Basic Meditation Exercises

A Taoist poem begins CLose your eyes and you will see clearly, Cease to listen and you will hear truth Understanding how to meditate is one of the most important and powerful self improvement methods available. Medical research shows time and again the health benefits of meditation, but many are confused about how to start a meditation routine. Photo by Dave Hogg There are many different forms of meditation. An easy way to get started meditating is to simply sit comfortably, back straight but not rigid, eyes closed or partly open and unfocused, and concentrate on your breathing. In... out. You should take your shoes off and not wear any constrictive clothing. When you're just strarting to learn how to meditate, little distractions can be a problem. Find a comfortable, quiet spot where distractions can be minimized. With practice you will soon be able to ignore any little distractions. You can create a calm state of mind by imagining yourself in a peaceful scene, a cabin in the woods by a lake with the sun sparkling on the water. Gradually let your mind stop trying to imagine anything. If it loses focus and starts chattering, just let your thoughts go, like releasing a balloon. Don't try to stop them, just ignore them, they are unimportant, just little birds chattering in the trees. Bring your mind back to calmness. As you gain experience meditating it will be easier and easier to find that calmness and let go of the mind's chattering turmoil. And that turmoil will begin to disappear from your mind, even when you're not meditating. Meditation has a very positive effect on a person's neurology. It promotes clearer thinking, inner peace and happiness, and a sense of focus and presence. A common objection people have is that they simply can't find time to meditate, but when you begin regular meditation practice you discover that you seem to have more time available because the increased focus and lack of inner turmoil and anxiety allow you to you use your time much more effectively. To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour —William Blake