Unveiling Meditation

Meditation, in the most basic sense, is the practice of living in the present moment, nothing more and nothing less. However, the modern world’s relentless pace has made it increasingly challenging to focus on one task at a time. From a young age, we’re taught to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously, which isn’t necessarily negative. Yet, this multitasking tendency makes us habitual to entertaining many thoughts at a time and thus, vulnerable to easy distractions, making it difficult to fully immerse ourselves in the present moment.

Do you remember the movie – Karate Kid, where Jackie Chan takes the kid to the dragon well (well that’s what they called it). He asks the kid what he sees in the water, and the kid simply replies, “I see my reflection, duh.” Jackie Chan then disturbs the water with his hand and asks again, “What do you see now?” The kid responds, “I don’t see anything; it’s blurry.”

That’s exactly how our mind is. Our innate state is like the calm water in the well, clear and reflective. However, every thought creates ripples, and the more ripples there are, the blurrier it becomes, making it harder for us to see, understand, and comprehend clearly. In fact, the more ripples there are, the harder it becomes for the subconscious mind to function effectively, leaving us trapped in our conscious mind and hindering our ability to fully realize our potential.

Meditation, as Om Swami mentions in his book A Million Thoughts, is a way to silence the fluctuations or the ripples. To really feel, and put to use, your immense potential, you have to go beyond the incessant chattering of the mind. You have to clean the slate before you can inscribe your sacred existence on it. Meditation is the path – a systematic, methodical, scientific and artful path – to reach that bliss and potential. 

In the same book he mentions that the reason people feel unhappy is that their thoughts, speech, and actions are not in harmony. In nature, anything out of alignment is either completely removed or compelled to align. When forced to align, it is perceived as suffering. In comparison meditation is a state where joy and peace flows from every action you perform, every word you utter, every thought you contemplate.

Through practice of Meditation, we can train our mind to return back to its innate focused, peaceful and relaxed state, if nothing else. 

There are various forms of meditation, and you can choose one based on what suits you best and what is most convenient. Here are a few options:

• Mindfulness Meditation: If you can stay fully present and attentive to the current moment, you might want to give mindfulness a try. You can incorporate it into your daily activities: savor the texture, feel, and taste of your food while eating; enjoy every drop of water during your bath; and simply experience each breath as it flows down your throat and into your lungs. While this practice is easy to begin, it can be challenging to maintain consistently. Mindfulness, an essential yet often overlooked aspect of our well-being, is now being rediscovered as a powerful tool to help us regain focus and presence.

• Guided Meditation: If you find yourself overwhelmed by many simultaneous thoughts and easily distracted, guided meditation might be a good fit. In this format, you receive instructions from a guide which you should follow without resistance.
• Focused Meditation: If you can maintain focus on a single thought, you might try concentrating on one thought for a period of time. This approach can be particularly effective if you are devoted to a particular deity, as meditating on that deity and staying with their thought will be easier. You might also include some chanting in this practice. Or you might contemplate on a spiritual question to gain deeper understanding or insight.

• Zen Meditation: If you are comfortable sitting in silence, consider Zen-style meditation. This practice involves focusing your attention on a specific point while clearing your mind of thoughts to a point of zero thoughts.

Moreover, meditation, especially guided meditation can help us release long-suppressed and/or repressed emotions. Why is this important, you might ask? It’s because many physical and mental ailments stem from suppressed emotions. The more intensely emotions are suppressed or repressed, the more severe the resulting physical or mental issues can become. As noted in Coughlin Della Selva’s paper, “People frequently and swiftly forget, only to rediscover, that emotional states have a direct and profound impact on physical and mental health.”

Now that you understand what meditation is and how it can improve your life, want to experience some of the meditation styles? If so, the next post in ‘Meditation – The Series’ @ Meraki’s Blog is just the thing for you.