Simple, Powerful Meditation
I recently released a video on a simple, powerful meditation method, and I have received several questions about the method. I answer those questions here.
I do want to thank all of you all for giving me such kind feedback on that video.
Many of you have expressed how you like the simplicity of the method. If you haven't already watched that video, then please watch it.
The simple method, basic method that I have shared in that video doesn't use any meditation aids or meditation techniques. It's not dependent on you having to focus or concentrate on something or listen to music or chant something or think about your God or focus on breathing techniques.
It's a very simple method and it's a very natural method that leads you automatically towards meditation.
Meditation
All of us are so busy in our lives, we do not have the time to live life in a richer manner. Meditation is the key to help us live our lives in a richer fashion and it helps us improve the quality of our life.
How long Should I meditate?
You should not put any timetable. You should not say I'm going to meditate for 15 minutes or I'm going to meditate for 30 minutes or I'm going to meditate for an hour.
You should meditate for however long your mind lets you meditate. When you're meditating, you will automatically get the feeling when you're done.
It's like going to sleep. When you go to sleep, you do not ask somebody, how long should I sleep? Should I sleep for six hours or should I sleep for eight hours? You let your body decide. It's a natural mechanism. Unless, of course, you have to get up in the morning and go to a meeting or go somewhere, and then you set the alarm clock to wake you up in the morning.
Similarly, if you if you do not have anything to do after your meditation session or if you don't have to be somewhere, then you don't have to put a stopwatch. Just meditate naturally and meditate as long as you feel like it.
Now, on days when you're under a lot of stress, you'll find it's difficult to meditate. As you begin to meditate, you'll get a lot of thoughts, and you are not able to meditate for longer than five, ten minutes. That's okay. You meditate for as long as you feel like.
You do not have to put a duration. You do not have to put a timetable. The main point is you do not have to put pressure on yourself. If you are done in 12 minutes, then you're done. You do not have force yourself to sit for 30 minutes.
The most important thing is to do meditate regularly because over time you will be able to sit for meditation longer and longer.
When should I meditate?
There is a lot of description in the scriptures, which says early morning is the best time to meditate. However, we all have busy lives, so meditate when you get a chance. It's more important for you to meditate than be caught up in what time specifically to do the meditation.
You can meditate in the evening when you come back from work. If you're living a very busy life, then you can meditate even at lunch, at work. Whenever you get some time to meditate, that's all right. If you're able to meditate in the morning, then that's wonderful as well.
Most importantly, meditate, meditate.
The only time that I probably won't suggest is meditating right before you go to sleep. Sometimes I have found when I meditate before I go to sleep, I become very awake. Meditate at least a couple of hours before you go to bed. That way it doesn't interfere with your sleep.
Should I meditate on an empty stomach?
The goal during meditation is not to have distractions. If you're hungry or if you have eaten too much, then it will interfere with your meditation session.
The preparations you should make for meditation are almost similar to the preparation you make when you go to sleep. Most of us, when we go to sleep, we dress comfortably. We turn the lights off. We make sure that the temperature is comfortable. Most of us do that and then we go to sleep.
Meditation is similar. Make sure you are comfortable. Make sure that you're neither too hungry, nor overfed and just be relaxed. The idea about meditation is to be completely relaxed.
If you tell yourself, "Ah, I'm going to relax and I'm going to calm down and I'm comfortable." Then your meditation session will be more productive.
Stages before Meditation
There was a comment I received about six stages you should go through in preparation before you do meditation. And I appreciate that. But if you begin to think about all this preparation and decide, I will not meditate because I have to go to through the preparation, please don't think that way. Meditating is very important. The preparation is not important.
Don't let any excuses stop you. Remind yourself to meditate regularly.
Controlling the Mind
I received a comment from someone who said, they're going to work very hard on controlling the mind. They recognized the mind is the devil's workshop and they were going to overcome the mind and be successful.
What I submit to you is please do not think of the mind as an opponent. The mind is a tool and it is its nature to run around. And as I've described in my video on the simple, powerful meditation method, you need to let the mind run around. This is not a fight between you and the mind. This method is not about trying to control the mind.
You don't have to put pressure on the mind. You let the mind do what it wants to do and naturally it will come back and settle down at your feet. That's what we want to happen. We want this to be the natural automatic method. In other meditation techniques, they force you to focus, force you to concentrate.
I learned meditation on my own, when I was 16, nobody taught me. I did not read a book. It's what I learned to do naturally. And that's why I believe in it so much. I like the natural automatic method.
If you have been meditating and you have been used to listening to music or chanting and your mind is already used to that, then please continue. When you reach the deeper, the higher states of meditation, then at some point you will have to leave your music behind because the mind otherwise is going to be constantly looking for that music or that chanting. In the last stages of the meditation, you want to be completely quiet.
Meditation is not Something We Do
This is an important point. Meditation is not something that we do. Meditation is something that happens to us.
Let me give you an example. I cannot say I am floating in the water. That is nonsensical because all I can say is, I am lying still in the water. If I go to a swimming pool and I lay still water will float me. I am not floating, I don't have the capability to float, it is water that supports me and floats me and all I have to do is be still.
It is the same thing when it comes to meditation. It is so simple. I know there is so much written about meditation, but it is really simple. If you become still, if you are calm and relaxed, then meditation will begin to happen naturally.
It is amazing. It really is beautiful. All you have to do is be relaxed and calm.
Now, it will take time because our mind is so used to running around. It's a hungry, restless mind and it will take time to calm down.
But if you're regular, have no expectations, and you learn to be still, you will metaphorically float. Nature will lift you. Meditation will happen for you.
Once you become advanced in meditation, you can be in the middle of a roaring stadium with tens of thousands of people, and you will still experience that peace within you.
So please meditate, meditate regularly. And if you have more questions, please let me know.
You are peace
At your core you are peace. Be who you are. Be peace.
Be peace.
— By Ravi Kathuria, Author, “Happy Soul. Hungry Mind.”
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