Meditation

Meditation is to “BE”. Being in Nothingness; No thoughts, No Emotions, No actions at all.

When you are not doing anything, only Awareness (SakshiBhav) is there. Drop All that comes under doing: Thinking, concentration or whatever you want to name it. And then for a moment when you are not doing anything, you are in total relaxation, that moment is Meditation. Only to understand this, we say that we need to learn what Meditation is.

Meditation cannot be done, it happens over a time period of disciplined practice and devotion. Being an OBSERVER, being AWARE, that is the secret of meditation, you only learn how to be a witness. Awareness is the key to meditation. When you are aware and in the present moment of life, that moment becomes a meditation (Dhyana). Walking, drinking, eating, listening, singing, dancing, sitting; everything that you do with a sense of awareness becomes your meditation. Listening to the inner voice of your mind can also be a meditation, but only if you are aware.

The first step towards awareness is to be watchful of your body (Breathing and other activities), then your thoughts (feelings: bad or good); you do nothing but watch. Be a watchman for every moment of your life, and with the help of this practice a shift happens, you start to notice things which otherwise used to go by forsaken. A new magic takes over old patterns, you come closer to understanding that you are neither this body, nor those feelings. You individualize from all, slowly feel more stable, more solid (unshakable). A transformation happens. All the identities or tags you associate yourself with, start to fade and your real self awakens. 

Some common benefits of meditation include the following:

• Reduces stress. One of the most common reasons for people to try out meditation.
  
• Controls anxiety. Less stress translates to less anxiety.
  
• Promotes emotional health and well-being.
  
• Enhances self-awareness.
  
• Lengthens attention span.
  
• May reduce age-related memory loss.
  
• Can help generate kindness.
  
• May help fight addictions.
  
• Improves sleep.
  

Knowing that meditation is nothing but a pure state of awareness, how do one get on to the present moment, especially when the tendency of mind is to either dwell on what is gone or that which is yet to come. Just because of this one tend to neglect the miracles that are happening every moment and run endlessly in pursuit of them. BREATHING for one such instance. The only process and the most basic thing happening in the present/ now moment, yet never given attention to.
Breathing is the most powerful and the best miraculous gifts ever been given to the humans. Simply paying attention to how one is breathing, can bring about a great shift in his life. You may not feel this initially for the mind is busy doing its monkey-business, but once you get into the regular practice, new doors of awareness will open for you. Enough said; let’s get into the experience of what breathing can do and how it can alter our attitude towards ourselves and our life.
All you need is a comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed for 10-15 minutes. The easiest way is to focus all your attention on your breath: the inhalation and the exhalation. One can do it while sitting, standing or simply lying down, but for the very starting sitting down is recommended. Keep your eyes closed. If you feel that you will fall asleep, close half of your eyes, look straight on the floor or the tip of your nose.

FIND A COMFORTABLE PLACE: You could be seated on a chair or on the floor. Keep your back straight but not too tight (can use back support; if required). Leave behind all that you were doing or that you have to do, come to the present moment, right NOW. Slowly and gently close your eyes. Pray to the supreme power to guide you through the whole practice.

RELAX YOUR BODY: Simply observe your body, sitting in a particular posture and let go of the control. See how your feet are touching the ground, move your attention towards your legs, hips, stomach and chest. Relax your back, shoulders. See how your hands are placed comfortably, loosen up on your neck. Now move your attention towards your face and tell your face muscles to relax: Your jaws, lips, cheeks, eyes, your forehead. See the whole of your body with this awareness.

TURN TOWARDS YOUR BREATH- Now shift your attention from your body to how you are breathing. Observe every inhalation and every exhalation. Imagine a dot/point. As you inhale, use this dot to travel along with your breath. See how it goes in and goes out. And keep going. If you find this a bit difficult, here are two easy ways: 

One is to bring attention to the tip of your nose. Feel how warm/cold the air feels while it enters your nostrils.
The other one is to bring attention towards your belly. Just see how it expands with every inhalation and contracts when you exhale.
BE KIND TO YOUR MIND- Now, as you sit back and start to observe your breath, it is very natural for the mind to wander. You may see yourself with a lot of thoughts, Just observe them. Don’t try to suppress them, let them come, watch them and let them go; Don’t get attached. Redirect your attention back to your breathing.
STAY- Keep on observing your breathing and the sense of calmness that is there. Surrender and be in that silence for as long you wish. Gradually start taking long and deep breaths, as and when you feel comfortable rub both your hands and place the palms over your face.
        This how simple it is yet extremely powerful. Start with 15 minutes and gradually increase your time of sitting.

Chit means consciousness, akaash means the universe. So chitakash precisely means “the universe of our consciousness”. This is a step up from the previous technique, slightly an advanced level practice. We will briefly explore the gems that are hidden in our consciousness. The abilities we never knew about, the qualities we never thought of, and much more. 

FIND A COMFORTABLE SPOT- Settle yourself in a comfortable space. Bring your attention in the now moment. Start with promising yourself to fully devote the next half an hour to your practice and not to wander here and there.
Chant OM 7 times.

RELAX- Start by observing your body. Various sensations; just like clothes touching your skin, your feet touching the ground. Allow your body to relax and mind to calm down. Observe if there are any thoughts. Let them come and go, simply observe, but no need to get attached to them, no matter how good or how bad they are.
BREATH- Once your mind is calm, bring your awareness to your breath. The way the air feels while entering the nostrils, the sensation it creates while moving through your neck, all the way down to your chest and way back through the nostrils. Be kind if your mind wanders, watch what it has to offer and get back to your breathing.
THIRD EYE- Now very gently, place your attention on the area between both of your eyebrows. Now chant “AUM” seven times. Relax and let go of all the doing, simply just watch the space in front of your eyes. The vast black space. Just be there and witness anything that comes or nothing at all.
GOLDEN LIGHT- Visualize a bright golden light entering from the top of your head and striking the third eye. Let this light fill the whole of your body.
SEE YOURSELF- See your body filled with light, feel the lightness and enter the celebration. Staying centred, pay your gratitude to God for helping you throughout this experience. Take 2 to 3 long and deep breaths. Whenever you feel comfortable, rub both your hands and place them over your face and open your eyes.