Do you hear more and more people talking about meditation? I do, and I am one of those people.
I have to admit that I sometimes meditate a lot and then not at all. I notice that the busier I am, the more I feel the need to meditate. This is because I experience peace and come up with solutions that I hadn’t thought of before. But it’s not just solutions, of course. Like most people, a million thoughts go through my head: I still need to do the laundry, what are we going to eat tonight, I want to exercise today, but that’s not going to happen because I have so much to do. Then angry and irritated thoughts come up, and I feel sorry for myself and unappreciated, running through the whole cycle. But I have learned to observe these thoughts from a distance, which softens the judgment, and those thoughts disappear.
According to Buddha, the most fundamental condition for happiness is freedom. He doesn’t mean political freedom, but freedom from the mental conditioning of anger, despair, jealousy, and deceit. These mental conditionings are described by Buddha as poison. As long as this poison is in our hearts, happiness is not possible. This freedom can be experienced through meditation.
To be free from anger, we must practice, whether we are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish. We cannot ask Buddha, Jesus, God, or Mohammed to take anger out of our hearts for us.
Why meditate
It brings inner peace, allowing us to be happy. As you train in meditation, your mind gradually becomes more peaceful, and you will experience a purer form of happiness. Eventually, you will be able to be happy more often and for longer periods, even in difficult circumstances.
How to sit during meditation
You can sit in the way that is most comfortable for you—this can be with crossed legs, on a bench or meditation cushion, or simply on a couch or chair. The most important thing is to keep your back straight so that your mind doesn’t become sleepy.
Your breathing during meditation
By using a simple breathing technique before meditation, you start with a purer and clearer mind. Focus your attention on the in and out breath and be aware of the movement of your belly and the breath flowing through your nostrils. Maintaining this normal breathing during meditation will make it easier to meditate.
Your thoughts during meditation
At first, you will think that it’s impossible not to think, but try not to judge and accept it as it is. Become aware of how busy your mind is.
When you notice that you are following certain thoughts, try to refocus on your breathing. By practicing this, you will find it gets easier, and you may even notice that sometimes you think of nothing for a while. Ultimately, this will give you a feeling of happiness, peace, contentment, and well-being.
How often should you meditate
They say you should meditate every day for about 10 to 20 minutes, but personally, I don’t always manage to meditate every day, and that’s okay.
Sometimes I do a 10-minute meditation, sometimes 30 minutes, and everything in between. I think it’s different for everyone, and it depends on how you feel and what you need that day.
What is important is to try to make time for yourself, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
Benefits of meditation
- Reduces stress
- Improves sleep
- Enhances your outlook on life
- Gives you a sense of being
- Improves focus
- Increases happiness
- Enhances relationships
- Helps you focus on the present
- Gives you more clarity about your thoughts
- Brings more contentment with life
