Meditation Articles

What are the essential aspects of meditation?

These are some of the building blocks of how to meditate and how to get started with our own meditation practise.

Simplicity and experience

Meditation is inherently simple. When we meditate well, we feel we are doing something natural, spontaneous and joyful. We can read many books about meditation, but to really know what it is – we have to practise and experience meditation for ourselves. The art of meditation is not a complicated or intellectual subject, but something we try to experience inwardly.

Concentration

The first step in meditation is to improve our concentration. This is the ability to be aware and focused on only one thing at a time. When we concentrate we put all our attention into the smallest object and exclude everything else. Often in daily life, we get easily distracted; the mind flits from one subject to another. But, when starting meditation we try to keep our attention closely focused. As soon as our mind wanders, we need to bring it back on the object of our concentration. Feel like you are a charioteer, whenever the horse (your mind) veers off course, you must use the reins to keep it going in the right direction. (more…)

In one sense meditation is a retreat from the world. We close our eyes, sit still and try to escape from the thoughts of the mind. In real meditation, we can experience a tranquillity and peace that is usually lacking in our everyday life. This moment of silent reflection and inner peace is a wonderful way to start the day. If we can experience even five minutes of peace first thing in the morning, it will positively affect the rest of the day for the better.

These moments of meditation, where we retreat to a quiet corner to consciously still the mind are an essential part of any spiritual life. But, we can’t spend all day in meditation. Even half an hour of meditation a day can prove quite a challenge! But, we can still try to incorporate many of the principles of meditation in our other daily activities. These are four tips on how we can try to incorporate the principles of meditation into everyday life.

1. Concentration. The first building block of meditation is the art of concentration. In concentration we try to focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else. If we can concentrate, we become one-pointed and absorbed in our focus. In meditation, we may practise concentration by focusing on a candle. In our everyday life, this practise of meditation can be applied to a range of different tasks. When I was a student, I used to find it hard to concentrate on writing an essay, I’d soon end up staring out of the library window. But, when I took up meditation, I found the concentration I developed in meditation could also be applied to these other aspects of life. When we work, we can see it is a form of meditation. All we need to do is to be very mindful and one-pointed in our work. When we learn to work with care, precision and one-pointedness – it makes work more enjoyable and satisfying. (more…)