The process of exercising one’s mind through meditation is comparable to the process of exercising one’s body through different types of exercise. Despite the availability of a wide variety of approaches to meditation, the question remains: how does one get started with the practice?
It is extremely difficult for someone who is just starting out to remain still for extended periods of time without engaging in any kind of thought. It is recommended that if you are new to meditation, you begin by focusing on your breathing. This is a good place to start if you are just getting started. One common way to begin a meditation practice is by focusing one’s attention in a certain way.
Concentration Meditation
Concentration in meditation requires maintaining a single point of attention throughout the practice. Counting breaths, chanting a mantra, staring into the flame of a candle, or even listening to the consistent beat of a gong are all ways to meditate. Beginners may find it hard to keep their minds on one thing at first, so they may choose to start with shorter sessions and work their way up to longer ones.
When you are engaging in this form of meditation, if you find that your thoughts have wandered away from your point of attention, simply bring them back. Instead of giving in to the vagaries of your mind, you choose to relinquish it. Because of this strategy, you will notice an increase in your level of concentration.
Mindfulness Meditation
One of the instructions that one receives during mindfulness meditation is to just observe one’s thoughts as they pass by. The goal here is not to judge or analyze these thoughts; rather, it is to train one’s conscious awareness to become aware of each one as it arises.
One can develop an awareness of the repeating cycles operating in their own mind by regularly engaging in the practice of mindfulness meditation. The human mind has a built-in propensity to quickly categorize things as either positive or negative, pleasurable or distressing. This is something that, with enough time and effort, can be brought to one’s conscious attention. Through consistent effort, one can bring about the development of a sense of internal stability.
Both concentration and awareness are important components of meditation practice, and many schools of thought teach that these two elements should be developed concurrently. The amount of silence that is expected in the various classes varies greatly from trainer to trainer.
Alternative Methods of Meditation
It is essential to keep in mind that meditation is only one of many different ways to cultivate mindfulness. For instance, Buddhist monks regularly engage in a meditation practice that has one and only one objective: to assist them in cultivating compassion. Imagine a challenging circumstance, and then ask yourself how you may bring some good out of it by showing compassion to the people involved. Moving meditation practices include things like tai chi, qigong, and even just simply meditating while walking.
Meditation’s Benefits
When you meditate, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself relaxing, even if that’s not your intention. Herbert Benson, MD of Harvard Medical School, coined the term “relaxation response” in the 1970s after conducting research on meditators for a period of time. Benson said that the relaxation response is “a counteracting, automatic response that makes the sympathetic nervous system less active.”
Since then, scientists have learned that the relaxation response has some immediate benefits for the nervous system.
- Bring down your blood pressure.
- The blood flows more easily due to this improvement.
- Slow down the rate of your heartbeat.
- The amount of sweat produced is decreased.
- Reduce the rate of both your heartbeat and your breathing.
- Reduced levels of anxiety
- Reduce the Amount of Cortisol Found in Your Blood
- heightened feelings of joy and satisfaction
- At this point, we have earned some much-needed rest.
- Better unwind
Researchers in the present era are looking into the question of whether or not regular meditation practice has any long-term benefits because it has been shown that meditators experience beneficial effects on the brain and the immune system. However, the pursuit of benefits is not why we meditate. This point cannot be stressed enough. According to Eastern philosophical thought, the purpose of meditation is precisely to have no purpose. Simply being there is all that is required.
The ultimate purpose of Buddhist meditation is to free the mind from its reliance on the conditions of the outside world and the feelings of the individual practitioner. Instead of mindlessly giving in to cravings or clinging to events, the emancipated or “enlightened” practitioner is able to keep a quiet mind and a sense of inner harmony.
Instructions In Meditational Techniques: For Beginners
This is a terrific method to get started with meditative practice, and this guided meditation will help you get started.
You have the option of sitting or lying down. (It would be helpful to have a meditation cushion or chair.)
Put your eyes closed. (If you want to sleep in your bed, try one of our eye masks or cushions that relax your eyes.)
Do not try to force your breathing; instead, just relax and allow it to come naturally.
Pay very close attention to the sensations of inhaling and exhaling as well as the rhythm of your breathing. Keep a close watch on the changes that occur in your body as you inhale and exhale. Have a careful look at your torso, which should include your chest, shoulders, and rib cage, as well as your stomach. Just focus your attention on your breathing without trying to change the pace or the depth of your breaths. When you notice that your mind has wandered, focus on your breathing and bring yourself back to the here and now.
At first, you should do this meditation every day for five to ten minutes. Then, if you want, you can slowly add more time to each session.
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