The Principles of Meditation

In its simplest form, the word meditation refers to mindfulness and healing, but the true meaning of meditation is different depending on who you ask. Seen by many as a useful tool to organize or collect their thoughts, practice mindfulness, and reduce stress, for others it can be very personal and even sacred. While how and why differ, it has shown to reduce stress and proven effective in improving overall health and well-being. What isn't as well-known are how this is possible. Like most things much of this is truly dependent on what someone is doing, how they are doing it, and why.

The title of this piece makes understanding meditation sound so simple, and in some respects it is. However, each person is different, and each experience is unique to the person having it...from personal beliefs to how one sits, poses, and if they sing, chant, talk, or hum. Sometimes we get more caught up in this than the act itself, making it difficult to truly be mindful. The keys to meditation are faith, focus, and patience...that's it, your mind and body will guide you through the rest.

Let us examine that a bit further, starting with faith. This word is often tied to a religion or divine being, but you can have faith in anyone or anything. That is not to imply that any amount of faith will change someone else's reality, but it is possible for it to change yours! Faith refers to sheer belief, the kind that is strong enough to change your reality and perceptions. It is for this reason that so many religious followers use the word 'faith', because their beliefs are so strong. The mind offers powerful tools within it to better control your thoughts and negative thought patterns that do not serve you.

It is for this reason that advanced levels of meditation are known by many as a 'Hero's Journey', through which one can attain enlightenment. Either way, it isn't something most pick up the first time and requires patience, reflection, and often for people to try out a few different types and styles. It might take several sessions before you see results, but this is part of the process that these lessons are learned and changes in reality occur, generally...in a very different form than one would have imagined at the beginning. This is where 'faith' comes in.

Meditation can indeed teach you how to do all the things described thus far, and It all starts so simply... through the act of doing nothing but breathing, which many will tell you is directly associated with our life force, souls, feeding out inner flame. While there are different beliefs on the source of this, we will refer to it as 'light energy', which is acknowledged in many ways and in every major religion throughout our world!

My favorite distinction is how many describe the difference between prayer and meditation as I have heard many times, 'so as prayer is to asking meditation is to listening' The only major difference in what most associate with prayer versus meditation is their definition of 'Divine'. While prayer helps us connect with a divine being, meditation teaches you how to connect with and tap into your own divinity!

There is no one way to do it, the idea is actually simpler than most people realize. While most of us can easily get caught up in what the best methods are, especially when we get flustered things don't go the way we expect them to, there really is no right or wrong way! Some use mudras, which are bodily positioning or hand gestures, even this is not necessary and mainly serves the purpose of aiming our focus, or for symbolism. The same could be said for dance and rituals that are performed for these purposes, as with any ritual that helps us associate a specific intention with an act.

Learning how to set intentions prior to beginning is the key, but how you do that is completely up to you. I always recommend researching various ideologies, methods, and styles, don't overthink it, save that energy for focusing on your breath! The biggest challenge I hear about most often is with people getting bored or forgetting to properly breath, which is why my best recommendation is in starting off at just five to ten minutes at first. If you simplify how you think about meditation, perhaps likening it to quiet reflection, free from distraction, it tends to feel less intimidating.

Just think of what you want answers to, then stop thinking and instead focus on your breath. It's that simple! Of course, like anything else worth doing, it will take some practice to get good at it, just allow your mind to wander without judging the thoughts that come to mind. Eventually, that breathing you have been practicing will help you get so relaxed that purging all those thoughts swirling around your head will become easier and easier.

As much as we think we know about the mind, we are just scratching the surface of what they are capable of, with science and research data finally supporting what monks and gurus have been teaching for millennia! Once you can go longer, you will be able to access deeper and deeper layers of your consciousness while in a wakeful state and in complete control. Hypnotherapists do this for you, in order to help resolve trauma, break unhealthy thought patterns, accessing information, answers, and memories buried deep in your subconscious.

Unfortunately, not all of us can afford a hypnotherapist though, so I highly encourage everyone to at least try meditation for themselves. First it will teach you how to relax, then re-center by going back to that place, and from there in allowing us to explore the depths of our minds. Start simply though, no need to rush since every step toward success is a helpful step in the right direction!