MEDITATION
WE MUST ALSO CULTIVATE THE
RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. HAVING A
QUIET PLACE WITHIN WHICH TO
MEDITATE IS IMPORTANT.
enlightenment is reached
and the person will just
maintain that meditative
space wherever they go.
They will never lose it no
matter what the
circumstance. They will
always be in a state of
peace and harmony,
what is known as
Samadhi in the Hindu
scriptures.
Very few people have
reached this point. The
world offers so many
distractions that can
affect not only the
consistency of our
meditation but the
quality as well.
Meditation requires a
certain stamina, so if we
burn out through late
night parties, if we
overeat, or if we
experience too much
stress at work, it is
guaranteed that our
46 www.yogicherald.com Jan./Feb. 2019
meditations will be
heavier and more shallow,
and we will either fall
asleep, or we may be so
fidgety that it will not be
possible to sit quietly for
any length of time.
In order to have enough
stamina to meditate
consistently, we have to
take care of our body
temple. Thankfully, there
are other tools that we
can use to get the body
ready for meditation,
such as hatha yoga and
pranayama (breathing
exercises). Taking care
of the body temple is
critical. In meditation,
we cultivate a state of
calmness and alertness,
a tricky balance for the
person who is too tired
or agitated to meditate
effectively.
If we are to maintain
consistency in our
meditation practice, our
lifestyle needs to be
adapted for that purpose.
It is actually an
interactive process: the
more we meditate, the
more refined our
lifestyle becomes; and
the more refined our
lifestyle becomes, the
easier it is to maintain
the practice.
We must also cultivate
the right environment.
Having a quiet place
within which to
meditate is important.
The more you meditate
in a certain place, the
more the space will open
there. The atmosphere
will be quite beaconing.
It can also function as a
trigger. When you step
into that space, the mind
will know to let go, and
the spirit will be ready to
fly.
Finally, I would say, be
gentle with yourself.
Expand your meditation
practice in a way that
works for you. If you find
you are distracted or
your body will not
cooperate, you should
know that you have been
cultivating other grooves
throughout your life, so it
may take time to alter
your mindset and
lifestyle in a way that
promotes going inward
and connecting with the
deepest part of your Self.