How to Meditate
Understanding Meditation
The primary challenge people face with meditation is the misconception of 'doing' it. Meditation isn't an action you perform; instead, it is a state of becoming meditative. (steps to meditation for beginner)
Clearing Misconceptions
When the term 'meditation' is mentioned, there are varied interpretations. For instance, the Spanish word "reflection" is irrelevant in the context of what is considered meditation in the US. Meditation encompasses practices like japa, tapa, dharana, dhyana, samadhi, and shoonya, or simply mastering the art of sitting in upright postures.
The Essence of Meditation
In common language, meditation often refers to dhyan or dhyana. Contrary to common belief, meditation is not something you 'do.' Attempts to 'do' meditation lead to the perceived difficulty in achieving it. Rather than being an action, meditation is a specific quality.
Natural Progression
Meditation naturally occurs when you cultivate your body, mind, energies, and emotions to a certain level of maturity. It's comparable to tending fertile soil – with the right conditions, flowers and fruits will naturally blossom.
Mastering the Mind
The mind resists meditation as it becomes still when the body is still. Yoga, particularly hatha yoga and asanas, emphasizes keeping the body completely still to achieve mental stillness.
Unveiling the Mind's Dynamics
Observing unnecessary body movements during activities reveals the mind's resistance to stillness. Most of life's time is spent on activities of minimal interest. By keeping the body still, the mind gradually settles, acknowledging potential enslavement if stillness persists.
Fundamental Meditation Principle
In the initial stages, the mind is the master, and you are the slave. Through consistent meditation practice, this dynamic shifts – you become the master, and the mind becomes the slave, the ideal state. Failure to govern the mind leads to profound suffering, emphasizing the importance of a disciplined mind as a wonderful, miraculous slave. (meditation music download)