What Is Meditation?
There are many different types of meditation yet the goal of all of them is to calm and focus the mind to the point where the meditator experiences themselves in nothing but the present moment, the Now, with nothing but one single thought in mind.
Meditation is a state that can only be fully understood when experienced. To explain it in words the analogy of a lake can be used. If we look at a lake with waves tossing and turning then it is difficult to see through to the bottom of the lake. Yet when the surface of the lake becomes very still one can see what is beneath, at the bottom.
Similar to the waves, when our thoughts are tossing and turning we can’t really see through to the essence, to our full potential. In meditation we are calming and stilling the mind. In this process our thoughts become clear, more focussed and pure. Hidden knowledge and resources are released, leading to a life of wisdom, peace and happiness.
Why Meditate?
Our conscious mind is designed to be fast and analytical. It constantly gathers information of our surroundings and the situation we are in and then analyses it. The conscious mind compares this information to stored, past experiences and applies it in the most relevant way. This process is necessary to keep us safe yet it also keeps us from hardly ever experiencing life in the present moment, the Now.
Yet life only happens in the Now. The past has gone and the future hasn’t happened yet. Past and future only exist as a construct in our mind. The only time life really occurs is moment by moment by moment in the Now.
In meditation we bring our thoughts back over and over again to our focus of meditation in the moment of Now. This process trains our mind to become focussed and clear which turns it into a powerful, razor sharp tool when applied to any task.
Being fully in the Now, in the moment where life happens, gives us a great sense of presence and aliveness, a full sense and experience of our self which is fulfilling and invigorating in itself.
During deep meditation the body relaxes not just on a physical but also on an energetic level which releases blockages and helps to maintain good health. Research has found out that meditation slows down the decay of brain cells. Even short a amount of meditation every day slows down the ageing process.
