How does a culture that is obsessed with material things learn to meditate? It's easy. Most people already know how to meditate, but they just don't know it. Or if they do, they certainly wouldn't call it "meditation" because for many people, the word conjures up images of Eastern religions—Buddhist monks in ochre robes, living in monasteries with strict disciplines.

Meditation is completely absorbing yourself in something: it can be experienced through any of your activities such as athletics, work, sex, art, reading, watching a sunset or a movie. When you're completely absorbed in something, your mind becomes free of thoughts; there are no desires, no worries, no thoughts of the past or of the future. There's only now—a moment when all self-consciousness disappears. When you have this experience, you've risen beyond your thoughts, into a more "meditative" and true state. You've directly connected to the "spirit" or in other words, you've had a spiritual experience. This experience can be uplifting, fun, empowering and beautiful.

Everyone at one time or another has had this experience of meditating—and you can have even more.

On the other side of thought lies a different way to perceive life. Beyond the five senses of tasting, touching, smelling, hearing are worlds filled with beauty and ecstasy, worlds that are perceived through another sense. The practice of meditation expands our awareness to perceive beyond our physical awareness and, like a box of chocolates, you never know what kind of experience you're going to get.

Benefits

1. Meditation makes you happy, joyful and positive
2. Meditation gives you the power to accomplish what you choose
3. Meditation amplifies the experience of everything you do
4. Mediation gives you the ability to be centered and calm, regardless of circumstances going on in your life
5. Meditation develops your intuition
6. Meditation gives you knowledge of spiritual truths and your individual path
7. Meditation lessens and eventually eliminates desires and aversions
8. Meditation develops self-confidence
9. Meditation enables you, over time, to find your true self
10. Meditation blows your mind away

Beginning Meditation

1. Although you may not be a “morning person,” it is strongly recommended that you meditate first thing in the morning, shortly after you get up. Try it, you may be surprised. You can always add an evening session as well. Meditating every day is much better than 2 or 3 times a week. Note: if you really can’t bring yourself to practice in the morning, just do it in the evening— that’s much better than not meditating!

2. When you get up, do what you need to do to wake up and feel refreshed and comfortable—have a shower, or at least wash your hands and face, have a little bit of food or juice if you’re really hungry, and, if you can’t feel awake without it, have a small amount of caffeine. It’s a good idea to meditate before you get involved with activities, conversations and other “input.” You may want to unplug the phone. Everyone seems to call you when you are meditating!

3. Loose, comfortable clothing is best. You can sit on the floor cross-legged (try a half lotus if you’re flexible), or in a chair. It doesn’t matter as long as your back is straight. Hint: a pillow under the behind may help. Don’t lie down—you’ll be too relaxed and may fall asleep. Sit comfortably, but not rigidly, and breathe naturally. If you need to move to adjust your position occasionally, that’s fine, but in time it will be easier to sit still.

4. If you’re a beginner, try meditating for 15 minutes. After a couple of months, you may want to work up to 30 minutes. You may also want to try an evening session, perhaps at sundown, when you get home from work or classes, or just before bed. Before you meditate in the evening, remember to shower or at least wash your face and hands.

5. What to do? We will introduce some different techniques you may want to experiment with, such as chakra meditation. Focus gently on three primary chakras—first the naval, located about two inches under your belly-button, then bring your attention to your heart chakra, and finally, bring your attention to your third eye. If you are a beginner, you can meditate for one song on each chakra. For other meditation techniques, detailed instructions can be found in the book “Snowboarding to Nirvana,” by Frederick Lenz.

6. What not to do? Don’t think! That’s much easier said than done. When you find thoughts crowding in, gently return your focus to the chakra or your visualization.

7. Don’t be hard on yourself. Part of what you will learn is how busy and incessant your thoughts are. You may be amazed how trivial or petty they are, too. Or you may find that your best thinking seems to occur when you’re not supposed to be thinking! Just keep letting the thoughts go. Rather than trying to stop them with willpower, it may be best just to ignore them. Keep coming back to the technique, even if it’s 10,000 times in 15 minutes.

8. At the end of your meditation, you may want to take a moment to feel gratitude to the universe. Some people like to bow. Be quiet for a few more minutes before conversing or rushing out the door. Then get up and begin your day gently and mindfully.

9. You may want to set aside a corner of your room just for meditation. You might want a rug or cushion or chair, and perhaps a small table with flowers or an inspirational picture. Some people have a certain outfit they like to wear just for meditation.

10. If all this is new, consider it an interesting experiment to try for a month. As the habit takes hold, you may find that it’s fun to add some variety. On a really pretty day you might want to meditate outdoors.

To learn more about how to meditate, visit the class of your choice.