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Quieting the Mind
Meditation is an exercise in quieting the mind. Meditation can help
restore mental balance leading to a
feeling of happiness and contentment.
Think of the brain as a faucet where the water is
constantly flowing. The flowing "water" is our thoughts about such things as the
never-ending list of tasks that we have to do, should do, didn't do, and might
do. Stopping the flow of these thoughts and slowing
down the mind is the goal of meditation. By turning off the
faucet, a person who practices meditation can attain clearer thinking, improved
health, and a greater understanding of their own goals.
When one first sits down to meditate, it may seem as though one's mind is racing at 100 miles
a minute. One thinks of the report that needs to be
turned in, the dishes that haven't been done, and the countless
other problems in life that unconsciously stream
in. This is because when meditating, one finally realizes how
active the mind actually is. The focus must then be taken away from these
thoughts and centered instead
on breathing in deeply through the
nostrils and out through the
mouth. Although it seems simple to "just breathe," in reality, it is easier said
than done. Blocking out external
thoughts takes a great deal of
effort. By sitting in an upright
position with legs folded and
thumbs just barely touching the index fingers, meditation can bring relaxation
and inner peace. All thoughts of the things that should, could, and would be
fade away as the mind is quieted. |
