The first three States of Consciousness: Waking, Sleeping, Dreaming
Meditation is the Fourth State of Consciousness. Also known as Raja, Royal Path
Place yourself on your own calendar. What time and how much time (10, 20, or 30 minutes is best)
Allow yourself to be alone or choose group meditation
Suggest meditating before breakfast and before dinner (empty stomach)
Best to not eat or drink during meditation (distraction)
Meditate at the same times each day as the body responds to the deep rest
Visit the bathroom
Sit down, perhaps on a chair, bed or floor
Sitting upright with a straight spine is beneficial as the consciousness energy travels through the Sushumna Nadi, the channel within the spine also used by the spiritual energy called Kundalini. We each have 72,000 Nadis, and there are three main ones.
Pingala (Surya) Nadi, Sun channel, lies to the right of the Sushumna, carries the vital force
Ida (Chandra) Nadi, Moon channel, lies to the left of Sushumna, carries the mental force.
Create a quiet place with no distractions: turn off phone, music and TV
Make arrangement for children or pets, allowing quite time for you
Incense is an option or a lit candle helps to set the intent or just shut the door
Get comfortable and allow your body to settle
Close your eyes
Hear and feel your own breath: follow it into your lungs, filling you lungs and diaphragm and then follow the breath out as it leaves the body.
Give your body permission to relax
Give your mind permission to fully engage into expanded awareness, drop into the Gap
The Gap: silent space between thoughts or words
Think the sound Om or Aum representing the sound of the universe and from which all sounds have emanated.
Perhaps you have a Mantra, think your mantra
Mantra: man means mind and tra means control
A sound or mantra is the vehicle of the mind which liberates
Meditate
Repeat gently in your mind, thinking the sound or mantra without effort. When your thoughts stray from the sound or the mantra, gently bring your thought back to the mantra and be aware of the Gap between your thoughts. At the end of the meditation, give yourself two minutes before slowly opening your eyes and returning back into the activity of the day.
Congratulation! You are meditating. That was easy!
Come out of the meditation gently with a whisper from someone or perhaps a phone alarm with a soft tone. (Loud or sharp tone is jarring to the nervous system). As you meditate regularly, your body will set its own timer and your eyes will open at the appropriate time.
Meditation is a choice. If meditation is important to you, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse.
Meditation is easy, comfortable, relaxing and offers profound expanded awareness in consciousness, physical health and measurable mental benefits. Today’s scientists are proving what the ancients knew over 5000 years ago.
