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Meditation is a conscious attempt to clear the mind of conscious thought; it is approached in such a way, as to effectively relax the body and open the door to the subconscious mind. It is an ancient eastern custom, now gaining renown in the stress infested western world.
A diverse array of benefits have been purported from the practice of meditation, ranging from shamanistic insight to peaceful relaxation. I have personally found it to be of great value as a precursor to academic endeavors and as an agent that serves to provide me with a deeper understanding and awareness of myself.
Meditation invokes three basic principles, those being breath, posture, and focus. The proper application of these principles will allow the act of meditation to work its full wonders upon the body and the mind.
When beginning meditaion, it is important to pay careful attention to the cycle of breath. Conversely, conscious attention is imperative in breathwork, and will serve to minimalize external awareness in the later stages of meditation. A simple breathing pattern effective in meditation, is the "1-5-3" pattern. This pattern is performed, by breathing in for a count of one, holding that breath for a count of five, and releasing for a count of three. It is important to breath through the diaphragm while repeating this breath pattern.
Performing this breathing pattern, should naturally give the practitioner some desire for correct posture; any posture is correct, so long as it involves a straight spine. A popular position is to sit up straight and cross legged (lotus position). This position is generally believed to be superior to laying on the back, as the upright position tends to guard against the tendency to sleep.
Focus is imperative in the early stages of meditation. The philosophy of focus, is to attune consciousness to a minimal picture and to let the picture gradually fade out. This is most often achieved by the "bubble meditation". Picture yourself at the bottom of a cool lake. Now, let every thought that enters your head be placed into a bubble and rise to the surface; do not repress your thoughts, simply allow them to fade away.
A combination of these three practices is the basis for meditation. This will allow the diligent practitioner to clear the conscious mind and invite a wonderful sense of relaxation. This practice has survived from the time of the ancients for a reason. In today's modern world, meditation is of great importance.
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