Why meditate
Meditation brings a sense of fullness and completion, and is the only permanent
source of tranquility available to human beings. All other forms of serenity are
temporary and dissolve into conflict and chaos over time. The euphoria of drugs
quickly lead to misery and self-destruction. The wholesomeness of love, so beautiful
and ethereal, is a relatively short lived and fleeting experience. As J. Krishnamurti said,
meditation brings order and "That order is the order of the universe. It is irrevocable
and doesn't depend on anything." Meditation is the eternal essence of nature taking on
conscious form within the mortal human frame.
Meditation is an adventure of self-discovery. How can you live without knowing
who or what you are? If someone asks you who you are during the day, you may state who or what you are? If someone asks you who you are during the day, you may state
your name, as if a temporary label actually means something important. Ask yourself
who you are when you are in deep sleep, unconscious, and without even a dream to
prove that you exist at all. Ask yourself who you were ten months before you were
born, and who you will be just one moment after your body dies. Meditation increases
awareness of the natural phenomena that is actually going on behind your own eyes.
Self-knowledge has intrinsic value, even without the indescribable bliss nature
generously unleashes in those who practice meditation with sincerity and patience.
Sitting Meditation
Classic sitting meditation is a vital part of all meditation traditions and has taken many
forms, some more effective than others. Some traditional approaches demand that the
student sit motionless for hours on end, as if becoming a frozen human statue is the key
to enlightenment. A more scientific approach does not make the human body our
enemy, but rather works with our natural physiology to allow more intense meditation
with less effort and discomfort. Masochism is not an effective path to self-realization.
Begin by finding a relatively quiet place to meditate where you will not be disturbed.
All forms of classic sitting meditation should be done in silence, with no background
music. You can sit cross legged Asian style on a meditation pillow on the floor, or use
the Recliner Chair Method described below. Eyes may be fully open, half open, or
slightly open, letting in just two small slits of light. Meditating with eyes fully closed is
fine as long as the room remains brightly lit, so that enough light passes through the
eyelids to keep your brain alert. I use a powerful 500 watt halogen torchiere lamp to
illuminate my meditation room, and this lamp projects a pleasing yellow-orange glow on
my closed eyelids.
Meditating in a darkened room presents fundamental physiological problems. When
you sit quietly with your eyes closed in darkness, your brain interprets this situation as a
signal to start shutting itself down for sleep. Sleep inducing hormones such as melatonin
are released at the same time your heart rate and circulation are reduced due to lack of
movement. You feel swept away on a sea of quiet relaxation. This pleasant experience
may be light sleep state hypnosis, not meditation at all, and thus does you little more
good than taking a nap. Meditation means that you are relaxed as if sleeping, but your
consciousness is fully and intensely awake. Therefore, if you meditate with your eyes
closed, the room must remain brightly lit, so that a significant amount of light passes
through the eyelids.
Meditation brings a sense of fullness and completion, and is the only permanent
source of tranquility available to human beings. All other forms of serenity are
temporary and dissolve into conflict and chaos over time. The euphoria of drugs
quickly lead to misery and self-destruction. The wholesomeness of love, so beautiful
and ethereal, is a relatively short lived and fleeting experience. As J. Krishnamurti said,
meditation brings order and "That order is the order of the universe. It is irrevocable
and doesn't depend on anything." Meditation is the eternal essence of nature taking on
conscious form within the mortal human frame.
Meditation is an adventure of self-discovery. How can you live without knowing
who or what you are? If someone asks you who you are during the day, you may state who or what you are? If someone asks you who you are during the day, you may state
your name, as if a temporary label actually means something important. Ask yourself
who you are when you are in deep sleep, unconscious, and without even a dream to
prove that you exist at all. Ask yourself who you were ten months before you were
born, and who you will be just one moment after your body dies. Meditation increases
awareness of the natural phenomena that is actually going on behind your own eyes.
Self-knowledge has intrinsic value, even without the indescribable bliss nature
generously unleashes in those who practice meditation with sincerity and patience.
Sitting Meditation
Classic sitting meditation is a vital part of all meditation traditions and has taken many
forms, some more effective than others. Some traditional approaches demand that the
student sit motionless for hours on end, as if becoming a frozen human statue is the key
to enlightenment. A more scientific approach does not make the human body our
enemy, but rather works with our natural physiology to allow more intense meditation
with less effort and discomfort. Masochism is not an effective path to self-realization.
Begin by finding a relatively quiet place to meditate where you will not be disturbed.
All forms of classic sitting meditation should be done in silence, with no background
music. You can sit cross legged Asian style on a meditation pillow on the floor, or use
the Recliner Chair Method described below. Eyes may be fully open, half open, or
slightly open, letting in just two small slits of light. Meditating with eyes fully closed is
fine as long as the room remains brightly lit, so that enough light passes through the
eyelids to keep your brain alert. I use a powerful 500 watt halogen torchiere lamp to
illuminate my meditation room, and this lamp projects a pleasing yellow-orange glow on
my closed eyelids.
Meditating in a darkened room presents fundamental physiological problems. When
you sit quietly with your eyes closed in darkness, your brain interprets this situation as a
signal to start shutting itself down for sleep. Sleep inducing hormones such as melatonin
are released at the same time your heart rate and circulation are reduced due to lack of
movement. You feel swept away on a sea of quiet relaxation. This pleasant experience
may be light sleep state hypnosis, not meditation at all, and thus does you little more
good than taking a nap. Meditation means that you are relaxed as if sleeping, but your
consciousness is fully and intensely awake. Therefore, if you meditate with your eyes
closed, the room must remain brightly lit, so that a significant amount of light passes
through the eyelids.
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