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This idea comes because you cannot interrupt your thoughts, concentrate on your breath or sit longer.
They soon stopped being discouraged by their success, and so they saw no results.
This is what we will change today and we will do this.
You see, to make your life pleasant and see results is the secret to making any habitude.
Think of practice. Each transfer is difficult in the first few days. You can’t but note your powerlessness or endurance.
But as you do so, you not only develop but also see your body changing subsequently. This gives you a taste of what’s possible, and you want to see more improvements.
There’s no difference, and so, our intention should be to start meditation as quickly as possible. You will look forward to it rather than run away from it if you begin to experience inner peace and joy after your practice.
(I know meditation doesn’t concern the outcome and condition, but if a novice sees the opportunity to do what’s possible, it is much easier to keep an eye on it.)
The issue is that many of us do not have these experiences from a young age. We begin because someone (perhaps me) suggested that we try meditation.
However, since we are always unaware of what is going on, most of our time is spent resisting disturbances, physical, mental, or emotional. As a result, we’re unable to delve deeply enough to reap the rewards.
Here are some techniques for going deeper into meditation and making it less uncomfortable.
The Enemy of Spiritual Progress Is a Bent Spine
For energy to flow freely from the base to the brain, the spine must always be straight.
You can easily fall asleep if your spine isn’t straight while meditating (especially if you’re sleep-deprived). Often, make sure the spine isn’t fully supported.
To prevent exhaustion:
- Put a small cushion behind your lower back.
- Aside from that, keep it clear and devoid of support.
- If you’re sitting in a chair, place yourself closer to the edge and away from the back support.
It would be best if you put this strategy to the test right now. Elongate your spine whether you’re sitting or standing. Don’t elongate so much that you can’t keep it naturally for an extended period. Go as far as you feel relaxed.
Push your buttocks to the back of your chair while you relax. This technique fits well with my ergonomic chair. The curve supports my lower back at the bottom. At the same time, it doesn’t protect the upper back in case you doze off.
In any case, simply changing your stance will give you more concentration and energy. Why is this so? Since your brain receives an abundance of energy.
When your posture and energy are in sync, your mind and spirit will naturally obey.
Get a Healthy Stomach to Get a Healthy Mind. Your diet has a strong effect on your mind and body. You will find it more difficult to meditate if you eat fatty, fried, or non-vegetarian food.
The apparent explanation is the amount of time needed to digest them. For example, meat takes longer to digest than other foods. As a result, all of the energy required for meditation is now diverted to digestion.
A meditation-friendly diet will include grains, green vegetables, fruits, salads, soups, and so on. The requirements here are to eat light, easy-to-digest food high in prana (life force).
Fasting may also be of great spiritual benefit. When I devote all of my energies to meditation, I’ve discovered that I can go far more profound.
Eating non-vegetarian food is a whole different story, and I won’t go into it here. But I will add one thing: the more aware animals you eat (beef, pork, etc.), the more detrimental impact it will have on your practice.
These animals know when they will be butchered due to their higher consciousness (compared to those like chicken or eggs). As a result, when they’re slaughtered, their anger, bitterness, and fear become part of the meat you consume.
These emotions and energies once again obstruct the energy flow required for deep meditation.
If you’ve had a heavy meal, I’d recommend waiting 1–2 hours before sitting for meditation. This is a rule of thumb that I strictly adhere to. If you meditate first thing in the morning, keep your dinner light as well.
I’ve also been a vegetarian since I was a kid. Though this has caused me problems (and made me the target of vegan jokes from my non-vegan friends), it has dramatically improved my meditation practice.
Affirm Your Way to the Deeper States?
To “affirm,” according to the English American Dictionary, is to say that something is real. An affirmation is a declaration of Reality that one wishes to incorporate into his life in the spiritual life (Swami Kriyananda).
Affirmations are an excellent way to deepen the meditation practice.
They are complex and practical rather than wishful thinking. They work because they are founded on higher truths — truths that we have yet to recognize consciously.
How to Make Your Affirmations?
Here’s a list of affirmations to choose from. Make sure the affirmations are constructive if you want to make them for a particular use case.
Assume you want to conquer your rage. “I’m not angry,” don’t say. This keeps the emphasis on frustration, which can increase rather than decrease stress. If you want to let go of the rage, affirm the positive quality of harmony. It may be as easy as “I am at peace; I am accomplished in myself.”
Another suggestion is to write affirmations in the present tense.
But, as a general rule, I’d recommend using affirmations written by someone who has attained a high degree of spiritual realization. Or, at the very least, seek the advice of someone who has dealt with similar situations.
How to Practice Affirmations?
I put these affirmations into effect in a very particular way. I begin by saying them aloud. The goal is to capture your mind and direct all of your attention toward the affirmation.
Then I say it quietly. This is done to instill the affirmation in the mind. Finally, I say it just mentally, concentrating intently on the brows’ point (i.e., the spiritual eye). This aids in the transmission of the affirmation to the mind.
You can repeat each move twice or three times. Make an effort to sense the words of the affirmation you are doing. Allow it to penetrate deep inside you.
These teachings have the potential to alter your habits and behaviors.
And, if your concentration and willpower are high enough, you can do something by simply affirming it.
Focus on Your Breath
When you’re distracted, concentrate on your breathing. Draw your attention to your nostrils, which are where your breath enters and exits your body.
Feel the heat and cold sensations it causes.
If you like, mentally chant “Hong” with each incoming breath and “Sau” with each exhalation.
“I am He,” or “I am Spirit,” is what Hong-Sau says. Do not try to regulate your breathing. Allow it to flow entirely naturally. Try to imagine that your breath is silently producing the sounds of Hong and Sau. At first, try to feel the air where it reaches the nostrils.
The most natural object of concentration is the breath. When you concentrate on your breathing for an extended time, it becomes shallower and less rapid.
You’ll begin to notice a sense of stillness at the end of each inhalation and exhalation. That is a glimpse of the Unmoving Spirit, which exists outside of manifestation and duality.
You can also achieve breathlessness as you progress through this basic technique. You do not get to this point by holding your breath. Instead, it occurs as a product of the mind and body remaining calm.
The waves of thoughts and feelings subside as the mind calms. Besides, as the body relaxes, it requires less and less oxygen to survive.
The straightforward technique of concentrating on the breath will relieve all of your tension and worries on its own. I do it if I’m distracted, and it keeps me moving deeper and deeper.
Concentrate on the Spiritual Eye
The “spiritual eye” or “third eye” is the position between the brows. It’s also the esoteric concentration point.
It is the location of your brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for complex thought and satisfaction. Through concentrating here, your feelings will gradually (but steadily) become more uplifted.
This is where the Agya chakra is located in the body. By focusing at this stage, you generate a magnetism that attracts energy to itself. And the location of your power in the spine is directly linked to your consciousness.
When your mind wanders, gently get it back. With practice, you will become more conscious of this point and in everyday situations.
How to Practice This Throughout the Day
On my mobile, I set hourly alarms. When the alarm goes off, I concentrate on this point for a few minutes. I let go of all thoughts in my head and focus all of my attention on this one point.
Almost instantly, I feel at ease and a shift in consciousness. Again, if your focus is high enough, you can go from hyper-stressed to super-calm in a split second!
Fix Your Meditation Time
For obvious reasons, regular meditation time is essential.
The main goal is to cultivate the habit of taking time out of your day to relax your mind at a particular time of day. As you get used to it, your mind will naturally become calmer at that time, allowing you to have a dynamic meditation session.
Every morning at about 6 a.m., I meditate. My second meditation session is not set in stone and varies according to my schedule. Even so, the set hour of morning meditation primes my brain to let go of all worries and desires, at least for that time. What was the result? A more in-depth meditation
Fix Your Meditation Place
When you meditate in the same place every day, you gradually increase the vibrations of the location. Whenever you enter that room (or a small portion of your room), your mind will immediately signal — “This is the time to reflect. All other issues exist outside of this space.” Remember to keep your room clean and tidy at all times. I’ve discovered that a cluttered environment or space is detrimental to meditation.
Relax Deeply
Meditation begins with relaxation. You can’t meditate if you’re not relaxed. Meditation, contrary to popular belief, has three stages:
- Relaxation of both the body and the mind. Far better than what you feel while sleeping (most ignore this),
2. Concentration on a single object, such as one’s breath
3. Expansion for the sake of experiencing peace and oneness
Unfortunately, most people, including myself, fail at the first level. We spend the majority of our lives in “fight or flight mode.” This stress accumulates in the background and impairs our results. It affects both your work and your meditations. It’s similar to background applications on your operating system interfering with other operations.
Here are a few ways to unwind before meditation:
- Breathing on an even number of breaths: Inhale, catch, and exhale for the same number of seconds. Inhale directly after exhaling.
- Exercises for Energizing Yoga Postures
Detach Yourself From the Results
This is maybe the most counterintuitive argument of all. When we first begin meditating, we always expect the benefits and rewards to come quickly.
The need for immediate gratification is ingrained in all of us. Meditation, on the other hand, does not function in this manner.
You can pray, chant, and meditate all you want, but chasing after results can only cause anxiety. Stress makes you agitated, and you won’t be able to meditate in the first place.
As a consequence, psychologically distance yourself from the outcomes of your work. Practice your meditation with a surrendered and self-offering mind.
When most people sit down to meditate, they do so, intending to obtain something. The only thing you have power over is your decisions. Why stress about outcomes about which you have no influence and risk jeopardizing your practice?
Be Patient
This is related to the previous issue. To be patient with your training, think of it as a marathon rather than a sprint.
You would not be able to find God or attain enlightenment in a short time. Even seeing a noticeable change in your actions will take months.
Have an Urgency to Find God
This is a point that I confess might not be appealing to everyone. But I’d be lying if I didn’t mention it here. In my view, the purpose of life is to find God. This is why I meditate, pray, and engage in spiritual activities. The aim is to extend our consciousness into Cosmic Consciousness to understand our oneness with all.
Any other advantage of meditation is merely a treat given by God to inspire us. The world becomes a better place as you go deeper and deeper into your practice; colors become brighter, sounds become more powerful. And after all of these earthly pleasures, the soul realizes that there is much more happiness to be had as it merges with God.
And it’s this mentality that I’ve found helpful in my meditation. Consider the moment of death. What if you died today, tomorrow, or a month from now? At that point, you’ll realize that everything you’ve worked for your entire life has been for naught. And that’s the Truth.
Use the frame of mind in your meditation. Since death will knock on your door at some point, you don’t want to squander this existence by failing to make spiritual progress.
When you meditate, keep in mind that God is the only Truth. He is the only Eternal Being. Anything else in this world is a fictitious and fleeting part of the great magical curtain that obscures Reality.
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