There are a lot of spiritual leaders talking about how important it is to meditate and many books and CD’s available on meditation. But how do you really get good at it and make it a part of your life? Can you master the art of meditation? Yes you can!
Meditation is something I have fallen in love with, it is a source of relaxation, a source of edification for my spirit and my mind. In comparison, if we think of prayer as us talking to our higher power then meditation would be us stopping long enough to listen. I did not coin this comparison; I had first heard it in a meditation class I took.
The first time I meditated was profound to say the least and I couldn’t get enough. In my education a great deal of my courses had meditations to go along with the text knowledge I completed. Some of the requirements I realized that helped me master the art of meditation I will share with you below so that you too can share in this important skill of relaxation, self discovery and quiet listening.
The first requirement is passion. If you are not passionate about receiving the peace and guidance of your higher power or higher self there is really not going to be much mastering. You may get to a level where you can meditate for relaxation, which is great too; however, you will not likely reach a place of deep meditation needed for spiritual edification. Passion does not mean that you discipline yourself or have a lot of willpower in sitting still for meditation; passion will be what drives you to master this skill.
The second requirement is time.In order to put to use the self knowledge that leads to self realization you need time to explore all the parts of your mind. Often, this is the biggest obstacle to real spiritual growth in this country. We make ourselves so busy with work and the home and family and social gatherings and even charitable acts not to mention all the places we need to take the children for their busy lives that we simply have no extra time. All of these can be very important to feel you are living a free and full life; however, when we prioritize and make our spiritual walk a part of our schedule we will often find that we need less distractions to feel fulfilled.
The third requirement is quiet.It is important to have a time and place set apart from any distractions. Go to a quiet and undisturbed room and disconnect any phones that may be in there. If quiet is not something your home ever is, you may want to purchase a set of noise reducing earphones like what is used in loud factories to protect the ear drum. This can muffle excess home noises that the closed door does not.
The fourth requirement is sacrifice.This one kind of ties in to the second requirement; giving up a group or a hobby can often create the time we need. The sacrifices we make to provide time for meditation will not be a sacrifice that is not rewarded. The spiritual gifts that are offered when we master the skill of meditation are not only worth while but important too. Your hobbies will be there for you to pick up again if you wish, when you reorganize your schedule. The gifts you receive in meditation will be with you forever.
In addition to the sacrifice of a hobby or group or even TV time, you may find that you are led to work less or do without some of the material luxuries you have become accustomed to. Perhaps a friendship that is not compatible with your new found spirituality will have to be sacrificed, eating habits or excessive drinking that can pollute your body may need to be sacrificed as well. The sacrifices made will often be unique to the individual but will also be well worth it in return.
The fifth requirement is objectivity.With mastered meditation skills a person may find a shift of priorities in material gain and the things they thought they couldn’t live without. Spiritual evolvement is different for every person and you may find you live better without the things you once couldn’t live without.
Additionally, be patient with yourself and do not expect perfection right away. To master meditation skills you must practice and be persistent in your efforts. If you are feeling led to go further in your spiritual walk and you feel that meditation is the pathway in which to get there you are correct. Your heart as well as your higher self and higher power is guiding you. Follow fearlessly into your mind and into your heart, the rewards are many to gain.
