Meditation
Meditation or
contemplation can be a useful
tool to expand our present awareness
or consciousness. There are
many ways, methods and techniques
on offer, each having the same
aim, and that is for inner (spiritual)
growth, understanding and awareness.
Two types
of meditation I would like
to illustrate here:-
1. Unstructured - the
repeating of a mantra. For example
"Om" or "Hara Krishna" that
aims to quieten the mind, to
obtain the 'nothingness'. This
is the common practice of Buddhism
and other Eastern religions.
2. Structured - guided.
Each guided meditation is a
self-contained experience undertaken
for a specific purpose and a
third party guides you through
this experience. The journey
has a beginning, a middle and
an ending.
Rather than requiring the mind
to be inactive and at rest as
in unstructured meditation,
the mind is taken on an interesting
and creative inner journey during
which forgotten or hidden thoughts
and feelings may be accessed.
For within each of us is a Wise
One, ready to help us to solve
our problems, who knows who
and what we are and what we
need, to achieve our full potential.
There is a Hindu legend that
tells of a time when the Gods
wanted to preserve the most
powerful, most sacred, most
import Universal Knowledge.
"Where can we put this knowledge
to keep it safe?" they asked.
Various suggestions were made.
"The bottom of the deepest ocean"
said one, and
"The top of the highest mountain"
said another.
"Scattered amongst the grains
of sand within the driest desert"
said a third, and
"Hidden between the roots of
the oldest trees in the wildest
forest" said a fourth. "Buried
within the earth" said a fifth.
None of these hiding places
seemed appropriate as it was
felt that the Universal Knowledge
might too easily be found. At
long last Brahma proposed the
solution. "Let us put this knowledge
inside the people… for they
will never think to look inside
themselves".
Whichever method of meditation
is followed,
slowly we become aware that
we are on a pathway
that can bring clarity and peace
in our everyday lives,
and we may travel this particular
pathway as far as we wish to
go.
Whatever method is chosesn,
that which we seek lies within
us all.
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