Basics of Meditation -- recommended guidelines:
- It should be done every day, preferably at the same time.
- It should preferably be done before a meal rather than after a meal.
- A spot should be set aside for meditation, which should be a quiet place and used for nothing
but meditation
- One should sit with the spine straight and vertical (a chair is ok to use)
Meditation technique involves concentrating on something to take our attention beyond the
random thought activity that is usually going on in our heads. This can involve a solid object or picture,
a mantra, breath, or guided visualization.
Typical objects employed include a candle flame or a flower. Some people use pictures, such as a
mandala - a highly colored symmetric painting - or a picture of a spiritual teacher in a high meditative
state. Mantras are sounds which have a flowing, meditative quality and may be repeated out loud or
inwardly. The breath is also a common focal point. Finally, guided visualization is also considered by
some to be a form of meditation. A guided visualization can help to bring one into a meditative state;
also, visualization may be used once a meditative state has been reached to produce various results.
Which is right for me?
There is no "right" meditation technique for everybody. Some techniques work better for certain people
while other techniques work better for other people. The important thing is to find what works for you.
When to meditate:
An important consideration is when your schedule will allow you to meditate. Having a time of the day
set aside for meditation helps in maintaining regularity.
While meditation is beneficial at any time, most people who meditate agree that early morning is the
best time to meditate. Part of the reason is that it is said that in early morning the hustle-and-bustle of
the world has not yet begun and so it is easier to establish a meditative atmosphere. Having an early
morning meditation also lets us carry some of the energy and peace of the meditation into our daily
activities.
Many people also meditate either before dinner or later in the evening.
A short meditation during the day allows one to throw off some of the accumulated stress of the work-
day and become rejuvenated for further activity.