Meditation Made Simple
When I was 8 years old, my family was living in a basement in Queens, New York. Recently migrated from Trinidad to pursue his degree in music, my father quickly found out that the land of milk and honey was not all that it was told to be, and it was more all at the same time. It was at this time that I was introduced to yoga and meditation. As an 8 year old, this is how I was taught to meditate.
Be Still
When you’re sharing a brownstone in Queens with 2 other families and you’re in the basement, there’s kids trampling on the floor above, music, buses, cars, and a boiler in the background. Quiet is not possible. That’s point. No matter where you are, it’s your choice whether or not you are still.
Today, many of us have the luxury of waking up first thing in the morning when no one’s awake in the suburbs. We live in spacious, comfortable surroundings with few people. Even if the kids are awake in the morning, you can set aside a space and time where they know you are not to be disturbed. Make it a sacred space and time where you can dedicate yourself to your meditation practice.
Watch Your Breath
Your breath is always with you. As long as you are medically conscious, you have your breath. As you breathe in, imagine that you are breathing in Spirit. As you breathe out, imagine that you are expressing Spirit. Pay attention to the air passing through your nostrils, down the air passages, into your lungs, exchanging it, and breathing it out the same way.
Paying attention to your breath accomplishes 2 things. It shifts your focus from the chatter going on in your mind, and it brings your attention to God.
If you realize that you are thinking about anything, even the details of how your body breathes, gently bring your attention back to your breath. No need to badger yourself or battle with your mind, just breathe in and out. As you sit still and watch your breath, you may notice a moment when you are not watching anything. Your mind has stopped rambling (or you are no longer aware of it). You experience SILENCE. It is at this point that you will be able to hear the still, small voice.
Visit balancedlifecenter.com balancedlifecenter.com to learn how to apply balancedlifecenter.com/blog/ spirituality to your life. Get a daily pick me up, bursts of inspiration, and spiritual insights for everyday life.
Nneka is a lifelong student of metaphysics and spiritual practice. Putting Spiritual Truths into everyday practice is one of her personal goals. Helping people do the same is the ultimate goal of her site, balancedlifecenter.com/blog Balanced Life Center - Spirituality Applied to Life.