Basics Of Meditation

People often ask me questions like what is the most effective way to meditate. Jokes aside, I am going to talk about something serious in this post.

First, I advise people that you shouldn't start meditating unless you identify the chain of your thoughts.

It is a very tricky thing, our mind. And most times, it subconsciously controls us without us being aware of it. So here is one exercise, I call The Awareness of Awareness. It is simple:

Sit in a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Switch off your computer, television, anything that can distract you. And try not to think about anything for five or ten minutes. Sounds easy? Actually, it is very tough.

Your mind will be confused and will start thinking or will force thoughts into your awareness, all by itself. Since you are observing your mind, as in awareness of what thoughts are going on, you will find a trail of thoughts that come and go. Each either related or non-related to one another.

What your mind is actually doing is pulling out memories from your memory-bank (and it is huge) and presenting it to you for further evaluation which will most probably result in some emotion. A thought could remind you of some person, that person could remind you of some place, that could remind you of some good or bad times, dinner, movies, hiking, other activities, etc.

This is what I call the trail of memories forced on you by an idle mind. See how far the trail takes you (in time and place) within just two minutes after you try this experiment. And perhaps, for the first time (for some of you), you will have observed how your mind works. That is the point of The Awareness of Awareness. Try it. Even if you are in office, close your eyes for 5 minutes and try. You will be surprised.

Tomorrow, a bit more on this topic.

Peace.