Meditation for beginners: How to enter the state of meditation and meditate
The concept of meditation originates from the oldest writings of the Vedic and Hindu schools, and there is almost no modern person who has not at least once heard this term or used it to describe a state in which he does nothing or thinks about anything.
There are different definitions of the concept of meditation, so we will not deal with them here. Observing meditation exclusively as a requisite to calm the mind and heal the body, we will immediately move on to the simplest recommendations on how to practice this thousand-year-old technique.
How do you enter the state of meditation?
Meditation has its stages, of which the most difficult stage is the entry into meditation, precisely because of the resistance of the unaccustomed mind to get rid of unnecessary thoughts. You should choose a time when you are not busy or in a hurry after meditation.
Then, it is necessary to take the position of the body with an upright spine. It is irrelevant whether you will be lying down, sitting on a chair, or sitting on the floor. It is important that the spine is straight, the position is pleasant, and all parts of the body are relaxed.
Concentrate especially on relaxing every part of your body, from your toes to your forehead. After relaxing, imagine a point, slightly above eye level, across from you. Stare at the chosen point until you feel that your eyes are tired and your eyelids are heavy. Then simply fold them.
Count down in yourself from 50 to 1. This is how you enter a state of freedom without thoughts and feelings. Next, choose your meditation object.
What can be the object of meditation?
The object of meditation can be:
- landscape
- the painting
- subject
- plant
- own breath
- randomly chosen pattern on the wall or carpet
- imaginary point
- a sound we repeat uniformly
- verse
- pleasant smell
- the task in front of us
- life situation
- every abstract category – love, kindness, justice
- movements made by the body, from simple walking to spontaneous dancing
Having chosen an object of concentration, keep on it all your attention. If a thought persistently comes across you and interferes with maintaining your attention on the chosen object of meditation, do not force it to disappear. On the contrary, accept it, and go through it to the end until it disappears by itself.
If we succeed in the intention to focus our mind completely on the objects of meditation – we enter a peaceful state of passive observation that no longer requires any effort. Our true nature is revealed – the mind stands aside, allowing our nature to unfold and manifest. In this way, we enter a state of peace, tranquility, and health.
How do you get out of the meditative state?
The phase of coming out of the meditative state is also done very carefully. Since you separate yourself from reality in the state of meditation, it will take you some time to come back to it. For this reason, you should not rush to get out of the position and return to life activities.
Give your body time to slowly adapt to the old conditions by slowly clenching and unclenching your fists several times. Then start counting from one to fifty, and slowly and shallowly inhale and exhale. After that, inhale and exhale deeper and stronger. Open your eyes only after you are sure that you feel good and awake.
“Welcome to the world of a relaxed and calm mind and body.”
What is deep meditation?
Deep meditation is the feeling of oneness with all that exists. This state is accompanied by a feeling of sublime bliss or ecstasy.
The advanced stage of meditation is enlightenment or satori – knowledge without thought or words. Satori is bliss, the realization of a higher meaning. This feeling does not come overnight. It takes practice, discipline, and persistence. But with persistent repetition and concentration, progress is achieved until enlightenment itself.
What does meditation enable each person?
Meditation allows you to control yourself and your own thoughts and reactions. A person who meditates is not happy because he has no problems, but he is happy because he can take the right attitude towards those same problems. With such knowledge and feeling, true spiritual and physical health is achieved.
When is the best time to meditate, and is a special space needed for meditation?
It is preferable to practice meditation from 2 to 4 hours before eating or from 4 to 5 hours after eating. The best time to meditate is around 5 am or 7 pm.
When it comes to choosing a place to meditate, the best place to start is to choose a place where you feel safe and calm. If you don’t have such a place, don’t worry, it’s enough to imagine it as vividly as possible. The more details you put into that place and the more senses you engage to make it real, the better for you.
Once you have chosen the time and place, you can begin your journey into the world of meditation.