~:|:~ The Boundless Path ~:|:~

Meditation

"Through prayer we speak to God. In meditation, God speaks to us."
~Edgar Cayce~
Meditation is so much more than sitting indian-style, eyes closed and chanting "OM". "Meditation" in the modern sense may involve:
focusing the mind on a single object (such as a religious statue, or one's breath, or a mantra)

a mental "opening up" to the divine, invoking the guidance of a higher power

attempting to clear the mind of discursive or conceptual thought

reasoned analysis of religious teachings (such as impermanence for Buddhists)

simple relaxation

Physical postures:
Different spiritual traditions, and different teachers within those traditions, prescribe or suggest different physical postures for meditation. Most famous are the several cross-legged postures, including the so-called Lotus Position. For example, the Dalai Lama recommends the Seven Points of Vairocana in which:
the legs are crossed in either the Lotus Positon (here called the vajra position) or the other way, "Indian" or "tailor" fashion (here called the bodhisattva position)

the eyes are kept open (thus affirming the world)

the back is kept straight (like "an arrow" or "a stack of coins")

the shoulders are kept even and relaxed

the gaze is kept at a medium level � too low and one becomes drowsy; too high and one becomes restless

the mouth is kept slightly open

the tongue touches the roof of the mouth

Most meditative traditions teach that the spine should be kept "straight". In some traditions the meditator may sit on a Western chair, flat-footed; sit on a stool; or walk in mindfulness. Various hand-gestures may be prescribed. Quiet is considered desirable, and some people use repetitive actions such as deep breathing, humming or chanting to help induce a meditative state. Many forms assume that the eyes will be closed.
Yet many teachers advocate standing, walking and dancing as good "postures" for meditation, because they require motion, like life itself. The standing meditation presents an air of readiness; the walking meditation moves out to meet life and embrace the moment; and the dancing meditation celebrates the joy of the moment.
Purpose of meditation:
The purposes of meditation are as varied as the practices themeselves. It may serve simply as a means of relaxation; as a way of cultivating mental discipline; or as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality or of communing with one's God.
Some techniques to help lower your brain ino a meditative state:
Mentally focus on one object or phrase.

Count backwards from one hundred.

Visualize yourself falling through endless space.

Count your exhalations.

Focus on the center of your mind, seeing it as the seat of your will.

Recite in your mind or out loud a mantra or phrase which has meaning to you; a simple word or affirmation is sufficient.

Gaze into a candle flame or dark bowl of water until your eyes become heavy and your mind slows.

Take deep rhythimic breaths, counting several beats for the inhalation and the same for the exhalation.

Visualize your mind as a blank screen and attempt to think of nothing at all.

Sit completely still and focus on the rhythm of your heartbeats; they will slow as your brain waves slow.

Preparations and Pointers for Successful Meditation:

Commit to at least five minutes of meditation a day and then slowly increase the amount of time. Make a daily "date" with yourself for meditation.

"Shake your sillies out!" This boils down to shaking out your arms and legs, stretching and generally getting rid of all the little itches and kinks.

Breathe deeply and slowly. Let your breath become all-connected and no longer an object of focus.

Listen to your heartbeat. The natural rhytham that each person has acts as a guide for many metaphysical processes.
Find a way of sitting or lying down that is comfortable, (ie. not distracting). The more comfortable your body is, the easier it is for your mind to direct its attention toward the purpose you've intended. Make sure you can meditate in a peaceful, safe and uninterrupted area. Get rid of all the distractions.

Your mind is used to thinking of dozens of things at once, and now you're asking it to stop, and to hone in on one task and goal. That's why Buddha recommended three things for successful meditation: Practice, practice, practice!

Allow the meditation to grow and transform; don't restrict what happens as you meditate.

Closing the Meditation:
Much as it's important to close a ritual properly, it's important to meditation. You need to get your feet back on the ground, to return yourself to your normal state of awareness.
Start to breath more normally.

Turn your thoughts back to everyday matters.

Don't open your eyes too quickly and don't move too fast.

Wiggle your body around a bit, stretch.

Sit quietly for a minute, until you feel wholly alert

A Sample Meditation of Grounding and Centering:
Start by first finding a quiet place to begin. Sit down and get comfortable.

Concentrate on a place that has a good memory attached to it, perferably with a tree.

Imagine this place, imagine standing underneath a beautiful tree, on a cloudless day.

Imagine that from the sky comes a giant ball of pure white light, imagine it coming to rest a few feet above your head. The sight of it relaxes you and gives you peace.

Imagine that the ball of light exploding, sending out shards of light, one strikes you in the crown of your head, it is not painful, but warm.

The shard of light sinks into your body, spreading it's warmth, and at first your body tenses, but muscle by muscle you relax.

Let yourself drift for a moment, in the warmth, as it travels down through your body, to your feet.

As the light leaves your body, it sinks deep into the Earth, carrying with it all your tension. Let your mind follow it down.

The light anchors itself to the core of the Earth, and your tension bleeds off into the Earth's core. Your mind is secured to the light, all your concentration is on it.

As the light is anchored,your mind is anchored to it.

Now travel up through the Earth, following the trail of light, until your mind finds your body.

As your mind resumes its place, take with you the trail of light. Place the memory of it in the center of your being. Know that any time you need to find this calm and peace, you can repeat this, and the result will always be the same.

Open your eyes, stretch. Thank the Earth for it's cooperation.

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