Meditation for Thursday 2nd November 2023
Today let’s re-cap on some basics…
A Quiet Location.
It’s desirable when meditating to choose a quiet location where there are few distractions. This can be particularly helpful if you are struggling with concentration however some experienced meditators find they can block out distractions with ease.
A Specific, Comfortable Posture.
Meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking and in other positions. It’s important to have your spine as straight as possible, your hands in a position of comfort, but never clasping, your eyes gently shut or in a soft gaze and your feet lightly touching the ground. Posture makes all the difference.
A Focus of Attention
Many of you focus on the sensations of the breath however others focus on a mantra, a specially chosen word or set of words; a mandala, an object, a light, a painting. It’s vital that once you feel comfortable with your point of focus that you don’t chop and change. In some religious forms of meditation a mandala in the form of a sacred word or phrase is most commonly used.
An Open Attitude
Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them. When our attention goes to distracting or wandering thoughts, they are not suppressed; instead, the meditator gently brings attention back to the point of concentration.
Ritual
It’s a common practice for people to ritualize their meditation by lighting a candle and wearing a meditation shawl. A return, day after day, to the same place whether it be a corner of the house or a favorite chair forms part of this ritual routine.
And now let us gently bring ourselves into the present moment………
Meditation
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