Meditation can mean many different things.
The common meaning of the word refers to sitting still for a period of time every day and becoming relaxed yet aware, usually by focusing the attention on sometimes such as the breath or the sound of a mantra (repeated word).
However, the fundamental power of meditation can go far beyond that, and can be something you can have access to at any moment in your day, in any place or situation.
I am talking here about present moment awareness.
This means becoming as aware as possible of what exists right now, so that you don't get so caught up in your thoughts, which are usually to do with the past and the future.
The present moment is all that actually exists.
Past and future are merely concepts in the mind.
It is this basic yet profound truth that many people seem to live their lives unaware of.
We are conditioned from a young age to always look to the future for our answers, for our happiness.
And we also get into the habit of going over memories of past experiences.
The truth is, every time we are either remembering a past event or thinking about what may happen in the future, we are actually absent from life itself: the present moment.
So how can we become more aware of the present moment? Well, one easy way is actually through breath awareness.
But this does not mean that you have to sit in a traditional meditation posture and close your eyes every time you want to do this.
No, you can become aware of your breathing at any time you want, no matter where you are.
Since the breath happens in the present moment, by being aware of it we naturally become aware of the present moment.
The noise of the mind fades away, and everything comes clearly into focus.
Try it now.
Just sit there with your eyes open and become aware of your breathing; just one breath at a time.
No judgment, and there's nothing that you need to actually do.
Just be aware of it.
Notice how this brings you out of your thoughts and into the present moment, and everything seems clear.
The common meaning of the word refers to sitting still for a period of time every day and becoming relaxed yet aware, usually by focusing the attention on sometimes such as the breath or the sound of a mantra (repeated word).
However, the fundamental power of meditation can go far beyond that, and can be something you can have access to at any moment in your day, in any place or situation.
I am talking here about present moment awareness.
This means becoming as aware as possible of what exists right now, so that you don't get so caught up in your thoughts, which are usually to do with the past and the future.
The present moment is all that actually exists.
Past and future are merely concepts in the mind.
It is this basic yet profound truth that many people seem to live their lives unaware of.
We are conditioned from a young age to always look to the future for our answers, for our happiness.
And we also get into the habit of going over memories of past experiences.
The truth is, every time we are either remembering a past event or thinking about what may happen in the future, we are actually absent from life itself: the present moment.
So how can we become more aware of the present moment? Well, one easy way is actually through breath awareness.
But this does not mean that you have to sit in a traditional meditation posture and close your eyes every time you want to do this.
No, you can become aware of your breathing at any time you want, no matter where you are.
Since the breath happens in the present moment, by being aware of it we naturally become aware of the present moment.
The noise of the mind fades away, and everything comes clearly into focus.
Try it now.
Just sit there with your eyes open and become aware of your breathing; just one breath at a time.
No judgment, and there's nothing that you need to actually do.
Just be aware of it.
Notice how this brings you out of your thoughts and into the present moment, and everything seems clear.