FAQ’s About Meditation
What is Meditation?
It is a state of profound, deep peace that occurs when the mind is calm and silent, yet completely alert. This is just the beginning of an inner transformation that takes us to a higher level of awareness, which will enable us to fulfill our true human potential.
Why Meditate?
During most of our waking lives, our minds are engaged in a continuous internal dialogue in which the meaning and emotional associations of one thought trigger the next. All day long our mind spins stories about our work, our health, our finances, or our family. Meditation is one of the best tools we have to counter the brain’s negativity bias, released by the accumulated stress. Studies show that meditation can improve our psychological well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, addiction and depression and improving memory and critical thinking.
What Are The Benefits of Meditation?
Common benefits of meditation are as sense of inner peace, tranquility, calm, patience, happiness, deep self-knowledge, emotional balance, and an enhanced ability to deal and manage stress.
Where Should I Meditate?
Pick a quiet, comfortable place where you will not be disturbed. It is helpful to designate a specific place purely for the purpose of meditation. You can establish a habit and an associate in you with that place. Once you gain the ability to go deep within yourself and shut out external noise, you will be able to go into a meditative state anywhere.
What Should I Wear While Meditating?
Comfortable, soft clothing is preferred. Depending on your posture and how you are sitting, loose fitting or stretchy fabric may make it more comfortable to sit for an extended period of time.
How Do I Know That I am Meditating Well?
There is no such thing as a good or a bad meditation, but through continued practice the mind becomes sharp, focused and deeply alert. A way of knowing that you are making progress is if you are able to quickly go into a deep meditative state and experience a stillness and silence without many distracting thoughts or images carrying your attention away.
How to Implement Meditation in Everyday Life
- Practice mindfulness in your everyday life
- Meditation doesn’t have to be limited to strictly defined practice sessions, you can also practice mindfulness throughout your day to day life. For example, in moments of stress, try to take a few seconds to focus solely on your breathing and emptying your mind of any negative thoughts or emotions.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle
- A healthy lifestyle can contribute to a more effective meditation, so try to eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep. You should also avoid watching too much television before meditation, as these activities can numb the mind and prevent you from achieving the level of concentration necessary for successful meditation.
- Read spiritual books
- Though not for everyone, some people find that reading spiritual books can help them to further understand meditation and inspire them to strive for inner peace and spiritual understand.
- Take a guided meditation class
- If you are unsure about where to begin when it comes to meditating at home, it may be a good idea to take a guided meditation class with an experienced teacher first.
- Try to meditate at the same time every day
- It is important that you make an effort to do your meditation practice at the same time each day. This way, the meditation will quickly become a part of your everyday routine and you will feel its benefits much more profoundly. Early in the morning is a good time to meditate, before your mind becomes uncomfortable because it will interfere with your concentration.
- Understand that meditation is a journey
- The purpose of meditation is to calm the mind, achieve inner peace and, eventually, reach a higher spiritual dimension. However, it is important to realize that it may take years of practice to achieve the level of awareness or higher consciousness experienced by yogis and monks. When starting off you shouldn’t be too concerned with the quality of the meditation itself. As long as you feel calmer, happier and more at peace at the end of your practice, you will know that your meditation was successful.
Suggested Reading:
What Happens to the Brain When You Meditate?
Sources:
What Meditation Can Do For Your Mind, Body And Spirit