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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Q. What will
meditation do for me?
A. The benefits of
meditation are many, and include benefits for mind, body and spirit. They may include: peace and calmness, a renewed sense of
joy, relaxation and stress relief, an increased ability to focus and
concentrate, an improved sense of humor, enhanced creativity and memory,
lower blood pressure, more harmonious relationships, enhanced spiritual
development, and more.
Q. How long should I
meditate?
A. Do not set
unrealistic goals for yourself. It
is better to meditate 5-15 minutes a day, and be consistent about it, than
to be inconsistent. You can increase
your time as you can/wish. One
longer meditation each week is very helpful. Most meditators
have a goal of 20 to 30 minutes once or twice a day. Your personal goal may be 15 minutes once
a day. It depends on you. Remember, “Even a little practice of
meditation will free you from dire fears and colossal sufferings.” – Bhagavad Gita.
Q. What is meditation?
A. Meditation is…
…when the mind and body are still and the heart is open.
…not a passive state; it means changing your level of
consciousness and energy to a higher state of energy (Superconsciousness).
…memory; remembering who and what you really are: a divine
spirit, ever perfect, ever free!
…listening; prayer is talking with God or with your own
higher self. Meditation is listening
for the answers, developing intuition, tuning into intuitive guidance.
…stillness of body and mind.
The mind has no chance to be peaceful and still if the body is
restless and uncomfortable.
…a discipline. It
takes practice and forming new habits, attitudes and thought patterns. A habit is not always easily won, but
certainly worth the energy!
…concentration; taking the mind off many things and placing
it on one thing at a time.
…concentration on God or an attribute or aspect of the Divine
such as: love, light, peace, joy, wisdom, calmness, sound (vibrations), or
power. It is concentrating so deeply
that you become that which you concentrate on.
…in two stages: the “getting there” and the “being there”.
…meant to change every aspect of your life. The test of your success in meditation is
not in visions or what you see, hear, or feel in meditation, but rather how
you are changing as a person in everyday life. The goal is to have you whole life become
meditation.
Q. What is meditation
NOT?
A. Meditation is not…
…sleeping or dreaming
…a passive state
…hypnosis
…blanking the mind out (calming the mind is a better term)
…an escape from the troubles of life or sadness
…a cure-all for lifes problems
…channeling, a trance, becoming a medium or psychic
…prayer
…deep relaxation
…walking, swimming, running, gardening, tennis, golf, or any
sport or exercise, though some of these activities can be “spiritualized”
or used as a way to change one’s mood into amore meditative one.
…weird, strange, far out, “woo-woo”
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