Meditation Is The Future
Meditation is the future, because it is the most ancient and powerful discipline in self development. This means to us that with meditation we’ll be able to transcend our habits and discover a new source of well being. Here are some tips do help discover the art of being.
Preparation
First we need to find our perfect meditation cushion, there is no fixed height for a cushion since we are all different in a way. Some recommend the the size of your closed fist. I use the length of my thumb. In any case, this is rather an arbitrary conception. If you can sit on a lotus position, then you won’t need more than a yoga mattress.
There’s always a concession between your knees and your back. If your cushion is tall, you’ll probably feel your knees after a while; if it’s too short, your back will tend to bend. The best is to test for yourself at home piling books until you get a comfortable, straight posture.
Once you’ve got an idea of the cushion you’re going to use, get ready for the next step.
Create an atmosphere
Finding or creating a calm environment is our next quest, the environment has and will always influence our way of living. We can easily do this by determining a small area anywhere you regularly find yourself or would like to be, for the specific purpose of meditation practice. Find an inspiring meditation calendar or card. Add a yoga or small mattress for your knees that matches with the atmosphere you want to create. A scented or beautiful candle that goes with the colour of your meditation theme would let you concentrate and appreciate your meditation sanctuary.
A plant that you’ll nourish will add a signification of growing and caring about your meditation practice. Many traditions go from one extreme to another, from a baroque pantheon of deities to an insipid desert of intentional boredom. Perceive yourself, try out and find the most suitable atmosphere that matches with your current personality.
Now is the time to sync body and mind…
The physical body
What to consider as a complement of your meditation practice. Your spin needs to be straight and flexible, only sustained by the back muscles, not by the arms or shoulders. We need to treat of body through a holistic approach. Therefore good nourishment before meditation is also essential. Air, Temperature and Sleep are the three most important components for life. You may live days without eating or drinking, but with no air or no temperature you won’t survive a few minutes. Empiric researches tell that sleep is the third in the list, since no sleep for a week causes the total dysfunction of the brain.
Then water of course, is the vehicle of lasting survival, containing memory and secrets about the subtle ways of our inner journey. Have a glass of filtered water (mixed with a tiny stream of tap water or minerals like Himalayan salt), get an energy saving light bulb that includes negative ion emitting and take a few long deep breaths before you start.
The room is slightly fresh for better concentration. Warm, nonetheless, again through an air ionizer.All this is because your session can really become a special moment to recharge your whole being. Remember, the approach is holistic.
Ok, body and space are integrated and ready for the practice, which has somehow already started.
Use your candle or your breath as reference of awareness. Still, all these tips aren’t the core of your meditation session. Not even your thoughts, not even your mind. That it something that you’ll discover when putting all these tips in practice. You are the master of your meditation, the compass of your own sacred journey.
This article is written by Ariel Guerra who will be running a 3 day meditation workshop at Dharmasana on the 13th, 14th and 15th of August. For more details see our wellbeing calendar listing. To find out more about Ariel and his work visit his website.