What is Meditation?

What is Meditation?

Meditation is a state of awake, alert awareness.  It is a way of being, rather than an act of doing.

There are many approaches to meditation, including concentrating on a particular object or word, bringing to mind a place or situation that gives ease or peace ( also called visualization), or noticing what is actually happening from moment to moment in the body, mind and senses.

Meditation of all kinds can support us in slowing down, noticing the busy-ness of the mind, and stilling the body.  While people may think that meditating properly means stopping all thought, this is a myth.  Its just not possible to stop the mind from producing thoughts.  So meditation helps us become more aware of the thoughts and see how they come and go, and also how we get involved and interested in some thoughts.  Meditation practices encourage us in training the attention back to the present moment when we realize that the attention has been pulled into the past or the future.  We can come to see that the present moment is the least stressful moment.

Why Meditate?

Meditation reduces stress and burnout

Meditation enhances concentration, memory and ability to learn

Meditation supports the creation of harmonious, loving relationships with ourselves and others

Meditation improves creativity and problem-solving skills

Meditation decreases depression, anxiety, insomnia and loneliness              (www. meditate.org)

Meditation is not:

Exercises

Loss of mental or physical control

Trying harder

Tricks and techniques

Guidelines to meditation

1.     begin by committing to 2 minutes a day

2.     choosing a time and  quiet place where you won’t be interrupted

3.     choosing a focus for your attention - it could be the breath, sensations in the body, a word, or sounds

4.     sitting in a way that is comfortable, stable and alert

5.     setting a timer

6.     for two minutes ( eventually longer!) notice the sensations of breath ( or your focal object)

7.     when the mind wanders (and it will!) gently, kindly return attention to feeling the breath coming and going

Some campus resources on the Longmeadow campus

Spiritual Reflection Room located in the library, open the same hours as Hatch Library.  This space is to be used for meditation, prayer, or other quiet reflection.

Click here for information about Guided Mindfulness and Meditation on our Longmeadow campus

Click here for onlineresources and guided meditations