Back To Basics... And Meditation

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2004

I just got back onto a consistent regimen of meditation. As a habit, I never really stray far away from a stillness of mind and an overall feeling of peace, but I do, on occasion, get away from the discipline that is needed to go deep.

The system I follow is an ancient form of yoga called Raja Yoga. Raja Yoga is mainly concerned with the mind, its modifications and its control and not body-contorting positions or "asanas". In my particular discipline, there are a number of techniques that must be employed to energize the body, focus the concentration, meditate on the Word, and finally, quicken spiritual development. In following the teachings, the routine is performed twice a day.

When I am regular with daily practice, I can get to a place where my activities of daily life seem almost effortless and I no longer am bothered by the mundane things that would normally disturb or annoy me. The fact meditation can do just that, is reason enough for me to keep going. But as I mentioned above, I do have the tendency to let it drop off some. Why? Who knows. We as humans, always seem to avoid what is best for us and embrace that which hurts us.

Fortunately for me, the relationship with my higher self is such that I can't go too far. I can feel it calling me back in the form of increased levels of stress, anxiety, and uneasiness. When these demons begin to reveal themselves more and more in my life, I know it's time to get back to the silence. Sustained meditation allows me to bring the benefits of meditation: silence, peace, and calm back into my daily life.

I often observe friends and acquaintances mired in stress and anxiety arising mostly from work and/or home life, and from experience know that these types of afflictions can result in serious disease and illness if left unchecked. Yet, when I subtly weave the topic of meditation or other holistic healing methods into the conversation, many immediately reveal either, that "religion" (they lump spirituality and religion together), is just for people who can't handle life and need a group of like "complainers" to consort with, or they don't believe in it because it isn't covered under Medicaid or isn't proven by scientists.

When I hear this response, I kind of chuckle to myself while at the same time feeling sad for these people who are, in fact, the ones "who can't handle life" which is the root of the stress and anxiety. Meditation is a mechanism to destroy the seeds of fear that result in stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions.

I'm glad I've found my way back to regular meditation. It keeps me healthy, happy, and full of life. After all, it's much, much, better than the alternative.