Meditation has been around in one form or another for centuries. Religions in India and the Far East have considered it essential in preparing a person for spiritual awakening. And several studies have reportedly shown that meditation can take a person to a new level of awareness, which some call an “enlightened state.”

Most people go through life in a series of “distractions.” They don’t want to deal with real life problems and difficulties so they cover them over with a multitude of actions and pursuits. Some are harmful such as alcoholism and drug abuse and some are simply escapes. Some of the “keeping busy” actions might include watching endless hours of television each day, constantly listening to ear-shattering rap, or continually being on the go. There is little “quiet time” in life. And while this is many times dismissed as a trivial pursuit, it has turned out to be very important to the overall well being of a person.

What Is Meditation?

Simply put, meditation is a way of quieting the body and the mind, allowing troubling thoughts to leave the consciousness while preparing the mind for new information (awareness). Meditation is also considered by many as a form of prayer in that a person can reach a higher level of consciousness which some interpret as being “nearer to God.” It should be pointed out that although meditation is at the center of several religions it is not in and of itself a religion. Instead, it is a way of life.

Meditation reached main stream attention in the late 60’s and into the 70’s with the “free love” and the “hippie” cultures that swept much of the world. Anything different was pursued. Somehow drugs such as marijuana and LSD seemed to get mixed up with this movement because they also altered consciousness but in truth they were just a popular “adjunct” and not central to the actual belief and method of meditation. At any rate, this new culture exploded and brought meditation to the forefront. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi became almost as popular as the Beatles, who by the way, traveled to India along with other celebrities such as Mike Love of the Beach Boys to be at the seat of this new power. Then driven by a media frenzy, meditation became de rigueur to the masses.

How Do You Meditate?

We first have to define what type of meditation we’re talking about. The most popular, by far, is Transcendental Meditation, as practiced by the Maharishi. This involves using a verbal sound (a “mantra”) and at the outset, lots of people made pilgrimages to the Maharishi to personally receive their mantra. Others found that soothing sounds such as falling rain or soothing music produced the same result. In fact, one particular classical piece, The Canon in D Major, written in the 17th century by Johann Pachelbel, and embraced for its supposed spiritual and reflective qualities, has become one of the most popular classical works of all time.

It should be noted that all methods are non-threatening, natural and make a person generally feel good and relaxed. But like anything really worthwhile meditation needs to be practiced on a regular basis to be effective. The key element of meditation is “focusing” on either something, or nothing. Since focusing on nothing is much harder, the mantras, etc. are sometimes used. The object is to clear the mind of distracting thoughts. Here briefly is the technique used by millions all over the world.

A Comfortable, Quiet Place.

This is essential. Whether it is in the bedroom, a chair in the den, a serene garden, or whatever setting works, it is important that this be a special way of retreating from the distractions of the outside world. The next thing is to wear comfortable clothes – nothing restrictive.

Beginning Your Meditation.

Sit, or lie down on your back with your hands at your side. Your legs should not be crossed. Close your eyes. It is at this point that you will start chanting your mantra (which is usually a humming sound), turning on your soothing mood sound or music, or start your focus on nothing. As you begin your method you want to first be aware of the center of your forehead, also known spiritually as the “mind’s eye.” You want to try and “look” out of that spot and picture yourself lying or sitting – your legs and feet, your torso, and especially your hands at your sides. Start focusing on them, one at a time, and then one finger at a time. Your thumb and index finger on each hand should be gently touching. As you “see” your hands, imagine the blood slowly flowing back and forth in each finger form one end to the other. Do this until you’ve visualized all ten fingers. Obviously blood doesn’t flow like this but the visualization technique is nonetheless important. You should never hurry this process so it should take several minutes. And as you get more focused and relaxed your breathing will slow. While you’re doing this your brainwaves actually start changing from a Beta state to an Alpha state. This has been medically proven by attaching a biofeedback machine to your finger tips. It measures your GSR or Galvanic Skin Response and it can produce an audible sound to guide you on your journey to this state of mind. As you get closer to the optimum the machine will go from a high pitch to a very slow growling sound. This is the optimum – where your mind is completely relaxed.

Contemplating Nothing.

At this point you want to begin eliminating thoughts from your mind. This is the difficult part and it takes practice. It is no secret that nature abhors a vacuum so emptying your mind will not be easy. Unless you are a Zen Master it will probably only be for fleeting moments, which is fine. This is why many people try to do it by focusing on their mantra, music, etc. Whatever works for you is the way to go. You should try and remain in this meditative state for about 10 to 15 minutes. Although some people prefer to do this at nighttime, it is recommended that you try and do it in the morning right after you wake up as a way of centering yourself for the day ahead. It should be noted that sometimes people experience “leaving the moment,” which is a feeling of being separated from your body. Any strange feelings are OK and there is no right or wrong way to experience the meditative process.

The Medical Benefits.

At least 500 medical studies have shown that meditation has reduced blood pressure, lessened anxiety, reduced stress, slowed the heart rate, and lowered body temperature, to name a few.

The Mental and Spiritual Benefits.

Many people, using this as a method of prayer, claim they are in the presence of God, or a higher power. Reported benefits from a study at the Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa, include increased creativity, better memory, a higher IQ, finding answers to problems, greater awareness, and an actual reversal of the aging process.

Your author has been practicing meditation for more than 30 years. It indeed has delivered on many claims, including all of the medical benefits listed. Meditation has also led to a definite increase in awareness, and creativity. On a purely practical level it is a great way to find lost items, such as a document, or keys. Once the mind has been quieted you would be surprised how open it becomes to finding solutions to all kinds of issues and problems…and even your keys.