Meditation Methods
17th September 2008
To be successful in meditation, you need to meditate frequently and consistently. Recommended is a minimum of fifteen minutes once or twice a day and it is important that you try to meditate for the same length of time and at the same time of day. Don't forget to switch off all mobile phones, take your landline off the hook and disconnect your doorbell, if possible, before you start. If you are not alone in the house, put a "Do not Disturb!" sign on the door to keep the family at bay.
When choosing an area for meditation, whether in the house or the garden, be sure that you will not be disturbed by any other kind of noise. Apart from obvious noise like children playing or passing traffic, pay careful attention to smaller sounds like ticking clocks or humming generators. Although these sounds may be barely audible while you carry out normal everyday activities, once you have begun meditating, they could seriously affect your concentration.
Once you have found the perfect place to meditate, you need to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Loose fitting clothing is preferable and if you have long hair, this should be scraped back into a loose pony or bun. Sit in any position you like, on a chair or on the floor, as long as you feel comfortable and your spine is straight. Lying on your back with your arms at your sides is not recommended, as especially if you are tired or run-down, you are more likely to fall asleep than complete your meditation.
Start by loosening any tight muscles by doing a few simple exercises, breathing deeply at all times. Allow your head to fall slowly onto your chest and remain in that position for a few moments before returning it to the upright position. Continue by tipping the head backwards, then to the right and to the left in the same way. Now start to relax the entire body by tightening and releasing every possible muscle in your body from your toes up, section by section. Miss nothing out, finishing your relaxation exercises at your forehead and focusing on your third eye - a spot about one inch above the brow line and one inch inside the surface of the forehead. Focus on this point by looking upwards and inwards and feel the magnetic pull from above.
You may find it difficult to meditate for more than a few minutes when you first begin, but you must persevere. Your conscious mind will constantly try to push itself to the foreground and you may feel the need to fidget, but this will fade with time. Once you have got control of your conscious mind, you will begin to notice positive results and may even have a few dramatic experiences. This is proof that your meditation is working! If you are still having trouble, why not try group meditation? The interaction of each person's energy work in conjunction with one another and can result in incredible achievements.