Meditation For Beginners 2

Over the last few decades, the image of meditation in the Western world has changed significantly. While once most people would think of monasteries, silence and hours of prayer and meditation, today the word meditation is more likely to conjure up a New Age picture of a room full of candles at home, with a modern man or woman in the Lotus position meditating in silence.

There is no doubt that meditation is much more widely talked about and considered than it was 50 years ago. The 1960's saw interest in meditation, or Transcendental meditation at least, given a public boost by The Beatles time in India. Since then, interest in meditation has spread beyond the pop fringe of Eastern spirituality, to more mainstream well being, relaxation and health.

Why, then, has meditation become more popular in recent years? For some people meditation is seen as an escape from the stress and hectic pace of the modern world, while others consider it and then dismiss it as too New Age. However, meditation has been around for thousands of years, and its popularity of recent decades has been a recognition that the benefits of meditation are still worth considering today. While meditation may not be included in school curriculum, many adults are educating themselves.

How Does A Beginner Get The Most Out of Meditation?

To be able to benefit the most out of meditation, it needs to be understood that meditation is an ongoing process – a route to self improvement, but not a destination. The practice of meditation is a discipline, and to enjoy its benefits requires patience, tenacity, willingness to learn and a bit of hard work. It is important that you practice meditation often if you want your skills to improve, and increase your proficiency when meditating.

The purpose of meditation is to focus the mind, and because of many outside pressures and distractions, this can be a lot harder than it seems. I think most of us allow our minds to be diverted from what we are supposed to be focusing. For example, before I started writing this sentence my mind wondered to something totally unrelated, albeit only for a few seconds. Such distractions are happening through the day, but in meditation you can learn to focus your mind for longer periods. However, focusing on only one thing, such as our breathing or a candle flame, is a surprisingly difficult task.

When you are about to start a meditation session, it is important to set a conducive mood, and to sit with the correct posture. This will help you to benefit the most from your meditation sessions. A couple of the most common positions or postures for meditation are being seated comfortably on a yoga, or similar, mat or a pillow; sitting with the spine straight and legs crossed.

You can hold your meditation sessions at any time during day, the most beneficial sessions can be in the early morning, shortly after waking, or late in the evening just before bed time. At these times, the unconscious mind is at its strongest, when meditation is likely to be at its most powerful and effective.

Finding the best form of meditation for you as an individual is important to your long term success with meditation. There are many different methods of meditation. Some people prefer to focus on a favourite object, such as a flower or the sun, as a way to focus their thoughts. Others may prefer to set the perfect mood by listening to their favourite, relaxing music, or even by burning incense or scented aromatherapy candles.

Meditation beginners should remember that each meditation technique is different, and what may be right for one may not be right for another. Meditation is a unique experience for each individual, so it is important to experiment until you hit upon the right method, or combination of methods, for you.

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