SOME DAYS AND TIMES MAY FEEL
MORE MEDITATIVE THAN OTHERS,
AND ONE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF SUCH OPPORTUNITIES.
Meditating before going
to bed is actually helpful
for a restful sleep. In fact,
I never wake up in a
grouchy mood if I
meditate before bedtime.
Our state of mind in the
morning is very much
influenced by our
activity just before sleep.
If you watch television,
the scenes will imprint
upon your mind, and will
likely influence your
disposition into the next
day. If you meditate then
peace will pervade the
mind at night.
and close your eyes for
five minutes while in an
office; while relaxing in
your favorite easy chair;
while sitting on a park
bench; or while listening
to a church service.
There are many
opportunities for turning
within, and taking a dip
in the Consciousness.
In terms of consistency,
it is better to meditate at
the same time each day,
so that a groove can be
cultivated in the mind.
Morning and night
meditations have
different textures.
However, if one is tired
and meditates late at
night, they may not have
enough stamina to
maintain alertness. On
the other hand, the
mental field is especially
calm at night, so the
ambience is certainly
conducive for entering
into deeper states.
The twilight hours are
special times when the
atmosphere is generally
more peaceful.
Some days and times
may feel more
meditative than others,
and one should take
advantage of such
opportunities. It relates
to the rhythms and
sensitivities of your own
system, but also to
changes in the
atmosphere. I am not
just speaking about
factors such as air
pressure and weather
fronts, but also the
"subtle atmosphere" that
is not detectable by any
physical senses. I am
referring to the different
lokas or planes that
interpenetrate physical
space, and which have a
profound effect on our
subtle bodies. These are
precious openings to the
higher planes. Sensitive
people, particularly
experienced meditators,
will feel more spaced-
out during such periods,
and closing the eyes for
only a few minutes will
yield some very deep
states.
So how does one ensure
that they maintain
consistency in their
meditation practice? The
answer might surprise
you. It is by training the
mind to adopt a different
habit of behavior. We
develop all kinds of
habits, from brushing
our teeth, to watching
certain shows on
television, to consistent
patterns in our way of
thinking and reacting.
These kinds of mental
"grooves" bring order and
structure to our lives. We
just need to create
another type of groove in
the mind, one that turns
our attention inward.
Jan./Feb. 2019 www.yogicherald.com
43