Meditation

Quite a few years ago I took part in a Vipassana meditation course: ten days of no talking, no eating meat and no killing anything (including mosquitoes). For most of the day we either sat and meditated or did walking meditation. The point of the course, apart from meditating, was to learn to live with awareness, and be present in the moment.

It was not an easy task and many times over the course of that time, I was tempted to pack up and go home. Sitting for long periods of time being bitten by mosquitoes and thinking about what you could or should be doing, instead of confining yourself to one point on the floor for hours on end, was no fun and hard as I tried the benefits of meditation were eluding me, as I wrestled with my thoughts and body.

Both the early mornings and the no talking policy were also bringing up resistance in me: at that time, for me, talking and breathing were one and the same.  On the other hand, the vegetarian food was delicious, though it was strange to share food at a table with so many people and  with no-one talking. Meals became quite a somber affair, until the facilitator assured us it was ok to smile and make eye contact, and that just because we were on a meditation retreat, did not mean that we had to embody a serious demeanor, and that it was ok to smile and laugh.

But the result of these 10 days was that I exuded  vibrant energy and well-being.  So much so, that many people commented on my return, on how well I looked: “glowing” was one person’s comment. This was my first taste of meditation and has stayed in my mind as a landmark for what benefits meditation can bring to the mind and body. 

What does meditation do for you exactly: well as someone who is just beginning to return to the practice, through the desire to have a more peaceful mind, I can certainly tell you what the absence of some sort of meditative practice can result in : a stressful and chaotic mind, that will not be still and constantly plagues us with worries and anxieties. On the other hand, to reach a ‘meditative state of being’ in which the mind is clear and still, we need to take on a practice of meditation, Where we ‘become’ our ‘True Nature’ as outlined below by Michele Meiche of awakenings:

The Meditative State (of being) – Beingness

This state is called your True Nature, as it is you. Your true nature, divine nature is inherent. You are a spiritual being; therefore you don’t have to “try and be spiritual” you can not be “spiritual” Oneness….. A sense of connectedness…. A knowing, feeling and sensing of the subtle energy of the All That Is. An awareness of this no matter what is going on around you or no matter what fleeting states of being or emotion. An awareness and responding from your True Nature. Expanded consciousness
Living & Being from the I Am – —- I Am That That I Am

http://www.selfinlight.com/meditation.html Discover some simple meditation practices here, or you can learn more about using meditation in your every day life by reading any of the excellent books available on the subject including Michele’s book:

Meditation For Everyday Living available on Amazon- Live the Meditative State   http://bit.ly/mPCXO

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