Mindful Meditation 101
What is Meditation?
The interconnectedness of every living thing. Meditation begins when we realise that our never-ending quest to obtain material things, our constant craving for pleasure, and security will never be met. When we come to this realisation, our external world turns inward, and we have found the key to meditation. Thus, bringing the mind + body + soul into balance.
According to the dictionary, "meditation" means to reflect upon, ponder, or contemplate. In Latin meditari, means to consider or think about. In western culture, to meditate can be interpreted in many forms. For example, one might meditate on or consider what school to apply after graduating from high school, or a career change when the present job doesn't fulfil you or bring you joy. Viewing a powerful movie, may cause you to ponder the moral issues of which today's society is engaged upon.
If you can recall the first four limbs of yoga: yama (ethics), niyama (self-discipline), asana (posture), and Pranayama (life-force extension); all are considered external disciplines. The fifth step, pratyahara represents the withdrawal of the senses. When our mind + body are grounded, we are aware of our senses, and disengaged at the same time. Without this ability to remain detached yet observant, it is not possible to meditate. Even though you need to be able to concentrate in order to meditate, meditation is more than concentration. It ultimately evolves into an expanded state of awareness.
When we concentrate, we direct our mind toward what appears to be an object apart from ourselves. We become acquainted with this object and establish contact with it. In order to shift into the meditative state, we need to become tangled with this object; we need to communicate with it. The result is a deep awareness that there is no difference between us and that which we meditate upon.
One way to understand this is to think about how a relationship is developed. First, we meet someone. Then, as we spend time with this person, listen to, and share experiences, a relationship is formed. As time goes on, the relationship takes the form of a friendship, partnership, or marriage. The “you” and “me” become an “us.”
Namaste,