2015 Annual Retreat

What is Meditation?

The word mediation comes from the Latin word “meditatio” which means to contemplate or ponder, however we don’t usually define pondering or thinking as meditation. If we want to define meditation we will have to look at the process itself… what steps are taken into meditating? How does one meditate? To truly understand meditation, you will have to experience it yourself.

Before we go any further, we must understand that there are many different techniques to meditating so you would have to explore and find what is right for you. Some techniques might work for you but might not work for others and vice versa.

When we meditate, we are focusing the mind on a particular sound, image, thought or action, depending on the technique used. Focusing the mind is designed to shut down, or at least muffle the chatter of unwanted thoughts that plague our mind each and every day. Try this yourself and you can attempt to focus your mind on a singular thought. Without focus, the mind will eventually wonder and think about something else.

Why should we meditate?

Meditation has been studied and proven by researchers to reduce stress, anxiety, anger and depression while having an increase in empathy, compassion, memory, creativity and self awareness. Even more impressive is that people who meditate on a daily basis have a statistically much lower risk of getting sick and contracting fatal diseases, such as cancer. If you would like to know more about the science behind meditation then take a quick look at this fun three minute video by asapSCIENCE.

Other benefits of mediation include a sense of oneness which is something that has to be experienced rather than explained.

Another benefit can be seen by observing people who meditate. People who meditate on a daily basis are generally happier, more successful and are living a much more fulfilled life. From a success stand point, meditation has been an influential tool for many celebrities and entrepreneurs. If you are interested in which celebrities mediate you can find a list .

How do I meditate?

So, the big question is… how do I meditate? How do I meditate properly? Well, as I have discussed before, there are many meditation techniques that you can try for yourself and choose which one works for you. With everything you do in your life, practice is key. The most common form of meditation used in the western world is transcendental meditation or TM for short. TM uses what’s called a mantra to induce the mind into focus and stillness. A mantra is a sound (you can either say it aloud or in your own mind) that is repeated to create a focus which allows the mind to meditate. Other techniques used include- watching a candle flame or a picture, but a mantra is the most popular.

Different schools of meditation teach the mantra in a variety of ways. A common mantra used in many teachings is the sound, “Ohmmm.” In Nichiren Buddhism, they’ve adopted other mantras, such as, “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.” Whatever the mantra is used, the purpose is the same.

There is another technique, which involves the use of the five inner senses in the imagination; sight, sound, taste, smell and touch to create a virtual world within the mind. By creating a virtual mindscape, you are able to organize and arrange your thoughts to be manifested in the form of structures and landscapes. The technique is extremely powerful and was popularized by José Silva, creator of the Silva method.

If you have not tried meditation previously, I recommend starting off with a mantra. The benefits are endless and it’s relatively easy to pick up. It becomes more powerful with practice. The video below is a one hour mantra using the “Ohmmm.” One hour can be a long time for a beginner so do not feel discouraged if you don’t finish the entire session. It does become easier with time and practice.

In preparation for meditating, it is best to sit on the floor in a quiet area with your back straight, however it is not mandatory and being comfortable is what’s most important.