Introduction to Meditation

A simple definition of meditation and tips on how to do this at anytime.

The power of the mind is infinite and its capabilities are universal. Normally our mind is turned outwards, always looking through the senses at the world around us. The senses allow the mind to hear, touch, smell, see and taste.

Through meditation we can turn the mind in on its Self. This process opens up a whole new world to our awareness. By looking within, during meditation, we can see all the parts of the body. We can look at each cell, in each part and ask it, if it has any problems or dis-ease within its environment.

This dis-ease can manifest itself as a pain or a growth or as an injury. It can be on different levels of the mind, or body, and if not brought to one’s attention can develop into a life-threatening condition.

So how do we look within ourselves? The process starts with deep meditation. This is a process of relaxing, normally sitting in a chair, which will support us as our muscles become relaxed.

We can look upon the mind as a lake with the ripples being the thoughts flowing across. A lot of people spend most of their life in this mode, with the senses turned to the world, always wanting to experience and analyse what they understand from information received through the senses.

Through meditation we can take our conscious mind into the unconscious part of the mind and expand our awareness.

This is a bit like diving into the lake and, instead of experiencing the ripples on the surface, we experience the water itself. Not only that, we can see the thoughts beginning to be developed, like bubbles starting at the source of thought deep within the mind.

This could be visualised as a little air bubble starting at the bottom of the lake. As it rises and the water pressure drops, the bubble gets bigger and faster until it breaks through the surface of the mind and shows itself to our normally conscious mind as the ripples on the lake.

Meditating or looking into the mind is a wonderful, relaxing and expanding experience. As you sit in a chair and start to go into the mind, the active mind begins to relax and the consciousness of the mind expands.

Instead of experiencing the thoughts we start to experience the impulses of energy that make up that thought. This can be experienced as grains of light, liveliness in the silence of the mind. A feeling of expansion of consciousness not unlike looking at a clear sky on a dark night and seeing all the stars twinkling different sizes and different colours.

This is a state of bliss consciousness, a feeling of infinite love, of having total knowledge of all life. From this level we can see all the different parts or layers of the mind. We see the self as infinite, never-changing.

This is the "I" that said "I am me" as a baby. That says, as I grow up to a teenager, that "I" am a teenager, as I grow up to an adult that "I" am me as an adult. The body has changed at every stage of life, but the "I" within the body has stayed the same. I am the same person I was as a baby.

What people need in this busy world is some stability. By having the knowledge that the "I", the person within the body, is never-changing and lives on till eternity.

If we bring more of this non-changing state of awareness into the busy life that we lead, it brings us comfort and security, stability in the face of major changes in our life.

Frequently Asked Questions about Meditation: I find it difficult to stop my mind from wandering.

You do not have to stop you mind wondering. Treat the mind like going to watch a move. As you watch the movie, just let your mind become aware of the white screen the movie is showing on. In the same way as you become aware of your thoughts, look deeper as though you are looking through them at the stillness and silence beyond.

Q:I will keep trying to meditate as I want to master it.

Instead of trying, just relax and let go. As tensions in your body come to your awareness, just let your attention be with it. Then invite that area to let go and relax. There is no right or wrong way to meditate, the experience will be different each time.

Click on the link below to be taken to a page of Guided meditations. I recommend listen to the Guided Meditation Connecting to Earth and the Universe.