By Elisabeth Fayt

 

Rainshower Meditation & Tapping Into The Infinite Source 

Question:

Lately, I’ve been guided to start meditating, so I tried it recently but didn’t have much success.

I found it hard to quiet my mind. Can you give any tips to a beginner? 

Answer:

I’m so pleased you are interested in meditation. It is truly the one thing that will bring you happiness above anything else in life. Yes indeed when you first try, it is hard to still the mind. Sometimes it will feel like the thoughts will start to race the moment you try to sit still. But in fact, when you sit still, what is happening is that you become “aware” of how the thoughts have been racing all along! 

It is important, with meditation, to allow yourself to be a beginner. Just like a sport. You can’t learn to be a great tennis player your first time picking up a racquet. So it is with meditation. Take baby steps and each time you will feel yourself connecting more and more. I’ve been learning and practicing meditation for over 25 years, from Paramahansa Yogananda. Here is one of his beginner techniques to get you started. And just to know, I still start every meditation with this technique!

Take a deep breath in, slowly inwardly counting.

Hold the breath for that same count.

Then slowly exhale to that count.

Then repeat.

You can practice this while walking, or sitting, any time of day. This simple technique, if you practice it sincerely, will get you on the right foot to begin your meditation practice. It slows the heart and greatly helps you to release the thoughts that have had you bound up in restlessness.

Question:

When you’re meditating, what are you supposed to be doing? Just sitting and breathing? That doesn’t sound very interesting to me. I “want” to do it, because I’ve read all about the benefits, but it sounds boring to me.

Answer:

I agree with you, meditation does look boring, but it’s the actual opposite! Imagine sitting in the presence of the Infinite Source itself! The Source that created the moon and stars, and universes floating upon universes. That Source is yours to tap into, but you need to get quiet. That’s the only way.

So next time you sit to meditate, sit with an attitude of reverence, that “I am in the presence of the Infinite Source of all”, and just sit still. Keep your mind at the point between the eyebrows. This is the place where you connect (and also in the heart). Between these two centers, you concentrate, and at all times, remember you are sitting in this Presence that created you and sustains you every moment. When you catch even a glimpse of that, your meditations will never be the same.

Question:

 I’ve heard people say they “meditate on the golf course” or wherever. Is this possible? Can I meditate anywhere? Or do I need to be sitting and quiet?

Answer: 

Meditation is an over-used word. Let me explain the difference between Concentration and Meditation. You can “concentrate” on the golf course (or wherever you are) but Meditation is a method of Concentration used to connect with the Divine.  To further answer your question, if you are golfing and thinking of God, then yes it’s a form of meditation. But this is not what people are meaning. 

My advice is to learn meditation in the sitting method if you can. Sit still, and I mean still. Shifting the body here and there doesn’t help. Become as still as possible and then practice any technique you’ve learned, or talk to the Divine in the language of your heart.  Once you’ve felt that connection, then I suggest trying to maintain that connection, by feeling connected while you are in activity, walking, golfing, enjoying nature, etc. 

I’ve learned that once you establish the connection with the Divine in meditation, you don’t stop there. You use that as a springboard to bring that connection into your daily life. When you do this, you spiritualize every part of your life, and even the most difficult of challenges become surmountable, because you simply “know” within your heart, that you are never alone.