Meditation Technique - another important weapon in the arsenal to increase the power of positive thinking.

How to Meditate

This meditation technique is the natural extension of your deep breathing exercises.

I found these instructions during the first weeks of my research into positive thinking and handling stress. I pass this information on to you the permission of the author Gabriel Zappia.

There are many ways to meditate. They all seem to lead to the same place, so find one that suits you. Here I describe a classic meditation technique that is simple and easy. I also try to anticipate some questions.

Mantras A mantra is a sound, word ,or phrase that is repeated to yourself. It can be spoken aloud, as a chant, or silently as a meditation.

Many people think that the best mantras are sounds which have no clear meaning, and are used as a way of displacing your usual thoughts and moving your awareness inward. There are many mantras ranging from words taken from Hindu Sanskrit to Christian scripture (especially when “saying the rosary,” where the repetition of the prayer is meditative).

If you do not already know a good mantra to use I suggest you use “hamsa.” This is a natural mantra, being the sound that one makes when breathing with “ham”(h-ah-m) on inhalation and “sa”(s-ah) on exhalation.

Directions for Hamsa Meditation Technique:

Sit comfortably. A quiet place is preferred, but not required.

Close your eyes. Breath naturally. Sit for about one minute before you begin thinking the mantra to allow your heart and breathing to slow.

Gently bring your attention to your breath and begin to think the mantra , gently and easily. Just let it come, don’t force it. Think “ham” on the inhale and “sa” on the exhale. Allow yourself to be absorbed in it.

Allow your thoughts and feelings to come and go with detachment. Don’t try to control them in any way. Just note them, and when you realize that you are not repeating the mantra, gently return to the mantra. Do not try and force yourself to think the mantra to the exclusion of all other thoughts.

You may experience a deep state of relaxation but it’s OK if you don’t. Meditate in this way for about twenty minutes (children for less time).

When done, take about a minute to slowly return to normal awareness. Be gentle with yourself when opening your eyes or coming to stand after a meditation. It isn’t good for your heart to get up quickly after a state of deep rest that is often a result of meditation.

Note: It is OK to glance at a clock to time the meditation. **Don’t use an alarm timer.**

I have found the following meditation technique deepens my experience. You will certainly find your own as well. These techniques are secondary and may be omitted entirely or added later.

Keep your spine straight, head balanced on you cervical column.

Many people pray or do visualization after meditating, while still in an altered state. Some teachers of meditation are opposed to this practice while others advocate it. I suggest to do it if it feels right to you. I do.

As a “pre-meditation preparation, bring your attention to the physical act of breathing. Breath naturally and, with each cycle of the breath, bring your attention to a different part of your body, paying attention to the changes there as a result of the breathing: the rising and falling of the chest; the movement of your belly,. The sensation of the air entering and leaving the nostrils; can you feel any movement in your kidney area? How about your pelvis-do you feel your pelvis tilt at all when you breath? What do you do between breaths? Is there a pause?

If you don’t feel these things it’s OK, just consider them, one at a time and move on. (This can also serve as a short “centering” meditation technique that can be done while waiting for a stoplight to change, or as a short work or study break.)

During meditation your business is simple awareness, nothing else. It is a time to connect to our inner Source and let go of the things and roles we get caught up in: work, parenting, concerns and responsibilities.

It may be that your meditation is peaceful, or it may be fretful and full of obsessive thought. Regardless, daily meditation will have a positive effect on your life.

Benefits of developing a meditation technique:

The benefits are unique for each person, but both physiological and psychological balancing is common. Some of the benefits of meditation will be realized quickly, and others over many months, so don’t be discouraged.

I recommend that a person meditate twice a day. Before breakfast and before dinner are ideal. (The digestive system often shuts down during meditation, so a full stomach may result in indigestion.)

Remember, whatever happens it’s OK. It’s OK to fall asleep or not to become relaxed. OK to laugh or cry, OK to be, or not to be, in an altered state. OK if the mantra doesn’t follow the breath as I have suggested, or even goes away altogether. What is important is that you and an *intention* to think the mantra during you meditation. In short, don’t try to control it! For 20 minutes, twice a day, Just be.JUST BE.

Questions and comments:

The most common question I get when I teach someone to meditate is “What do you mean by ‘think the mantra gently and easily”?’

My best answer is an analogy. When you read you take the effort to look at the page, to focus on the page and the words. And you *intend* to discern the meaning of the words. That is usually enough and the meaning comes without much effort, yet there is *some* effort involved.

Thinking the mantra is similar in that you direct a similar level of effort (which is very little, yet it is there) toward thinking the mantra.

You do *not* force yourself, brow furrowed, to think the mantra to the exclusion of all else. Just let it come, and if that’s not enough, then encourage your mind to think it with a small effort.

If you are tired when you meditate you may fall asleep. Regardless, do not use mediation as a sleeping aid. If you have insomnia, just meditate during the day and the insomnia will probably take care of itself.

“Sitting comfortably” to meditate does not mean cross-legged. If that is comfortable for you, you can meditate in that position. However, sitting with your feet flat on the floor, erect but comfortable in a chair, is just as good. Don’t lie down.

I suggest that you re-read this occasionally, it contains lots of information.

(copyright 1995 by Gabriel Zappia. Permission is granted to copy and redistribute this document provided that it remains complete and unmodified, including this copyright notice.)

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