down creating fantasies in your head, figuring out what to eat for lunch after this, looking forward to your evening meal? No doubt most have encountered thoughts like these with their practice of meditation.

No matter how lost you get, the moment you’ve noticed you have wandered off is the moment you can take the opportunity to return back to your focus. For some it may be the breath, for others perhaps a mantra. This can happen many times. Regular practice is the key that can strengthen one’s focus.

Simple Input Yields Simple Output

Simplicity is very much key in this work. An intellectual mind can get in the way, with suggestions along the lines of ‘ I can do it better’. Meditation is about transcending beyond the thoughts, ideas, and concepts of the mind. The mind thinks it can do it better, but the mind just complicates things.

In pure consciousness, there are no complications, just pure simplicity. In this state, beauty is seen in everything because the judgments of the mind are nonexistent. We are all part of this oneness, this stillness. We will connect on deeper levels, from states of non-judgment & pure being.