Meditation                   
Meditation is a technique of mind exercise that leads to inner feelings of calm and peacefulness and may result in experiences of transcendental awareness and self-realization. 
        You’re probably a beginner if you’re looking here, but virtually everybody who begins meditating will at some point wonder, sooner or later, if they are doing it right. 
        The two main types of meditation are: (1) the focusing type, similar to self-hypnosis, in which the meditator focuses on a repetitive sound or chant, an image, or pattern of breathing; (2) the "opening-up" type which emphasizes the detached observation of mental events as they occur.

     Mantra Meditation: Simply repeating a special word or phrase over and over again can help you disconnect from any thoughts that arise  You can repeat "aum" as many times as you wish for your chanting. .It is often combined with the mantra “Shanti,” which means "peace" in Sanskrit.

     Mindful Breathing Meditation: Requires you to follow your breathing, which will slow down the mind

     Open Eye Object Meditation: Focusing on an object with your eyes open, which will calm the mind.

     Guided Meditation: It can be tough to meditate on your own. A teacher or guide can literally walk you through a series of vidualizations that help you find a calm and peaceful state—one step at a time..

 

                         The simple basic steps of meditation:
   

1. Posture 

       Choose a place where you can sit calmly without any disturbance. Choose any posture in which you can sit comfortably for a long period, with your hands resting on your knees. Sitting up and keeping a straight back is usually best so the flow of energy is not disrupted. At first it seems like a lot of effort when trying to relax, but keeping your back straight actually places less stress on your spine and allows all your internal organs to align in their correct positions, as opposed to sitting ‘hunched up'. This  will become more comfortable as you get into your meditation. It just takes a bit of getting used to.  But if you do find sitting up just too uncomfortable then you can try laying down flat. Just be aware that, in this position, you are very likely to fall asleep and fail in your meditation.

 

2. Eyes

      Your eyes may be open or closed – different disciplines of meditation (e.g. Raja Yoga meditation, Zen meditation, etc.) encourage one or the other but it is best if you try both and choose whichever you prefer. One of the most effective methods is to try to gaze at the middle of your eyebrows with your eyes closed.

 

3. Thoughts 

      When learning how to meditate properly many people have concerns about what they should be thinking during meditating. It can be very hard to stop ones thoughts racing, let alone to think “nothing”, so what to do?! This confusion is perhaps one of the most common reasons that people stop meditating, but don’t let it stop you, because essentially it does not matter what you think; just relax and allow your thoughts to happen.

       Do not try to stop the flow of thoughts but again try to concentrate and again the flow of thoughts will start and again try to concentrate at the middle of your eyebrows.

 

4. The Goal

       The purpose of meditation to to reach a state of "No Mind" - a condition in which there are no thoughts.  You have often heard the expression, "make your mind a blank'?  This is the goal, but it is easier said than done. 

       One means to acheive this is to think of only one simple thing, like a dot.  When you can do this for minutes on end,  then all you have to do is to erase the dot!  And, voila, a state of no mind. This may only last for a split second but, with practice, you can maintain this condition for longer periods.

 

       People have been meditating for thousands of years. Spiritual paths from around the world teach that meditation is essential in the attainment of enlightenment. When one meditates, one exposes the conscious mind to deeper realms of the subconscious, where vast powers of human potential are realized! You know when you watch a movie, and the character goes on a long journey, then afterwards they come out a different person? I want to invite yourself to go on the greatest journey you could ever imagine. The journey within the self; yourself! You are your greatest mystery, and every great journey must begin with the first-step. That first-step is meditation