meditation the key to awareness
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2009 19:59 Written by Administrator Thursday, 23 April 2009 14:18
Meditation is the most powerful practice for increasing awareness. To understand this think of yourself at a party filled with people all talking and moving at once. The various sounds like voices, music in the background and various others would make it hard if not impossible to hear a very subtle sound such as a pin dropping or even someone’s voice in the distance. If this area were to be quiet for a few moments and all motion stopped we would become more aware of the subtle details and sounds of the area. Our bodies and minds are similar to this party. At any one time hundreds of muscles are contracting or relaxing while we breathe and our hearts beat. Our minds direct many bodily actions while still planning the future and maybe remembering the past. To observe the subtle processes of our body and those around us we must quiet ourselves by being still while observing our bodies and mental processes. This non-doing with observation will let us slowly become aware of the connections and natural processes of our bodies. The breathe is often used in this awareness process since it is a natural part of our body’s movement. Even when one is still, many muscles still move and work to regulate the breath. If you observe the breath you will feel the whole body move with the breath and become more aware of the connection of your whole being. You may find yourself distracted in this observation by passing thoughts. These thoughts may be planning for future events, remembering past experiences, day dreaming of desired events or even imagining what is happening in a nearby room. It is natural for the mind to try and stay busy but in meditation if you find the mind busying itself then just let those thoughts go and again try to observe the body. Many people get discouraged by these busy thoughts and give up thinking they are doing something wrong. The truth is this is part of meditation and by just continuing to do your best to observe you will slowly achieve a calmer and more aware state. This may be harder at times of emotional or physical stress but if possible try and persist for 10 or 15 minutes even during these very hard times and work to build a daily habit of meditation. This habit will lead to many sessions of meditation which are very calming or even have times of ecstasy. Why not give meditation a try right now or later today. Set a timer for 15 minutes and find a quiet place free from distractions. I suggest sitting in a chair that has a firm base such as a wooden kitchen table, maybe a office chair. You would want the chair height to be so the knees form close to a right angle and the feet are planted on the floor. Sitting on the front edge of the chair with the back unsupported and the two sitting bones firmly felt is very good for feeling the connection through the body but if this is too hard on the back try and sit so your back is fairly straight and not learning too much on the chair back. Now close your eyes and just allow your arms to rest on your lap or knees (don’t lean on them). Feel and observe your body and breath. Do not intentionally move your body but relax enough that if your body naturally moves during breathing or balancing let it. If you feel you need to swallow, sneeze , ect. Let these natural body functions happen do not restrict these as they are part of your body’s nature. If you find your mind wandering or busying itself then just bring your observation back to your body and breath. After the meditation think about what you observed. Often many people say they found that their necks or backs became sore. Maybe this is true if you are very old and sick lying in a nursing home. But more likely you are just becoming aware of muscular tension which is always present but you are not aware of when you are constantly moving and distracted by other things in your daily life. Becoming aware of this held tension is the first step to releasing it. Maybe you heard sounds like a clock ticking or your breath which normally you are not aware of. This is part of the awareness you will develop as you continue to meditate. Many more wondrous things will reveal themselves to you if you continue to meditate, but you must be patient. Remember that desiring results creates tension and thinking about desires busies the mind and hampers observation of the deep nature of yourself and all things.