We all begin anything at one time or other! All we need are a few signposts to point in the right direction.
'How do I meditate?'
Meditation is a path that once stepped upon can enrich us beyond our wildest imaginings. Developing an aptitude in becoming still, stilling the mind, releasing the senses from their tight grip on our actions and reactions and generally disallowing the vicissitudes of life to swamp and overwhelm us is the art that a beginner to meditation needs to refine.
Beginners meditation simply can be approached from the point that it becomes a space in our life that we completely gift to ourselves.
Simple enough, right?
Now pose your self this question....
How many times in the last 7 days, 24 hrs, couple of minutes, whatever... can I really put my hand on my heart and say that I have gifted time and space just for me?
Worry not if the answer is never, zilch, none, almost nothing!
Because this is the real and only obstacle that probably stands in your way to becoming a proficient meditator.
So lesson one. Find time for yourself. (This is a major hurdle in order for beginners meditation practice to take root)
Make time for yourself.
Put the kids, husband,wife, partner family into second place and demand for yourself and explain to others that this 5 minutes, half hour or whatever is 'me time'...sacred, inviolate and absolute.
Done that? Great..you are now well on the way to becoming a master of meditation.
Yea. I know nothing is that simple...well perhaps there is the small matter of stilling the mind.
You see, when you find your space, prepare it, make it 'just right' - nice meditation cushions, incense, the lot...you start to sit silently.
As you focus on the breath you begin to appreciate that this still mind thing is anything but - it becomes apparent that far from being still, it is in fact a raging torrent of thoughts distractions and efforts to show you how impossible it is for you to take charge and control this rampant multi-headed monster of inner noise.
The answer?......Let it all go. Do not attach any importance to every and any thought as it arises. Difficult at first maybe..but given each successful nano second of detachment you will find how quickly this training will turn into a habit and harden itself into a positive pattern.
In the Buddhist meditation practice of Vipassana this is precisely the way that you train yourself to empty the sludge of unwanted and irrelevant thoughts. The practice of Anapana meditation is the essential precursor to full Vipassana meditation.
Over the past decade, the number of Buddhist meditation centres in the U.S. and around the Western world has more than doubled. Many more meditators practice in the Christian, Jewish, transcendental, and other traditions. Until now, however, surprisingly few teaching aids have shown the most fundamental techniques for beginners meditation to aspiring practitioners .
Meditation for Beginners fills that niche - with clear, authentic instructions from one of America’s most trusted and beloved teachers. Created specifically for beginners, this complete introduction to meditation features four classical mindfulness exercises. The Vipassana, or insight, practice on which these are based is said to have originated with the Buddha himself - yet it lends itself gracefully to a wide range of spiritual traditions, both secular and religious.
On Meditation for Beginners, Jack Kornfield teaches this ancient practice in its purest form, making meditation easy to understand and practice for even those with no previous experience or spiritual context. Clearly articulated and skilfully presented, Meditation for Beginners is designed to bring the peace and power of mindfulness into listeners' everyday lives. It is the definitive resource for anyone who ever thought about learning to meditate, but lacked the information they needed to start.
'Why do I want to meditate?'
People become interested in investigating meditation when they find that life, work, success, failure, points of crisis ask more questions than answer. Or that the racket and din of life needs the slow button to be pressed big time.
What meditation techniques are the ones that work and which are those that do not?'
The meditation techniques that work are those that work for you..obvious?
Well you would be surprised as to how many people, especially beginners meditation practitioners wanting to find the meditation answer, bang on for sometimes years with a particular technique wondering why and feeling it does not work. As they give up trying and just let it be..then so often the benefits begin to reveal themselves.
If advice could be given on this in a simple form it is..if it works use it, if not ask yourself are you giving it a fair crack of the whip or is your impatience creating its own hurdles...if not then try another technique.
Warning: Do not become a technique junkie that some beginners meditation can turn into...that path leads to utter confusion!
'What are the benefits of meditation?'
Innumerable! Beginners meditation payback comes in the form of better quality of life, less nervousness, fear, doubt. A greater sense of self confidence, peace of mind, clearer thinking to resolve what previously may have been impossible questions and answers. An understanding and vision of one's greater purpose, sense of direction and life. The sense that you are not in it alone and that there is an inner part that offers the deepest and richest love and support - constantly and without judgement.
Joy, blessings and bliss in no particular order!
Concerns about beginners meditation:
'What if I do it wrong?'
