Meditation Brings Many Benefits

MEDITATION BRINGS
MANY BENEFITS
Most people are astounded to discover the many benefits of practising
meditation every day. Before embarking on this journey of discovery,
the practice can be viewed as a waste of time. However, as you read
this article you will begin to understand why meditation should be a
key practice in your daily life.

Here are some of the main benefits people discover.
· Deep relaxation
· Stress relief
· The gaining of mental discipline
· A sustained sense of well-being

*Achieving complete relaxation is just one of the many benefits
this ancient practice brings. Of course meditation brings numerous
gifts to the meditator. However, experiencing complete and deep
relaxation is one of the greatest and most important benefits for the
overall health of mind and body.
The practice of meditation is not anything out of the ordinary. It’s
completely natural and normal. “As we quieten the chatter of our
minds we discover an inner wellspring from which intuition, joy,
inspiration, imagination, wisdom and contentment more effortlessly
flow” says Petrea King. “Meditation becomes that sacred space in
which we replenish and refresh ourselves.” Petrea King.
Web: www.petreaking.com

*Meditate to relieve stress.
When we practice meditation regularly, the mind develops flexibility
and strength to handle everyday challenges.
Scientific studies show that meditation reduces blood pressure,
boosts the immune system and helps people manage pain associated
with chronic disease. “We have a society that’s so used to popping a
pill for every little ailment”, says Beverly Singh, director of the Atma
Centre in Cleveland. “Meditation can really benefit those people. The
only side effect of meditation is being calmer and clearer.”
There are almost as many ways to meditate as there are meditators.
However, the common thread is a regular practice of sitting quietly
and bringing your mind’s attention to a single point. If you can fully
inhabit the present moment, without dwelling on the past or planning
for the future, you can let go of anxiety and stress.

The main elements in all meditation practices are an upright posture
(where possible), an object of meditation and what you do with the
mind.
Many possible focus points are available to us:-
* Our Breathing
*A Word
*A Mantra
*The Physical Sensations in our Hands or Feet
*A Sound
*The Motion of our Steps when Walking.
*Through meditating we gain mental discipline.
During meditation our minds will naturally wander. As we gently
bring the mind back to the object of meditation, you begin to notice
the direction your thoughts want to take and you develop mental
discipline. “You can have a moment of mindfulness meditation at any
time in a busy day”, says Lama Surya Das, a Cambridge, Mass.,
teacher of Buddhism. The pattern “Breathe, Relax, Focus, Centre and
Smile” can bring you to that moment, says Das, who wrote
Awakening the Buddha Within.

“Meditation is tuning into that place we’ve all experienced, where we
feel a sense of wholeness, completeness and inner joy” says Stanley
Davis, outreach director at AHAM Meditation Retreat and Training
Centre in Asheboro, N.C.
*Achieve a sustained sense of well-being through the
regular practice of meditation.
As the pressures of this modern world increase and multiply, many
people are turning to the practice of meditation as a step toward:-
*A Calmer Life
*The Release of Strength and Wisdom in their lives,
and most important,
*The Direct Realisation of the Wellspring of Strength and Peace
Within themselves.

To find stillness of mind, we have to learn the delicate art of allowing
our actions, thoughts and feelings to be whatever they are, but not let
them control us. We can’t force the mind to be still, but we can
withdraw our consciousness from its restlessness.
Meditation is our deepest natural state – our pure consciousness –
which we experience once our minds stop being busy. It can be
difficult for us because it is really doing “nothing” – it is simply being
what we are!

By building up good habits of the mind in meditation, our daily life
behavior gradually changes. We are better able to make decisions and
are less dissatisfied and restless. We should always try to have a
broader and more encompassing motivation to meditate than just our
own present happiness. If we generate the motivation to meditate in
order to attain liberation from the cycle of constantly recurring
problems, or to reach the state of complete wisdom for the benefit of
all, then naturally our mind will also be peaceful. In addition we will
be able to attain those high and noble goals. It is very beneficial to
have a regular meditation practice, even if it is only for a short time
each day.

Meditation Courses are offerd at Health 'n' Harmony, Grenfell, regularly throughout the year.
Full details at:-
http://www.healthnharmonygrenfell.com

If meditation is helpful to you, then you should make time for it each
day. Even if you do not want to meditate, it is important to keep some
daily “quiet time” for yourself: time when you sit and reflect upon
what you do and why, time when you read the bible or some other
spiritually uplifting book or commentary, or recite a holy mantra. It is
extremely important that you learn to like yourself and are happy to
be alone. Keeping aside some quiet time, preferably in the morning
before the activities of the day start, is necessary, especially in
modern societies where people are so busy. You always have time to
nourish your body; you don’t skip meals because you see them as
important. Likewise, you should reserve time to nourish your mind
and inner being.

© Christine Convery
Ph: +61 2 6343 2424
Web: http://www.healthnharmonygrenfell.com
Email: chrisconvery@healthnharmonygrenfell.com
March 2011