I remember back years ago now, when I was trying to learn to
meditate. I started with
pre-recorded
guided meditations. These usually try to lead you back to that perfect
spot in
your consciousness and find a symbol of importance to the mediator. A focus
point
of sorts. Sometimes it was an animal guide, a symbol of childhood of
God or just
a missing part of what you need to succeed. I usually found a
cupcake…
I do not know it I needed a cupcake; it was a symbol for me of
something
I looked forward to, a sweet treat.
I soon got bored of meditating that way, even though it does
help beginners to
learn to focus. I began to look for others in meditation groups. I was lucky enough
learn to focus. I began to look for others in meditation groups. I was lucky enough
to find on Face Book some Buddhist practitioners who
found me a local group
of wonderful friends, Buddhists who were willing to take
me in and teach me the silence.
The wonderful silence…. I remember the first
gatherings to practice and the literature
I received to help me. The practice
was to sit comfortable in a quiet spot, relax,
count to 21, then start again. I
did this every day for at least 15 minutes and Sundays
we practiced at the
center for two + hours once a week. I learned walking meditation,
received
sessions with other teachers on Buddhist teachings to help me and found
a new
family.
With the meditation, I soon realized how our mind is
constantly in shifting thoughts. Even when we are thinking there is always the
sub-conscious adding to the internal conversations. We do not realize this until we begin to slow down
the jumble consultations our mind puts on for us. Its endless what we can realize once we do quiet that un-needed thought.
So slow down, listen to the parley and learn we can listen : )
Link to Basic Meditation-Learn How to Center
