We’ve all heard about the benefits of Meditation; they’re all true.
5 minutes a day is all it takes to begin to radically transform your life.
My first experience meditating came after my Dad recommended a small blue book called “Deep Meditation” which explains the simple yet profound technique of Transcendental Meditation.
Ten minutes after the practice of sitting comfortably with my eyes closed, silently repeating the Mantra “I Am”, I emerged with a totally refreshed perspective.
Everything around me was crisp, clear and vibrant and my mind was calm and peaceful. It felt exactly as though I had eaten a micro-dose of a powerful psychedelic compound. This proved to me that everything I need is within me.
Indeed, every Human Being produces “DMT – The Spirit Molecule” (link) and through Yogic practices like Pranayama, Asana, and Meditation we can access these powerful gateway molecules to function at our highest and clearest and enjoy epiphenous insights.
If you’re new to meditation I recommend starting simply and slowly.
There are great meditation apps like ‘Insight’ offering guided meditations with timers which I’ve heard people rave about.
https://insighttimer.com/
As with any intense practice it’s possible to meditate too much and become irritable or depressed as the visionary artist Jurgen Ziewe once experienced in his early days.
http://www.multidimensionalman.com/Multidimensional-Man/Interview_with_Jurgen_Ziewe.html
Zurgen is a wonderful example of someone who has accessed other worlds and dimensions through practices that are simple and learnable.
Here’s another cautionary tale for those engaging in powerful healing modalities and practices:
“How I Became Too Enlightened and Lost Myself”
Personally I’ve found that I’m becoming more and more sensitive to sensory stimuli so I have less tolerance for discordant sounds like noise from engines and at the same time have a richer experience listening to birdsong and the great insect orchestra: it’s a double-edged sword.
How often to meditate is really an individual lifestyle choice.
I find that the more time I spend in nature the less I feel the need or desire to meditate, and the more I naturally find myself in a meditative state.
Vipassina:
The meditation technique taught by Gautama the Buddha is now yours free! Well, you do have to work pretty diligently if you choose to brave a 10 day Vipassina retreat. Your day begins at 4:30am and stretches til 9pm and you’re expected to practice the meditation techniques they’re slowly teaching you for much of that time. You’ll enjoy two or three delicious meals each day and have plenty of rest breaks. For me, the course was one of the most challenging experiences of my life and it dramatically altered me for the better ever since.
Vipassina strengthens our awareness through a systemized process of focusing on the present moment sensations in our bodies; this process facilitates deep healing on every level.
Visit Dhamma.org to register at a Vipassina Center near you. There’s often a waitlist so plan in advance (though twice I was accepted within a few days notice.)
You can choose whether you wish to donate to the center at the end of the course (otherwise, it’s free!). If you found your experience to be valuable, please give what you can.
Many wealthy people attend and donate so it balances out for the people who simply do not have the funds to donate even if they wanted to.
In 2018, I attempted my second Vipassina course and left around noon on day two. I could have stayed and tolerated the constant humming sounds and high-pitched tones I could hear emanating from the buildings, but I thought why punish myself when I can go stay somewhere peaceful. It’s a shame that this oasis of a meditation center was so plagued by dirty electricity and agitating sounds. I think I was the only one who felt this way though as I’m very sensitive and most people seemed okay or were in helpless acceptance.
The following day I was blissing out in ecstasy at the Hare Krishna temple surrounded by beautiful dancers, singers and musicians and thought, ah, now I’m home; this is the flavor of meditation my spirit was really craving.
Yoga Nidra:
Yoga Nidra is yet another powerful meditative technique; nidra means sleep. This scientific process of progressive muscle relaxation yields the benefits of 8 hours of mental rest after just one hour of practice. I can not speak highly enough about this practice. If you’re an achiever, this is a powerful method for increasing your productivity, effectiveness, clarity, and well-being.
I believe this is the original manual for the more scientifically minded:
Find a book that resonates with you!
YouTube has some great guided Yoga Nidra Meditations to introduce you to this practice. However, I think it’s most powerful when we can remember a routine on our own and focus completely on it without listening to an external voice; Yogi’s choice! 🙂
Float Tanks aka Isolation or Sensory Deprivation Tanks:
If you are someone with a very active mind or with chronic physical pain which makes it difficult for you to still your mind then booking a session in a Float Lab might be the move for you.
Check out https://zenfloatco.com/ for the most affordable ‘Float Tents’ on the market.
And of course: Kirtan, Mantras, and Chanting are all powerful meditation techniques (especially Maha Mantra). There is a plethora of choices for achieving the mental balance that is your natural state, so have at it! 🙂