Meditation is one of the most powerful tools we have for self-expansion and inner growth. Through meditation we can reach levels of mental clarity that we cannot achieve through any other means. Meditation is a major pathway to the soul.
There are many, many ways to meditate. You can meditate on the inflow and outflow of the breath. You can meditate using a sacred word or phrase. You can meditate on the flame of a candle, or on the inner light at the center of your forehead.
You can meditate on the idea of love, or wisdom, or immortality, or any other concept. Or you can meditate by simply being aware of your thoughts as they pass through your mind. There are sitting, standing, walking, laughing, crying, dancing, and chanting meditations. There is living your life—every single moment of the day and night—as a meditation. And this is just for starters.
When I first came back to meditation a few years ago after simplifying my life, I picked up a book on the subject, read through one of the suggested techniques, and sat down to meditate.
When I opened my eyes thirty minutes later, I found myself embraced by one of the most profound feelings of peace and serenity I’d ever known. I recognized in that moment that I’d been given a gift. I knew from my past attempts at meditating that it’s not every day that meditation comes so easily, nor are the results so absolute.
It took many more months of regular, dedicated practice of meditation before I encountered even fleeting moments comparable to that initial experience. But I was hooked from that first day, and that was the gift.
Your acquaintance with meditation is no doubt entirely different from mine, or from anyone else’s you know. We each bring a unique combination of body, mind, and spirit to the adventure of connecting with our inner selves.
If you haven’t explored meditation, I urge you to consider it. Making meditation a regular part of your life will open you up to new and exciting possibilities for your inner growth.
If you don’t know where to begin, start with one of the books on the Reading List, and branch out from there. Or connect with a teacher, or contact people you know who have had experience with meditation. If you start now, you will be amazed, when you look back six months or a year from now, at how far you’ve come and by how much your life has changed for the better. You’ll also see how subtly you’ve been guided through the inner maze.
Meditation provides a natural unfolding of the process of inner exploration. Some of the rewards are immediate. Others take time, often years, to achieve. There is no substitute for simply doing it, and seeing what the rewards are for you.