 |
Reply
| |
No doubt you picked up this book because you’re searching for something
more in life �?more peace of mind, more energy, more well-being, more
meaning, more happiness, more joy. You’ve heard about meditation, and you
wonder what it has to offer. To continue the journey metaphor, you could say that the practice of meditation begins where you are and ends up taking you
where you want to be.
Being an adventurous sort, I like to think of it as a climb up a mountain.
You’ve seen snapshots of the summit, and from the bottom you can barely
glimpse the summit through the clouds. But the only way to get there is up �?BR>one step at a time. |
|
 First
Previous
2-9 of 9
Next
Last
|
Reply
| |
Different paths up the same mountain
Imagine that you’re getting ready to climb this mountain. (If you live in the
Netherlands or the midwestern United States, get out your National
Geographic for this one!) How are you going to get to the top? You could take
some climbing lessons, buy the right gear, and inch your way up one of the
rocky faces. Or you could choose one of the many trails that meander up the
mountain and take a leisurely hike to the summit. (Of course, you could
always cheat and drive your car, but that would ruin my metaphor!)
Although they all end up at the same place, every trail has its unique characteristics.
One may take you on a gradual ascent through forests and meadows,
whereas another may head steeply uphill over dry, rocky terrain. From
one, you may have vistas of lush valleys filled with flowers; from another, you
may see farmland or desert. |
|
Reply
| |
Depending on your energy and your motivation, you may choose to stop at a
picnic spot en route and while away a few hours (or a few days) enjoying the
peace and quiet. Hey, you might enjoy it so much that you decide not to
climb any farther. Perhaps you’d rather climb one of the smaller peaks along
the way instead of going the distance to the top. Or you may prefer to charge
to the summit as quickly as you can without bothering to linger anywhere. |
|
Reply
| |
Well, the journey of meditation has a great deal in common with climbing a
mountain. You can aim for the top, or you can just set your sights on some
grassy knoll or lesser peak halfway up the slope. Whatever your destination,
you can have fun and reap the benefits of just breathing deeply and exercising
muscles you didn’t even know you had. |
|
Reply
| |
People have been climbing the mountain of meditation for thousands of years
in different parts of the world. (For more on the history of meditation, see
Chapter 3.) As a result, topographic maps and guidebooks abound, each with
its own unique version of how to make your way up the mountain �?and its
own recommendations for how to hike and what to carry. (To get a sense of the
range of meditation materials available these days, just check out the shelves
of your local bookstore or the Web pages of your favorite online book source.) |
|
Reply
| |
Traditionally, the guidebooks describe a spiritual path involving a set of
beliefs and practices, often secret, that have been passed down from one generation
to the next (see the sidebar “Meditation’s spiritual roots�?. In recent
decades, however, Western researchers and teachers have distilled meditation
from its spiritual origins and now offer it as a remedy for a variety of
21st-century ills. (For more on the benefits of meditation, see Chapter 2. For
more on meditation research, |
|
Reply
| |
Although the maps and books may describe the summit differently �?some
emphasize the vast open spaces, others pay more attention to the peace or
exhilaration you feel when you get there, and some even claim that there’s
more than one peak �?I happen to agree with the ancient sage who said:
“Meditation techniques are just different paths up the same mountain.�?/FONT> |
|
Reply
| |
Here are a few of the many techniques that have been developed over the
centuries:
Repetition of a meaningful word or phrase, known as a mantra (see
Chapters 3 and 13)
Mindful awareness of the present moment (for more on mindfulness, see
Chapters 6 and 15)
Following or counting your breath (see Chapter 6)
Paying attention to the flow of sensations in your body (see Chapter 6)
Cultivation of lovingkindness, compassion, forgiveness, and other healing
emotions (see Chapter 10)
Concentration on a geometric shape or other simple visual object
Visualization of a peaceful place or a healing energy or entity (see
Chapter 16)
Reading and reflecting upon inspirational or sacred writings (see
Chapter 13)
Gazing at a picture of a holy being or saint
Contemplation of nature
Chanting praises to the Divine
Throughout this book, you find opportunities to experiment with many of these
techniques, as well as detailed guidance in the practice of one in particular �?BR>mindfulness �?beginning with your breath and then extending your meditation
to every moment of your life. |
|
Reply
| |
Great post, thank you for sharing |
|
|
First
Previous
2-9 of 9
Next
Last
|
|
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Return to Mediation