Tips for Better Meditation
Your physical
condition has a tremendous influence on your mind. This is true for your
day to day activity, but even more so when it comes to meditation. You
can prepare your body for meditation by eating the right food, and by
coming to meditation with an empty stomach. And whatever your diet is,
when you sit down to meditate, it should be on an empty stomach. That is
why one of the best times to meditate is in the morning, before you
have had your breakfast. Another good time is in the evening, before the
evening meal.
2. Prepare Your Mind for Meditation
Just as your
body must be prepared, so must your mind. Before you start meditation
you must convince yourself, that this period of meditation is your time
for personal growth, and that it is important, as important as anything
else in your life. When you close your eyes to meditate, you should not
jump up to answer the phone, or get ready to leave your meditation due
to some slight disturbance. So, remember your periods of meditation are
one of the most important parts of your daily routine, and treat them as
such.
Remember when
you were in school and the teacher looked around and saw someone
slumping in his or her seat, and she said "sit up straight!" She had a
good point; when the back is straight the mind is alert. Sit in a
position that will keep the back straight. Sit with cross legs in a
simple position, or a half-lotus or a full lotus. In addition to making
the mind more alert, these positions help you to rest the various motor
organs, and provide a peaceful physical base for your meditation.
4. Follow the Meditation Instructions Exactly
Remember
carefully what your meditation instructor taught you and do your best to
carry it out, exactly according to the instructions. Don't experiment
and make up your own method. Take advantage of the age-old knowledge of
the past, and you will make rapid strides towards a bright future. If
you have forgotten any part of your meditation method, go and see your
instructor and get a review of your lesson.
5. Be Regular in Your Meditation Practice
This is one of
the key factors to success. Meditation works, if you work. If you only
do meditation once a month or on whim, when you feel like it, then it
will be impossible to be successful and realize the benefits of
meditation: mental clarity, inner peace, love for others and spiritual
awareness. Make meditation a part of your daily routine. Just as surely
as the sun comes up each day, do your meditation without fail. If you
get into the habit of doing your practice regularly, then you have taken
one of the single most important steps towards success in meditation,
and indeed, in your life.
