Meditation is an ancient practice which has been thought of in different places around the world. There are many different meditative techniques based on cultures and philosophies.

I believe that majority of people today understand the meaning of meditation – quiet the mind, and achieve greater peace, harmony and well-being.

But why is it so difficult to quiet the mind? Many people, who have been mediating for years, attended workshops, followed gurus and spiritual teachers, many times say, that they did not figure out the meditation yet.

Why do we have so much difficulty meditating?

 

Why it’s hard to get out of the mind:

Speaking of difficulty, we must consider those (most of us), who struggle with quieting the mind. Our western mind is trained in a certain way – in chaos. We grow up overstimulated by our lifestyle and that’s what we take as ‘normal’ (overuse of media, TV, electronics, a constant rush/stress…). Also, our social/cultural conditioning plays a major role here. Let’s call these conditionings ‘programs’.

A regular adult uses 5-10% of the brain, with only a small part of their conscious awareness. The rest of the brain operates unconsciously, being run by our programs and automatic habits.

A constant overstimulation of our body and brain will always lead to the seeking of more stimulation. It works like a drug. Focusing on nothingness in meditation may be a difficult concept for the ego. That’s why the mind of the western people is chaotic and has a hard time meditating to achieve the ideal state of wellbeing.

 

My journey to meditation:

I have realized in my early age, that I may achieve a higher state of consciousness and wellbeing if I apply meditation to my life. Starting at the age of 16^th, I was guiding my own meditations according to a book on activating chakras. A year later, I attended a ‘Silva Method’ workshop, which was a life-changer.

I tapped into the deep brain frequencies and experienced profound states of being. I was able to discover how my intuition works and trust it.
My journey in meditation continued further with Osho meditation practice, attending a bunch of powerful meditation retreats in the Czech Republic. Osho meditations are specifically designed for western people, who have trouble sitting still. I kept practicing Osho meditations for years on my own and also offered that to the public.

I added Reiki to my practice and blended both, healing and meditation together.

I have practiced guided meditations, quiet meditations, active meditations, visualizations, prayers… you name it.

However, my meditation practice has been irregular until recently. This year, in September 2022, I attended an advanced week-long retreat with Dr. Joe Dispenza. This experience shifted my perspective enough that I now meditate daily and always look forward to it. It took seven days to understand fully the theory of the mind and experience it. Also, witnessing healing miracles in the same room with 1500 fellow meditators had a profound effect on me indeed.

By the way, I also meet with friends to meditate once a week. The social aspect of the spiritual gathering can make the experience stronger and help the discipline.

 

How to have a successful meditation:

Since it has been a long journey for me and an important spiritual practice, I went through multiple stages of frustration and then self-discovery, I have some ideas to share. If you are a beginner or an advanced meditator, I hope you find some good ideas here.

• Start with breathwork. Either slow long breaths or alkaline breathing (there are plenty guided breathworks to choose from on YouTube). It will energize your brain and body and help to keep your focus after you start meditating.
• Make sure you are hydrated
• Show up for yourself! Be your best Self for this moment, sitting with a straight back, ready for the special moment. Remind yourself that you are going to meet with the Divine!
• Have your meditation ready. You can pick a guided meditation (YouTube or get an app on your phone), or just sit quietly, focusing on your breath. You can play calming music or not, it’s up to you.
• Know your goal. What is it you want? Peace of mind, love, harmony, a successful work, loving relationships…? I find it useful to state my goal for myself first. Then let it go. Keep your mind clear.
• Bring yourself into a higher emotional state. Be grateful, feel joy! Make yourself feel better and do not analyze anything. I currently practice Dr Joe Dispenza’s style, focusing on high emotions and getting out of the analytical mind. It works very well for me.
• Be positive. The mind will always want to wander away. When you catch yourself losing your focus, bring it back and be proud of yourself that you were able to bring your mind back.
• If you get out of meditation and you feel better, I call it a success.
• Even If you slip back to the negative self after you meditated (that’s pretty common), even if you meditate 1 or 2 hours a day, you will be able to consciously observe your brain and old programs at some point, which is important if you want to change.
• Make your meditation a daily routine. We learn, as we regularly practice.

 

Benefits of meditating:

There have been scientific measurements on single meditators, as well as measurements on large groups. As the large groups focused for a certain time on peace, the surrounding area of the current city and the district experienced a significant drop on crime and violence. This experiment is known as Maharishi Effect.

Scientific measurement on individuals discovered that when a meditator taps into a deep Gamma brain = the miracle frequency, they undergo a spontaneous healing. They usually get into a profound spiritual experience, connecting with Oneness, Higher Self, with the Divine aspect inside of themselves, whatever you call it.
That happens to the experienced mediators. But as you start practicing meditation daily, your results may be:

• Better focus
• Awareness of your mind and negative programs
• Lower anxiety and stress
• Relaxation
• Improved mood
• Improved memory
• Spiritual connection
• Physical/mental healing
• Reduced pain
• Better sleep
• Sense of peace, harmony and wellbeing
• Creativity

 

Even if the positive effect you feel is during meditation only, that’s still worth it to spend time in the elevated state, isn’t it?

If you are a newbie, try to slow your breath for 1 minute. Deep and slow inhale, hold the breath and slow exhale. You will feel the shift right away. Anyway, this is a good reminder for all of us: breathe and bring a positive intention.