Meditation. Once an afterthought or foreign ritual reserved for other people/countries, it’s a concept that has become the new “trend” of the western world as consciousness grows and awareness in self becomes more important to the masses. That’s why you’ve seen things like Deepak Chopra leading Jimmy Fallon and his Tonight Show audience through an on-air, two-minute meditation. Didn’t get a chance to see that? You can read all about it and check out a video of it here. It’s also why national publications are dedicating articles and special issues to meditation and the impact it can have on people’s lives and the whole world.
So, what is meditation?
When some people hear the word meditation, they might think of gurus in flowing robes sitting in uncomfortable positions for hours on end until they reach enlightenment and nirvana. While all that sounds nice, that’s not what meditation is all about.
Meditation is a time that allows people to put the “real world” on pause and get to know their own mind. Meditation comes from the Sanskrit word Dhyana, which means contemplation and reflection. At Agape, meditation is one of the foundational spiritual practices we use to connect with our own minds, acknowledging and learning to control the unconscious level that controls most of what we do on a daily basis.
When we meditate, we focus on the mind for a period of time, either in silence or accompanied by words, music, or hand gestures that are non-distracting because of their repetitive nature. This time and space allow us to relax and let go while also improving our ability to focus allow information to easily flow through our minds.
Releasing our attachments
When we embrace this flow, we connect with a higher state of consciousness, where there are no wants or needs. The more we maintain this connection the more we are able to step into a world of infinite possibilities, where out true nature resides. It’s here that we can find a balance between the physical realm and our unlimited spiritual self.
When we quiet our mind through meditation, we can let thoughts and emotions come and go without attachment and just be without any judgement. This brings us more mindfulness, which is the capacity to pay attention, nonjudgmentally, to the present moment.
Now that I’ve covered what meditation is, make sure you check out part two of our three-part blog series on meditation, where I’ll talk about reasons why you should meditate and what it can do to enhance your mind, body, and spirit.
