Meditation: Introduction

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I will be discussing different meditation methods in order for you to get acquainted with them and get into the dynamics of meditation which is nonetheless a tool that enables the practitioner to tap into subtle universal energies and activate the higher self. These methods are drawn from Buddhist and Taoist systems but can be used for anyone regardless their spiritual and/or philosophical beliefs.

Before I start, you must bear in mind that no meditation method is successful if patience, discipline and regularity are not observed. There are ways that accelerate this process (Qigong, Pranayama, Internal Martial Arts) but ultimately perseverance is the key to success.

Complicated yogic postures (asanas) will not be discussed because they do not provide (regardless of many teachers' claims) the benefits of the insight or self-inquiry method, or even pure concentration, for instance Buddhist samatha or Taoist Golden Light meditation. Those postures are great for physical health but ultimately they will not help you tap into higher states of consciousness or spiritual enlightenment if that were the goal.

1. The first and foremost point of practice is finding a comfortable place to meditate. Do not worry about isolating yourself from the external environment because sooner or later you will come across something distracting and interfere with your practice (problem that many meditators encounter as they try to develop a deeper concentration level). Therefore that place needs to be in touch with the world so to speak. Comfortable and quiet but not to comfortable and quiet.

2. You can sit on the floor leg-crossed or on a chair but you must ensure not to rest your back against the back something as this will be too comfortable and real meditation goes beyond that. I will further explain this point later on.

3. If sitting on the floor using a cushion or two to keep your spine straight and a mat to provide a soft surface for both legs to lay on. Personally I have a tilted pelvis and use a telephone book that I place below my meditation cushions enabling me to sit higher and therefore maintain a correct spine posture.

4. Do not use any devices that are helpful to get into low frequency brain waves (alpha and theta) because they will deviate us from the real goal, which is controlling mind-thought. I may sound harsh but if you use these devices then you will become dependent on them and as a result the mind would have won another of its battles. You need to learn to meditate using only the power of YOU.

5. Make sure to wear comfortable and loose clothing if possible as they will help you to become more relaxed and allow the flow of internal energy. Remove any jewelry or foreign objects of your body if you can for the same reason.

6. Your meditation room needs to be free from any devices that are a source of electromagnetic energy as they interfere with the natural meditative course.