They say peace is my own self. Can I experience it right now? Yes, you can right away, wherever you may be—meditation is the way. Just for a few minutes, put off any external object that you may be holding on to—bottles, plates, pens, books, mobile phones, laptops—and set them aside. Relax in your seat with the spine erect and shoulders relaxed. Ensure your body is in a steady and comfortable position.
Join your index finger and thumb of your respective hands. Keep your chin parallel to the floor. Let there be a gentle smile on the face. Eyes may be gently closed. Ensure your teeth line is gently parted and not crunching inside your mouth. Take deep breaths and exhale completely. As you inhale, tell yourself, “I am inhaling all love, energy and well-being.” As you exhale, tell yourself, “I am exhaling all that is negative, limiting and binding.”
The mind immediately tastes quietude. There are two things that can disturb the mind—thoughts about the world outside that is brought to us through the five sense organs of perception, and memories within that are locked in the mind. According to Patanjali Yoga Sutra, memory is one of the five categories of thoughts we have. Memory is described as a previous experience that enters the mind and does not set it free or leaves. Thoughts are dissolved either through selfless action or through experiencing that thought completely.
To halt disturbances from outside there are many preparative steps for meditation. One such step is to find a quiet place for yourself, either a house for yourself if you can afford it, a separate room, or a corner space or just your desk in office or square seat in your kitchen or backyard. Once there is quietness outside, shut off the senses one by one—eyes, mouth, hands and legs outwardly—and do not allow the mind to be disturbed by the inputs through ears, nose and skin.
Just as you choose a quiet space, it is also important to choose a quiet time—that period of the day either early in the morning or late in the night or at mid-day when the disturbance from the outside world—such as temperature change, traffic noise, mobile phones, social media and people—are less.
Look at your mind with love just like a mother looks at her own children or the teacher of a primary class looks at her students. The mind is a very mischievous child and comes up with all kinds of thoughts just to distract your attention. Never mind. Simply watch each thought patiently one after another. Turn your attention to the breath and observe its flow within and out.
This automatically quietens the mind.
After doing this for a couple of times, remain in that silence within for as much time as you want. You will be surprised to find that your mind has become steady. You will experience peace and calmness within.
Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya
(www.sharanyachaitanya. blogspot.in)