How to Meditate

We should first explain the principles of meditation as a whole. Some will think of meditation as a miserable practice; as a kind of spiritual lesson, a religious act or some kind of asceticism. Conversely, meditation is in fact a way to train the mind to focus clearly, and can also be an effective way, whenever you so wish, to relax your body and mind.

In the beginning, one should learn to practice meditation skillfully while sitting. Later, you can apply the principles learned during sitting meditation to the practice of meditation in any other position; walking, standing or lying down. When you sit for meditation, you should sit in a posture which will help you to achieve tranquility quickly.

You can sit cross-legged on the floor, or try sitting on a chair if you find the floor too uncomfortable. The important thing is to keep your body relaxed, finding the best position that allows you to sit still for a long time without the risk of falling asleep! Taking care of your sitting position at first, can greatly improve your ability to meditate effectively.

Some people, when they first start to meditate, are so keen to make rapid progress, that they meditate with too much force. As a result they make very poor progress and often suffer discomforts such as headaches! When you first start to meditate, it is worthwhile to remind yourself that seven year old children are some of the most successful meditators in this technique, because of their playful and innocent attitude towards the meditation. Therefore don't be too serious or try too hard: maintain a light attention and a happy mind.