We hustle through our lives, always hurrying, always thinking, preoccupied with the details of our life. Okay, we have to do that, but not all the time.
There are many types of meditation, but here is my favorite. Go outside. Pick any living thing you see. Plants work best because they don't generally move from place to place. Look at it. Look Deeply into it's contours. Note the variation in colors, the shadings, the way the sun plays on the surface.
Look deeply at the veins of the leaves, the patterns in the bark. If there are blooms, look deeply into each, noting the variations in color and textures and the intricate arrangement of petals and sexual organs. Pay attention to seed pods. Examine the way the roots twist and turn into the soil.
Step back and see how the plant fits into its surroundings, how the structures play in the wind and twist and turn in harmony, and here and there, in discord with its neighbors. Watch the trails of insects as the travel around the plant.
Take as much time as you can. Two minutes will do your soul and mind a world of good. An hour may change your life.
Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful practice and given the way folks seem to be attacking each other, it should become part of everyone's routine. A lot of pseudo-theological nonsense has been written on the subject and you can forget all of it.
There are various phrases, prayers, sacred passages and mantras that you can repeat to yourself that focus your attention. This is all meditation is, a focusing on one thing, to the point of releasing your mind from its normal patterns. If you wish to learn those words and any other techniques, there are countless books, web site and teachers around, so I'm not going into any of that.
Instead, I am going to offer a simple technique that will work, with no religious baggage attached.
Sit in a comfortable position. Or, lie down all stretched out. Breath in, following the air as it passes your nostrils. Breath out, again, feeling the air go out. Repeat, for as long as you have time available. Eventually, you'll get to the point where you will just no when you have been at it long enough; your mind and body just automatically tell you when. It does not have to be a long period. If you are pressed for time, just a minute or two will help you feel calm and centered.
That's it.
Note: if you fall asleep, that's fine. It happens, especially when you are first beginning the practice. Until you get used to it, you may not want to start your meditating fi pressed for time. Again, falling asleep is fine. As you meditate more often, sleep will happen less often. Also, you can do this as often as you like, but, don't overdo it. You want to be calm, not lazy.
There are various phrases, prayers, sacred passages and mantras that you can repeat to yourself that focus your attention. This is all meditation is, a focusing on one thing, to the point of releasing your mind from its normal patterns. If you wish to learn those words and any other techniques, there are countless books, web site and teachers around, so I'm not going into any of that.
Instead, I am going to offer a simple technique that will work, with no religious baggage attached.
Sit in a comfortable position. Or, lie down all stretched out. Breath in, following the air as it passes your nostrils. Breath out, again, feeling the air go out. Repeat, for as long as you have time available. Eventually, you'll get to the point where you will just no when you have been at it long enough; your mind and body just automatically tell you when. It does not have to be a long period. If you are pressed for time, just a minute or two will help you feel calm and centered.
That's it.
Note: if you fall asleep, that's fine. It happens, especially when you are first beginning the practice. Until you get used to it, you may not want to start your meditating fi pressed for time. Again, falling asleep is fine. As you meditate more often, sleep will happen less often. Also, you can do this as often as you like, but, don't overdo it. You want to be calm, not lazy.
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