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My First Meditation- A Beginners Guide To A Larger World


Thursday, September 24, 2020 (Part I), 

The 1 minute video clip above is one of the best analogies I've seen to describe the natural, untamed state of a human mind, and the still, meditative state that can be achieved with practice. 

In essence, meditation is as simple as focusing on an object (usually something beautiful, like the face of a loved one, a religious image, or even something obscure and innocuous, like an orange, or apple), and holding the thought of that object in your mind; directly in front of you, like a projection screen on the back of your forehead.  

Try doing that now...as you read this....find an object to focus on, close your eyes, and hold the image of that object in your mind....

Within seconds of focusing, your mind will, more than likely, start to stir around, and other thoughts will begin to creep into your head:

  • I have that thing tonight....
  • That meeting today is going to be monstrous....
  • I'm worried about this....
  • I'm worried about that...
  • What should I cook for dinner this weekend?....

With a 10+ year practice under my belt, I can say that my mind wanders within seconds of trying to focus my attention.  Thoughts, good/bad/neutral creep into my head, almost instantly, but I gently bring my mind back to the object of focus, and gently "sit my monkey" back down in his chair. 

This meditation practice is something that I do before I begin any physical Asana/postures but, even while I begin to move through my physical sequence, I hold my meditative image of focus in my head, and try not to let my mind wander from it; when my mind does wander, I gently bring it back, and sit it down again. 

A still mind can discern what is real from what is fake.  A still mind is not anxious, depressed, restless, frightened, or apprehensive.  

Time to begin... 

Thursday, September 24, 2020 (Part II), 

Part II is always written after my practice, while I'm on my mat, having just come out of Savasana/Corpse Pose. 

Even when today's update focuses on meditation, even when I came to my mat determined to be focused, my mind wandered around on its own this morning, and "my monkey", did not sit still in his chair for long.

I mention this to show how elusive a focused meditation can be.  On days where I come to my mat with full focus and physical strength, my brain will run around on its own thinking about embarrassing things I did in the 2nd grade.  On other days, I'll feel disinterested and unfocused but, for some reason, my mental state zeros in onto my chosen object of meditation and holds it in my head while I move through my practice (this is extremely rare, and puts you into an almost trance like state....#meta). 

Regardless of the "success" or "non-success" of a meditation, or physical practice, you are always better for having made the attempt.  You are always better for the practice. 

Namaste


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