By Karie-Ann Hamilton

The purpose of meditation is to make calm our minds and souls. If our mind is peaceful, we are free from worry and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. Therefore, we teach our spirits through meditation to become more and more peaceful. With the hectic pace of life we lead, usually it is very difficult to control our frenzied minds. It seems as if our mind is on a never-ending highway with no exit in sight!

By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances. Most of us tend to live in the hustle and bustle of everyday life without giving so much a thought as to how all the stress seems to build up in our lives. Sometimes at the expense of our own health. The point is, you don't have to give up your worldly possessions and take a vow of poverty! Learning to meditate is the simple process of oneness and the giving and receiving of loving kindness -or metta.

All living beings deserve to be cherished because of the tremendous kindness they have shown us. All our temporary and ultimate happiness arises through the kindness of others. We commonly refer to this as "what goes around, comes around." We must give to get. It really is that simple. We must give freely, without limitation or expectation. The world conspires to give us all we want, and therefore we must be ready to accept this life force without self-sabotage. How many times have you told yourself "this year is the year", only to falter by the wayside two months into your planned goal? This is where the power of focus helps us receive all the loving kindness that surrounds us.

The first thing we must do when contemplating the innumerable benefits of meditation is to quiet the mind and also the space. The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer. This can be accomplished by practicing a simple breathing meditation, or repeating a personal mantra. A quiet surrounding is essential in order to meditate, the attic, the basement cellar, whatever. The space must feel comfortable and it must be quiet. Once, all the background noise as been eliminated the next step is to sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable for you. If your favorite chair makes you comfortable then by all means take a seat. The most important thing is to keep your back straight to prevent the mind from becoming excited.

When breathing, inhale naturally through the nostrils. Feel the cool sensation of your breath as it enters and reaches effortlessly the back of the throat. Also, pay attention to the warmth of your breath as it leaves the nostrils. This is the focus of meditation. Try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.

At first, the mind will be very busy, and you might even feel that the meditation is making your mind even busier; but in reality, you are just becoming more and more aware of your the mind and it million and one thoughts. There will be a great temptation to follow the path of your varying thoughts, but try to resist this and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath. If you discover that your mind has wandered to thoughts of cleaning the kitchen sink, or calling the babysitter for Saturday night, you should return to the breath. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

If practiced patiently, gradually the distracting thoughts will subside and you will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. The mind feels clearer and spacious and you will feel refreshed.

Even though breathing meditation is only the first stage of meditation, it can be a very powerful and moving experience. When practiced consistently the possibility to experience inner peace and contentment is exemplified threefold. Deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within the soul. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the difficulties of daily life. Much of the stress and tensions we normally experience come from our minds, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress. Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, we will be able to reduce this stress. The feeling of giving loving kindness towards other people enhances our surroundings and helps us cope with day to day living. The end result is our relationships with others improves, our mental state is clearer and the the daily grind seems bearable.

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