Home > Blog > Daily Meditation
Daily Meditation
Whenever I’m reading any of my books on spiritual topics, I try to look for similarities in the messages being conveyed. Whether it’s a book written by an ancient philosopher, a modern new thought writer, or a channeled non-physical entity, I look for what points of view they agree on and how they differ from topic to topic. One of the most obvious similarities they all have in their basic message is daily meditation, or a process very similar to it. No matter what author I read, they all want me to still my physical body, to quiet my conscious mind, to do this daily, and to do this for the rest of my life.
Up to this point in time, I’ve resisted following any such suggestions, no matter what the source. Rather than to begin doing what any one spiritual author advised me was best, I found it more to my liking to simply move on to the next book and continue exploring what the next author thought life was all about. I’ve been the epitome of the person who is more theory than practice, at least when it comes to spiritual topics and meditation.
Although I’ve toyed around with idea of meditating over that last year, I have to admit that I have never enjoyed doing it. Whether it was because of boredom with the process, confusion over which technique was best, or the realization that my mind just never wanted to stop thinking about mundane crap, I would always quit within a week of starting daily mediation. It was apparent that I’d simply rather be doing something, doing anything, than sitting perfectly still and thinking about nothing.
Now, if only one or two of my literary sources had suggested meditation, and done so only briefly, then that would be the end of the matter for me. Of course, it’s not just one or two. It’s more like all of them. And they don’t just say meditation is somewhat helpful or an optional step or simply something that would be cool to try. Most of them present it as an essential step to any serious spiritual development.
For example, spending 15 to 20 minutes meditating, every day, without skipping, is a central message repeated over and over by Abraham-Hicks. My other favorite channeled author, Seth, also suggests a process of mediation. Charles F. Haanel’s master key system begins with a process that is basically repetitious daily meditation. The path of initiation into Hermetics, as described by Franz Bardon, starts with sitting down to control one’s thoughts and quiet the conscious mind. Even my most revered author, Thomas Troward, places great emphasis on what he calls the “self-contemplation of spirit”.
Socrates says I should know myself. Marcus Aurelius says I should avail myself often of this retirement. The Buddha wants me to sit down. So, OK, OK, OK! I’ll sit.
Therefore, as of today, I am a practitioner of daily meditation. Whether I get bored with it, or confused about how I should sit, or concerned about how much my mind loves to prattle on about this and that, I will continue to sit, everyday, for 15 minutes. Of course, my understanding of the process and the ability to quiet my mind will certainly grow over time, but for now, I am committed only to setting aside the time for it and making meditation a routine part of my daily life.
As far as the outcome of this, I’ll just have to wait and see.
Comments
So how is the daily meditation going? Since I started a few years ago, I have felt a difference in me, for the better but I was a skeptic at first too. I am really interested in your travels....
Posted by: Meg | August 20, 2007 10:05 AM