Achieve Inner Peace with Meditation: Techniques, Benefits and Inspirational Teachers - ebook

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I wish to thank Eugene. Although he did not participate in the writing of this book, I am forever indebted to him for his encouragement to write this book. His perseverance in encouraging me to write a book was very impressive.

I would like also to thank my publisher for working on the book.

I owe special debts of gratitude as well to the greatest masters of meditation: Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle, OSHO, Ram Dass, Mooji, and Adyashanti, His Holiness the FourteenthDali Lama, Maharashi, Papaji, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and Thich Nhat Hanh. Their live sand legacies provided priceless information on the topic of meditation. Their courage and dedication provided an invaluable source of information and inspiration to write this book.

Introduction

Throughout the ages, on every continent on Earth, there have been people who have sought the truth, devoting most of their lives to finding the meaning of life. Those seekers were aware of the truth – that there is something beyond what the naked eye can see. Their courage and dedication enabled them to awaken from the illusion of the world around them. This was achieved by using meditation as a technique of distinguishing the mind from the illusion from the outside world.

This book has been written to familiarize the reader with the positive aspects of meditation and the role it has in improving quality of life and mental health. The book shows what meditation really is, based on years of experience of people who have devoted their lives to the processof observingthe mind. Offering a brief overview of the techniques and various forms of meditation this book serves as a starting point and as a guide, as well as a source of inspiration, tothose interested in meditation in everyday life.

My interest in meditation first began when visiting Thailand. The beautiful country and its culture inspired me and I became interested in the various techniques of meditation. I found great inspiration from the work of great spiritual teachers. While studying for my undergraduate degree, daily meditation allowed me to achieve inner peace and enabled me to become more effective in my studies. There is such a wide variety of meditation types and techniques delivered by so many teachers; hence I decided to simplify it and to condense it all into one book for beginners looking to turn to meditation. Meditation has become such an important aspect of my daily life and has enabled me to maintain a state of balance and well-being. Therefore, I have created this book to give to you a very useful tool which will enable you to achieve a state of inner peace and harmony. Enjoy reader!

1.What Is Meditation?

Meditation is simply a way to spend ten to fifteen minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. It is the ability to remain present, in relation to the present moment, without thinking about anything, without thinking about the past or the future. It is a state of maintaining self-awareness in the present moment; it is being in the here and now, experiencing exactly what the present moment has to offer, without being overwhelmed by the content of the mind. Focusing on the present moment and being fully aware of one’s breathing, a person is able to experience the ex-presence and connection with reality without thought. By focusing the mind on the present moment instead of thinking about the past or the future, a person is able to connect to the real essence of what is in front of that person. Focusing on the process of meditation and on breathing, enables us to participate in the process of consolidation, in which a person fully experiences the present moment.

Being fully in the present moment, outside the incessant stream of our thoughts, allows us to reconnect with our inner self, and thus the true essence of life. Getting caught up in a constant stream of thoughts disconnects us from reality. Only by fully participating in the present moment, not to some point in the future or the past, can the mind, and therefore a person, remain with what is, creating reality in an authentic and rational way. Otherwise the mind remains in the past, which is no longer real in any way. Instead of creating our current experience of the future, which has not yet occurred, meditation helps us to focus on creating the experience of the present moment fully and authentically. By participating fully in the process of creating our own life experience, meditating can train the concentration skills necessary to participate fully in this process of experiencing the present moment.

The purpose of meditation is to train the mind in order to be “here and now”, fully participating in the creation of the experience rather than dwelling on an illusion created by the mind. Staying fully present in the moment, a person meditating can observe arising thoughts without analyzing, evaluating, or producing resistance. Remaining present in the moment and merely observing emerging ideas allows us to shift the whole spectrum of our experience and enables the creation of a completely new way of being in relation to ourselves and the content arising in the mind.

Being in a meditative state for no more than twenty minutes a day allows re connection with the essence of one’s inner self and a return to the true source of our own nature. Regular daily meditation lets connecting with our interior, the source in relation to oneself from which everything new arises. Contact with the source allows better contact with the essence of our being and enables the creation of authentic and reasonable experience in the present moment, as well as the creation of an authentic experience in each of the future present moments. Accepting the ideas that emergeat each moment and resisting the need to analyze and evaluate, allows us to maintain a positive state of mental health.

The ability to be fully present in relation with ourselves and the thoughts that the mind constantly produces allows for caring responsibly for our own mental hygiene. Daily meditation permit straining and empowers the mind for better performance. Thus, meditation skills enable us to be true and authentic without having to identify ourselves with the mind. Furthermore, it provides a whole new conscious way of being in a relationship with ourselves and with the environment. Meditation also allows us to remain present in a dynamic environment and enables us to‘dis identify’ with irrational unconscious processes that occur in everyday situations.

The ability to remain free from thoughts, with what is, instead of dwelling on illusion, allows us to perceive the world and the sense of oneself and one’s own experiences in a different light. Daily use of meditation can improve our relationships with ourselves as well as with the people around us; thus daily meditation lets us to build new relationships with ourselves, with the environment, and with others. It allows us to remain free from the factors emerging from the outside, as well as teaching us the ability to handle and resolve concerns, fears, and unconscious thoughts emerging from daily events. Remaining in a zone free from thought strengthens us internally, protecting us from identifying with delusions that the mind produces, which are not in any way beneficial. The ability to train the mind and be free from the restrictions that arise from the mind when full of thoughts allows us to achieve our full potential, a fully authentic existence free from external factors.

Full or conscious participation in the process of creating our own experience allows a person to create completely new relationships with people and allows for an authentic and full awareness of life’s experiences. Through the ability to recognise our own actions and unconscious thoughts, a person using daily meditation can develop completely new skills necessary to cope with everyday tasks. The skillsthat meditation offers allows us to recognise what actually takes place, instead of guessing, based on one’s own thoughts, feelings, sensations, or emotions. Being able to communicate with the present moment, with what is authentic, allows a person to fully experience life. Remaining in the space without identifying our thoughts, without interpreting the moment, allows for real participation in situations, instead of trying to understand and experience on the basis of false thoughts, which limits participation in the creation of our own life and our own experience. Thus, this capability allows for more effective participation in the process of creating life experiences as it allows us to remain fully in communication with ourselves and what is real and natural.

Meditation provides better access to our own experiences. Instead of running the same old patterns of the unconscious mind, meditation enables a person to take responsibility for one’s own life. The ability to remain independent and free of the continual process of thinking allows us to create experience without the internal constraints the mind has created. Continual flow over life, as a constant circle of energy that attachesno content of the unconscious mind, allows for conscious way of experiencing true and authentic living. Meditation empowers a person, as it allows us to observe and recognise the same processes taking place in the mind, creating an inner space free from identification from the content created by the mind and enabling the person to function more properly.

The ability to exercise the mind to release the continual process of thinking allows us to remain fully conscious of the present moment while creating our own life experiences. In contrast, while living under the illusion of the unconscious state, a person unconsciously and constantly lives under the influence of a delusion of mind. Meditation lets us to create fully conscious experiences from within, rather than be guided by the illusion that the mind unconsciously produces. Staying aware and focusing our attention on the true part of our interior frees the mind from creating confusion.

By operating our lives in a conscious and relaxed way, we canbuild better relationships with others and with the public. Meditation consent for the release of non-valuable energy and provides a positive flow of energy. In contrast to those who operate in life on the basis of continual stress and anxiety, a person who practises meditation daily regenerates the internal state of well-being and freedom. Through the process of meditation, a person produces an inner positive energy instead of drawing power from the meaning of thought. Meditation enables us to derive energy from within our own personalities while remaining independent from external factors, such as one's opinions or requirements.

Unlike drugs or other habits of mind, such as television, the Internet, or the opinions of others (related to the need for acceptance), meditation empowers a person to remain fully aware of their true self and gives them the energy to live from inside of their own existence, instead of seeking fulfilment in external sources or means of abuse. Meditation supports us to stop tapping the unconscious processes in the mind. Further, it allows for informed decisions made in relation to ourselves and our own lives. In addition, daily meditation practice empowers the inner state of being, strengthening and creating a fully functioning person who is responsible for his own actions. Restoring the mind to a state of full awareness and presence can stop the incessant race to satisfy biological impulses and external influences dictated by the environment. Working on forming our own state of mind enables us to develop inner strength. Thus obtained strength allows the person to make a fully informed decision instead of living life under the influence of unconscious factors and external stimuli. Moreover, when setting one’s goals and passions, a person filled with energy and acceptance does not need to look outside what they already have inside, a sense of being and self-acceptance.

Meditation lets us to restore the original state of inner emptiness and nothingness. It offers access to the source of oneself. Just as, while listening to music, we are fully absorbed and present in the process, when we meditate we fully participate in the experience of a natural state of mind. Meditation enables us to disconnect from the content of the mind and experience what the moment offers without the need to analyze or interpret the present moment, or respond to the content that the subconscious mind insinuates. Therefore, daily meditation improves the functioning of the mind, by reducing or completely emptying the mind from unconscious processes. Meditation accommodates authentic participation in the process and eliminates the experience of being vulnerable because of thoughts that constantly affect consciousness. Staying in the zone free of enforced thinking and behaviour allows the mind to free itself and enables participation in the process of creating an experience instead of acting out the content of the mind. The process of training the mind to remain in the free zone can provide better access to life. Meditation grants us to connect the surrounding energy back to the source and back into unity with ourtrue self.

In opposition to being susceptible to problematic thinking, meditation gives us strength to be free from ourrelentless and often irrational way of thinking. The more a person is able to remain in contact with their own interior and its own source, the less vulnerable the person becomes to external factors, as well as the thoughts that the mind constantly creates. Meditation offers freedom, power, and light to life, freedom from continual thinking, internal concerns, or the need for approval. Life free from thought gives energy to life and the state of being alive. However, living in the shadow of relentless thoughts drains energy and results in our potential being suppressed. Therefore, meditation improves the quality of our performance and well-being.

The presence that can be obtained through daily meditation supports for a connection with the energy of life and frees the person from disorder and the trap of constant suffering.

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