Benefits of Meditation

Why should I meditate? What are the benefits of meditation? Is meditation helpful? These are the common questions that we face while seeking for the solution to the stress and tensions of our day to day life. 

In spite of having great success and achievements in life, we all feel an acute need for inner peace, silence and a moment of inner reflection. Meditation is the missing key to unlock the treasure of happiness and bliss that we are carrying within us.

The benefits of Meditation are numerous. A few moments of deep meditation have the potential of fulfilling all desires and longings. It gives us the ability of deep introspection.

Meditation has many far-reaching and profound benefits. While some changes are seen immediately, others take a little time to be visible.

Meditation improves our physiological and psychological well-being. It has a healing effect and raises our level of consciousness.  

Although there are numerous benefits of meditation, we can divide them into 3 categories :

1. Physiological Benefits of Meditation
2. Psychological Benefits of Meditation
3. Spiritual Benefits of Meditation 

Meditation is free of any kinds of side effects. There is nothing to lose by practicing meditation, but there is a lot to gain. It is very easy to learn and can be practiced at any time of the day.

Meditation gives such a joy and bliss, that one easily transcends all desires very naturally. Given the long list of benefits of meditation, you might be wondering -- "why haven't I started meditating yet?"

How to meditate?

If you are one who wants to learn mediation then, you are at place.I know that what is meditation and now question arises how to meditate. So following are the step by step directions on how to do it. 

1. Prepare for Meditation

 

There is no right or wrong way to prepare for Meditation, but there are many things we can do that will make our journey easier.

• Doing some form of Exercise for 5 minutes before Meditation.
• Splash water on face or to take a shower.
• To prepare for Morning Meditation, we can start the night before by having a light dinner and by going to bed early.

2. Time

Any time is a good time to start our meditation. If we wait for conditions to be ideal, we might never sit for meditation.

• The best time to meditate is the time we find best.

3. Place

• We may sit on a floor or on a chair where we feel comfortable. Any Place will do.
• It will be helpful to sit in the same place, because our mind concentrates easier when an association is made.
• It is desirable that the place is quiet and that we practice alone. 

4. Posture

• When sitting for meditation, it is important to sit in a relaxed position with the spine and neck straight.
• The head should not be tilted backwards or forward. Both positions induce us to fall asleep.
• The eyes should be closed.
• The attention held in the middle of the elbows at the spiritual eye centre.
• The hands can face upwards or downwards and can rest naturally on the knees or thighs. 

Our whole body should be at ease. The mind cannot become calm and still if the body is consistently moving, just as water cannot be still in a glass that is moved.

5. Concentration

Concentration means trying to hold our attention at the eye centre and not let it come down to senses. Concentration is similar to setting alight a piece of paper with a magnifying glass. To enhance your concentration and power of focus use the following technique that is so simple yet so effective.

• count your steps when you walk. 

6. Process

• Sit in the right posture.
• Close your eyes.
• Take a long breath, deep inhale. Just hold there for a moment and then let it go.
• Allow breath to settle into natural flow, don’t force.
• Concentrate on your eye centre.
• Just sit for 5-10 minutes at the beginning and later on you can go on to do this for longer periods.