What is Meditation?

What is meditation and what does it mean to meditate?  Meditation is sometimes misunderstood, despite all of its popularity and trendy upswing.  Some people consider meditation as a strong concentration or focus on something, while others consider it as an imagery process that brings them to a calm and peaceful place.  People use many methods in their meditations, however, whatever method you choose, it should be to satisfy one purpose.  The goal of meditation is to stop the thinking mind.  To slow down the constant chatter till it eventually comes to a complete stop.  This is conscious presence which is also meditation.

The Breath

Instead of focusing on what the thinking mind is saying, try and put your attention on your breath. You want to try and shut off the chatter in the mind, and just come to that space between thoughts. Practice this by simple meditation. It need not be complicated for you to do this. It should feel like an effortless experience that does not push nor resist. Get still, focus on the breath, and be in a state of no resistance and no judgement. This is meditation. It is being still in your mind, even if just for a moment. Mediation can be confused and compared with prayer, however, there is a difference. Prayer is your speaking to God while meditation is listening to God or Higher Power. Typically it speaks in silence, and it is in that silence that you can begin to manifest your intuition, and truth. 

State of Being

You may believe that meditation is to be done a certain way, with a set of rules, and with a specific result in mind to be gained.  However, in truth, meditation is not an act of doing, rather it is a state of being. We can all meditate anywhere, and at any time. It is to be still without thought.  And in that stillness, we can be raised or transported above it all.  Above all of the madness, that collective unconsciousness has manifested on this earth.  Because at soul level there is pure consciousness. There is that connection with Oneness and that alert awareness in the heart that puts things back in spiritual order.

Listen               

In this state of alert awareness, you are listening to what your spirit is telling you. In this space, there is no thinking. Imagine this as awareness without thought. As you practice meditation, you can learn to meditate everywhere you go, while doing anything, because it is simply while you are in a state of presence. When you begin to understand and observe the mind as silent, you can be completely alert.  There is no greater peace for you than being in this state of presence.  It is your infinite doorway into an even greater, inner transformation that can bring you to a highly realized level of awareness.

Benefits of Meditation

• Stress reduction
• Better quality of life
• Connection in body, mind, and spirit
• Decreased health care costs

Meditation can reduce the stress you are aware of and the stress you didn’t know was lurking in your subconscious mind. When your stress level ends, better quality of life can emerge. It’s that simple because it works. Once you can connect the body, mind, and spirit on a routine basis, then you can enhance all areas of your life in ways you never knew were possible. The potential for you is there for less over the counter medications, fewer visits to the doctor, and fewer prescription drugs.

The Goal

The goal is to unplug the mind from the programming and habits and ignite your true self. By doing this, you can heal yourself and help others in healing. Collectively we can all experience compassion that can promote and assist in optimum health and well-being. The spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical benefits have been attributed toward meditation and have been practiced since around the 5th to 6th centuries BCE.  So, what are you waiting for?

Explore

I invite you to explore the greater peace that awaits you. Nothing is random, and you being here reading this page is exactly where you are supposed to be. Listen to what your heart is telling you and take action. The time is now to start a meditation practice so you can be and feel great. it is an honored to join in your journey of meditation, as you awaken to presence, and embrace the greater peace that far exceeds anything the external world has to offer.