Mindful Monday - Looking at Mindfulness as Meditation...

Mindfulness as Meditation

I do a Vipassana meditation , gathering insights by watching the ever changing sensations in the body, the changes in your being (for we are in a constant flux of change, everything is impermanent.) In my meditation practice I become an observer of my inner self, closing of the sense doors that pulls me into the outer world.

It’s focused on staying in the moment without judgement, treating all things equanimously with neither aversion or liking, but just seeing it as it is and reaching for a heightened levels of awareness. Seeing things as they truly are really matters and also giving yourself space to quiet your mind.

All this doesn't just come naturally and that is why I call it my meditation practice!

Meditation can bring many benefits but like all practices, you get out of what you’re willing to put into it.

Some things that cause struggles when meditating - and these may apply to you - are:

Struggle #1: Expecting to Feel Good or Different
You may have tried many forms of meditation. But you’ve got an expectation to feel good or different and as of yet that hasn't happened. That is a big lesson to learn - to not come into a meditation session with expectations or if you have had a great session, not to expect all your sessions to be like that. The truth is most sessions will be challenging. The key is to remind yourself that even though it’s hard, meditation is important for your well-being and for me it is important to keep me on the path that will lead to that ultimate goal of Nibbanic peace.

Struggle #2: Getting Restless During Sessions
Isn't it funny how you can sit comfortably watching a movie or be at your computer for hours on end and never budge. But the moment you get quiet and settle down for meditation, all of a sudden it becomes very difficult and it is hard to sit still.
If this happens to you just realize that your body is just struggling with the transition from movement to stillness. If you were driving your car at 65 miles per hour and you suddenly turned onto a road where the speed limit was only 15 miles per hour, you’d feel tense at first, almost like you were driving in slow motion.
It’s a similar feeling when you meditate. You’ve been stuck in fast forward since you woke up and slowing down doesn’t feel natural. So, be patient with yourself if you get restless during meditation. Your body is simply adjusting to a different speed.
Don’t look at meditation as something to be achieved, see it as a journey you’re taking. You are on a path and it is a process, learn from your practice.

Struggle #3: Adjusting to the Sound of Silence
This is not a common struggle for me for I really enjoy peace and quiet, being I live in a peaceful forest setting and I often prefer the silence to having background sound of music or a TV (in fact we took the TV out of our house). But this is not the way for some folks and the silence is more foreign to them. You can feel awkward and uncomfortable. Slide into it slowly, perhaps starting with a little meditation music to help you get into that meditational space.

Make Meditation Work for You

Some tips to make meditation work for you and not against you -

Experiment with Different Times of Day
I prefer to get my morning started with meditation. That's what works for me.
Find what works for you. Perhaps you prefer to meditate in the early afternoon when you can enjoy the sunshine that comes through your window or you can be out in nature. Or maybe you find meditating before bed very relaxing and great way to end your day.
It doesn’t matter what time of day that you meditate. There is no right or wrong time. There’s only the present and whether you choose to spend that time in meditation or not.

Give Yourself Something Visual
We actually have a meditation studio which has pictures of Sayagyi U Ba Khin in robes meditating, pictures of Webu Sayadaw and this picture below of Sayagyi U Ba Khin paying respects to Webu Sayadaw plus others of Sayagyi U Ba Khin tradition in meditation.

These kind of images (plus knowing the story behind them) are inspiring and help set the purpose for what is going on in this place and being the studio is only used for meditation, my mind naturally turns to meditation upon entering that place.

Some people complain that when they try to meditate, they can’t concentrate. There are many methods of meditation and perhaps you may need to have something visual to look at during your meditation sessions. One thing you can try is focusing your attention on a flickering candle or something similar.

Pick a Safe Space
When it comes to meditating, it’s important to choose to do so in a spot where you feel safe and will be undisturbed for a period of time. For me we have our meditation studio which is separate from the house and all the distractions that comes with it. See if you can designate a spot for meditating and let it be known you do not want to be disturbed.

I have made meditation a regular practice in my life and I find it hard to imagine life with out it ! I hope that you too can come to benefit from some sort of meditation or if you already have a practice I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Proud member of @naturalmedicine, @homesteaderscoop, @tribesteemup, @ecotrain, @freedomtribe, @earthtribe & @steemitbloggers

Discover previous ecoTrain magazines at @ecoTrain

Visit my store - Porters Place at https://homesteaderscoop.com/store/porters-place/

Grateful for the curation and support of @tribesteemup