Today I will skip the Tao Te Ching for the subject of meditation. It may seem a bit incredible to hear this: I have never explored meditation for the sake of meditating. I have never any attempted it other than for the purpose of focusing myself on a set of Bible text in efforts to connect with the Christian God. In fact, growing up in Church circles I was taught that meditation is actually a pagan way that the heathen open themselves up to spiritual darkness, even to demonic possession! Thus I was conditioned to close my mind to something that can improve memory, reduce stress, and help me reach into more of my creativity! Well not anymore. Today I will initiate a new era in my spiritual journey- I will google meditation!
What is it? Meditation is: "focusing of the mind on a single object, creating the cessation of all thought. As thoughts dissipate, the mind becomes quiet, and we are able to be fully in the present moment. The techniques of meditation are simple and easy to learn, but the ability to keep the mind focused takes time, patience and practice. The benefits of a regular meditation practice include reduction of stress, tension, anxiety and frustration, as well as improved memory, concentration, inner peace and whole body well-being." according to www.yogabasics.com.
I was just listening to some soothing music (Imogen Heap's Speak for Yourself) and began to loose myself in a swath of lyrical and musical "otherness". I began to think "I want to learn how to remain in a place like the one this song takes me to - a place like nothing else I have ever felt or experienced unlike anyplace I've ever been. Here, through music my soul approaches a place of quite peace and nothingness where I can reach my raw state of consciousness whats me, free and honest, laid bare and quite void of all outside influence,all outside noise, thoughts, clutters, pollution. Just purely MY consciousness. THAT's how I want to meditate. There I can get to know my self better and become more of like myself." So thus I began to ponder what meditation can do for me. In the mornings after I read a chapter of the Tao Te Ching I will sit in the sunlight and attempt to practice what I am learning about meditation. I will present my progress here. I welcome tips and input here in my comment box. My soul is thirsty for such wisdom.
Hopefully I will not acquire too much darkness as I am currently alone during the day for long stretches and it would be a pity if I became possessed and burned down my sister's house or ate the neighbor's cat. Haha.
Have a relaxed day!
Here is the websites I gather information from on meditation:
www.yogobasics.com
www.meditationworkshop.org
Any quotations I use will be from these. I reccomend them as they are a good source for the basics if you are a beginner like me.
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