When writing the Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali makes it obvious, that states of meditation, are of extreme value. The ancient Yogis, who practiced and documented the value of meditation, understood the significance of a regular daily practice.
At this time, it is easy for us to make excuses to avoid anything that may help our mental and emotional health. The most common excuse is: "I don't have time to meditate." It is amazing, when we cannot find five minutes out of a day for our mental health.
One of the best excuses is: "What if I lose my mind and become a disciple of the devil?" Meditation teaches us to control and train the mind. Leaders from every religion meditate. According to the King James version of The Holy Bible, Psalm 1:2 - "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
To go further on this, in Genesis 24:63, it is stated: "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field, in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming." Meditation is mentioned more than a few times in the Holy Bible. It has also been said that the Prophet Mohammed meditated in a cave on Mount Hira in 610 AD, during the month of Ramadan, and the angel, Gabriel, came to him.
For those who believe that you will lose your mind by training it - this theory has no logical foundation. For those who sincerely believe that you will find the devil by practicing meditation: Do not meditate if your mind is focused on the devil and negative thoughts.
Why do I say this? Meditation is an instrument of extreme mental focus. Therefore, it is wise to focus on good things. Many people meditate on God, goodness, and Holy Scriptures. If a person's focus, in life, is filled with the devil and negative energy, then professional counseling should be sought.
For the vast majority of us, our lives are fairly balanced, so it should not be too difficult to focus on the most basic of life's functions. Your breath is a basic body function and it is good because it makes life possible. Here are some streamlined directions for breath awareness meditation.
1. Sit up straight. Whether you sit on the floor or in a chair, your spine should be as straight as possible.
2. Choose a comfortable position (asana) that feels natural for you.
3. Your hand position (mudra) should also be comfortable. Choose a mudra that feels natural for you. Dhyana mudra and Guyan Mudra are just two of many choices.
4. Close your eyes. There are many forms of meditation with the eyes open, but this is not one of them. The eyes are the gateway to your mind. To focus your mind on your breath, please close your eyes and relax.
5. Now that your physical activity is slowing down, you will notice the constant internal chattering, which we call the "Monkey Mind." Let go of self-criticism, worries, problems, and fleeting thoughts.
6. Observe your breath. Do not try to control your breathing - just let it happen.
7. Ultimately, we strive to focus more toward the observation of breath and less toward random thoughts.
Breath awareness meditation is a simple exercise in mind training, which leads to less stress and a healthier lifestyle. This one technique can improve your life exponentially, if you invest a minimum of five minutes per day.
© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com
He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html
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