Meditation is a good form of letting
go of the stress and worries of our daily rat race.
In some religions, it is even believed that meditation
can assist one in obtaining spiritual purity and being
closer to God.
The first step to meditation is atmosphere. Dim light
like candlelight, if not complete darkness, provides
less distraction. Although silence is recommended,
some people may prefer having soft, soothing music
on at the background, but if you are one of them,
music without lyrics, like classical music, is usually
suggested.
Although the mass media usually portrays people meditating
in an upright sitting posture, this is not recommended
for beginners. A supine position would make things
easier for the beginner. The goal of meditation is
to relax the mind and body, and this can more easily
be achieved by clearing the mind of surface thought.
You might find this difficult at first, but as with
all other things, with some practice, you should be
able to slip into this mode of detachment with ease.
For beginners, the easiest way is to concentrate on
your breathing. The way you breathe is also important-some
of us may question: haven't I been breathing all my
life? But the truth is, many of us actually breathe
"wrongly". In the supine position suggested,
place your hand on your diaphragm (which is just below
your ribcage) and breathe in deeply. If you are breathing
correctly, you should feel your hand rise only after
the breath has been taken in completely.
When you are sufficiently relaxed, which may take
about half an hour, concentrate on the feel of the
solidity of the ground beneath you and the vastness
of the sky above you. Take time to imagine a perfect
world around you…but chances are, you'll already
be fast asleep!
Foreword
