Throughout a long line of cultures meditation has been a cornerstone of spiritual life, for millennia mantras and breathing techniques have invoked altered states of consciousness. These two elements work as anchors to maintain the attention and intention of the practice; as air travels through cavities and into the body it temporarily scraps away thought, providing the mind space to open. Sitting crossed legged with eyes closed appears rather leisurely, however, upon trialling it becomes apparent how erratic the mind’s tangents are, particularly when trying to be quelled.
Meditation promotes an investigation into the selves through dialogue with the subconscious, but to do so one must temporarily drop their own thoughts and attempt to join the universal mind. The practice isn’t exclusive to those sitting in the lotus position, there are many avenues aligning mindfulness into perspective. Without regularly returning to a meditative state people will loose touch with their practice, and discovering a personal approach helps to maintain an integral component of spirituality.
Origins and Universal Order
The earliest written records of meditative techniques date of to over 1500 BCE, yet wall art throughout the Indian subcontinent are more than double this period. According to current evidence, ancient Hindu teachings engendered the original meditative practice, although by 600 BCE alternative forms of were surfacing in China and India with Buddhism and Taoism respectively. Within these Eastern philosophies meditation has remained prominent, observed as an indispensable element to individual and communal spirituality.
A central component of meditation is its illumination of interdependence, as one attunes themselves to the cosmos’ frequency the relationship between all that exists is increasingly apparent. As one begins to notice interdependence the concept of cause and effect becomes salient, these traditions having key concepts related to the idea such as karma, aligning individuals with a universal order.
Over the previous two centuries the West has become increasingly cognizant of the ancient exercises and more and more people are adopting a mindfulness practice. Although religion has been domineering factor in Western culture for eons, its level of spiritually has remained relatively low compared to the East. Potentially, due to the dogmatic doctrine presented by the Abrahamic religions, the mind isn’t free but shackled onto what to believe. In the Eastern customs people are encouraged to independently contemplate life, in the West we are told what to think and threatened with everlasting damnation for rejecting the premise.
Contemporarily it appears a mature rise in consciousness is developing which has subsequently learnt from the novel mistakes of the 60’s, the push for collective awakening enhanced by the internet’s information buffet.
Introspection To Understand
Consciousness is an enigmatic figure determining much of our lives; we are all allotted a voice inside our head, yet, not everyone has learnt the dialect. Without previous experience it can be hard to know where to begin trying to silence the mind. Many people are deterred from their first encounters because of the conceived notion of their inadequacy, unable to quell the mind of erratic thoughts. It may feel indomitable to overcome, however, it is a part of the mindfulness process.
In meditation the language of the soul is heard during the moments between breaths, the split second between inhale and exhale where the mind is adrift in emptiness. With the use of mantras and breathing techniques, when thoughts begin to override the mind people are able to anchor themselves back to their centre where the subtle transmission can be heard.
Like learning any skill there is a stage between incompetence and apt application, and the more repeatedly an individual returns to a meditative state the louder the teachings will echo. Although chants and breath work are central to meditation, some practices focus attention elsewhere; consideration can be fixed towards a particular part of the body including the Ajna (Third Eye) in hope to dilate its view, visualization transports people to a setting outside baseline reality, answers are often illuminated when questions are deeply ruminated on. In these exercises the differing factor is the angle of attention but the unifying aspect is intention, each procedure promoting energy to the focus in mind.
Meditation is one of the only methods enabling the subconscious to reveal truths to us. There are many techniques available for trial and individuals must find their personal avenue for internal dialogue; learning to notice and appreciate the moments of emptiness, one can improve their proficiency at understanding the soul’s language.
The internal and external world of experience is defined by consciousness, meditation improving its competency of floating between the two realms. The ancient practice has been refined into many forms, yet the key principle of intention remains paramount throughout; an ambition to draw a particular benefit from the experience whether it be to relax, fix a problem, or connect to the universal mind.
The language of the soul is heard in the moments of emptiness, and as one continues to practice their fluency enhances and additional teachings are revealed. In engendering a relationship with the conscious people grasp we are more than mere flesh and bone, a perennial essence lingers within all humans and meditation affords a glimpse into our eternal selves.
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