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Meditation and you
By Adam Tatelman, Arts Editor
Bearing in mind the rules of self-motivation, it is time to add meditation into the Monk Mode mix.
There are many traditions of meditation—Buddhism, Yoga, and even Christian prayer could all be considered meditative forms, although one need not necessarily adopt the religious traditions behind these practices to employ them. What is most important is that you pick one and stick with it. Personally, I prefer the Japanese Kuji-Kiri, partly based on Yogic tradition, since Karate training has familiarized me with it.
The biggest barrier to regular meditation is lack of experience. Luckily, you do not need a teacher to learn from. Meditation is about self-reflection, so all you need to do is practice earnestly and consistently.
For those unsure of where to begin, meditation is best done in a dark, quiet environment with no distractions. A common beginner’s technique is to light a candle and stare into the flame, breathing into the diaphragm and blinking as little as possible. It is in this way that you can visualize any errant thoughts floating into the fire.
If that sounds a little too “new age” for you, you can also forgo the candle and instead simply focus on your breathing. Eliminating the distraction of certain senses can prove useful to people who are just getting into meditation. Closing your eyes, wearing earplugs, or even putting on some white noise like TV static or a wave machine can all help your brain get into the proper mindset.
This practice is like garbage disposal for your brain; getting rid of random mental distractions is an excellent way to become more focused on the things in your life that are truly important.
While I do not purport to know if meditation has any true physical health benefits, regular sessions of five or so minutes per day can be sufficient to help achieve a more relaxed mental state, and a more critical mind.
Good meditation, and tashi deley.
