At times when we sit to work on an important piece of our assignment, we realize that just when we are trying to focus our mind on a particular subject; it throws up all kinds of thoughts. Retaining our focus on an important subject turns into a battle with the mind. The untamed mind can cost us dearly in terms of lack of creativity, increased stress, loss of memory and a feeling of discontentment.
To win our battle against the restless mind requires us to firstly understand our mind. The mind is a subtle machine that constantly generates thoughts. These thoughts shape our personality and our physical appearance. We look at someone and say, "He seems to be very aggressive", or "She appears to be tensed" etc. The nature of thoughts in a person's mind reflects in the personality and physical appearance. No wonder, when we look at a Saint, we see a very calm and composed personality. At present, our mind is scattered. Just as, if the channel button of television set is spoilt, the channels keep changing sporadically. Similarly, our mind keeps flipping from topic to topic and hence we are unable to derive the maximum benefit out of its potential. If only we could channelize the thoughts in our mind and learn to concentrate it, we could increase the extent to which we are able to utilize its potential. This is where meditation has given us the power to harness the latent potential of our mind.
Meditation techniques have been described in the ancient scriptures and passed down numerous generations. Simply put, "Meditation is the practice to persistently direct our thoughts to one focal point". Some practitioners focus on the breath, others on the eyebrow center, others on the psychic centers in the spinal cord, etc.
In order to tame the mind through meditation, it requires repeated practice, akin to physical practice. Initially, a person may find it difficult to focus the mind for even two minutes, but with repeated practice, a person can go on to practice meditation for hours at a stretch. All that one needs to do is make a firm resolve to discipline the mind. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says,
"मन को मानो शत्रु उसकी सुनहु जनि कछु प्यारे। "
"Declare war on your mind. Do the opposite of what it says, and soon it will stop bothering you."
Instructions of doing Meditation:-
- Select a quiet and clean place to meditate, which is free from distractions.
- Sit in a comfortable meditative posture. Ensure that your back is upright.
- Close your eyes and relax your body. Have a slight smile on your face.
- Keep your eyes closed till the end of this meditation exercise.
- As you listen to the meditation, create the same type of feeling in your mind.
- Slowly and steadily breathe in and breathe out. Concentrate on your breathing rhythm.
