art of meditation

Truthfully the best approach is to find a teacher.

I’m self-taught but I had a lot of stumbling blocks that a good teacher probably could have cleared up for me.

If you are set on learning on your own I’ll tell you what works for me.

I find mantra mediation the easiest. I like to use a non-English word because it has no association for me. I usually use Ohm, or Sham as mantras. Religious people might use something meaningful or even use a short prayer as their mantra.

I take a few minutes to relax to start off. I sit in a comfortable position and start taking slow deep but unforced breaths. I count backward from 10 telling myself with each number I will be yet more relaxed than the last; by the time I get to 0 I fell like a blob of jello.

Then I start saying my mantra. I continue with the slow deep unforced breaths but this time with each exhilation I say my mantra to myself. Do not worry if your mind wanders, don’t judge yourself, every time you loose your mantra just go back to saying it.

I usually do about 20 minutes of meditation. When you are done don’t just jump up. Perhaps relax a few minutes or read a bit before you get up.