| Insight meditation can be a powerful tool for | | | | barrier to insight meditation, time. This one is |
| deepening spirituality, solving problems and | | | | certainly related to the first. |
| developing strategic insights into one's life. Insight | | | | People often don't feel they have enough time to |
| meditation offers a popular way to illicit changes in | | | | meditate, or to learn meditation. They try when |
| awareness and self-understanding while lowering | | | | they are mentally or physically tired. It is usually |
| stress and enhancing a sense of happiness and | | | | best not to force yourself to meditate when you |
| joy. It can help you to blaze a path to success | | | | don't feel like meditating or you are in a rush. Wait |
| and happiness, especially if you learn to avoid the | | | | for the right time or, better yet, make time for |
| common pitfalls. | | | | meditation. I build time for meditation in my |
| Research shows that about all schools or forms | | | | schedule... or it won't happen! |
| of meditation work equally well. Many of my | | | | Most people, no matter how busy they may be, |
| clients have found, in time, they will develop their | | | | can find time to meditate. And we all need to |
| own form of meditation. They'll do it their way. | | | | solve problems at times! |
| But when you are setting about to learn | | | | Insight meditation is so valuable in so many ways, |
| meditation, it's best to follow a good guide or to | | | | so wonderful and important that it deserved to |
| work with a good teacher. They key is to jump in | | | | find a way into our busy lives. You can always |
| and do it. | | | | give up a shopping trip or a night out to dinner to |
| New research in mental health shows meditation | | | | make time to meditate, or simply knock off an |
| helps with trauma and can actually assist one's | | | | hour early one or two nights. |
| brain in recovering from bad experiences, and in | | | | BenefitsI |
| restructuring itself. If you learn meditation you will | | | | There are many good reasons to learn meditation. |
| have a new, powerful tool for helping you to | | | | Insight meditation will help you manage stress, |
| solve problems and achieve great success in your | | | | improve your spiritual life, enjoy better |
| life. | | | | relationships and increase your success in |
| Common Pitfalls And Anecdotes | | | | countless ways. Meditation gives your body a |
| 1. Desire | | | | well-deserved rest, and provides your mind an |
| When we sit down to meditate we often have an | | | | avenue through which to share information with |
| overwhelming need or problem to solve. We want | | | | you. It often leads to powerful insights that no |
| an answer so badly we can hardly stand it! Well, | | | | amount of analytic decision making can accomplish. |
| strong desire is one of the greatest barriers to | | | | Many of my clients have found meditation leads |
| successful meditation. We try to relax, but we're | | | | to profound insights and greater spirituality. |
| tense inside. And nothing seems to come. Our | | | | Over the years, I have taught basic meditation to |
| emotions are so strong we end up trying too | | | | some of my therapy and coaching clients, and |
| hard. And nothing stops insight meditation in its | | | | they have reported it is one of the single most |
| tracks faster than trying too hard or being too | | | | influential techniques they've ever tried! Some |
| eager to find a solution to our presenting problem. | | | | years ago, I offered a meditation group to |
| How To Fix It? | | | | children, all of whom proved to be great learners. |
| It's critical to come into a time of meditation with | | | | And each client grew in some important way as a |
| a calm heart. This can be difficult when you feel | | | | result of meditating. Everyone can benefit from |
| unsettled or frightened, and problems weighing | | | | the simple and natural practice of insight |
| heavily upon the mind. The trick to successful | | | | meditation. |
| meditation is to let go of desire, detach yourself | | | | 3. Misreading or Misinterpreting Information |
| from the problem and to wait patiently for the | | | | The most common mistake here lies in taking |
| information you seek. A helpful hint is to do a | | | | information received from meditation literally, or |
| progressive relaxation technique first and, once | | | | attempting to understand it in a linear fashion. |
| you are feeling relaxed enough to achieve a | | | | Inisght meditation results in symbolic information |
| distance from the problem at hand, then transition | | | | or intuitive glimmers. It works like a dream. |
| into a meditative state. | | | | For example, a dream about seeing a long-lost |
| Another technique is to sit quietly in repose and | | | | friend doesn't necessarily mean this person is |
| say your favorite mantra over and over until you | | | | going to appear in your life. But it may suggest |
| feel relaxed and at peace, and liberated from the | | | | you'd like to see this person or need to reconnect |
| problem. Then, after you are feeling deeply | | | | with him/her, and it's time to call this person or |
| relaxed, you can focus your attention on the | | | | try to find him/her. |
| problem or question at hand. | | | | Meditation may give you glimmers of insight about |
| Playing a little soothing music quietly in the | | | | your life, but they must be interpreted carefully. |
| background often helps me to meditate. Another | | | | When you are seeking to learn meditation, it is |
| trick I use is to stretch and exercise just a bit | | | | really critical to listen for the interior or core |
| before sitting meditating. If you have a breathing | | | | message. Symbols and images should be |
| technique that helps you to get calm and relaxed, | | | | evaluated, after the meditation experience, on |
| you can always use it to prepare yourself for | | | | their representational merit. We can often "feel" a |
| insight meditation and calm your heart. | | | | meaning, too, by letting the images speak to us. |
| Personal Tip | | | | How can you tell if you receive valuable |
| If I find myself having trouble becoming relaxed, I | | | | information? You may want to simply remember |
| concentrate on my breathing, which will help me | | | | the symbolic information that comes to you |
| to get over the hump and enter a more profound | | | | during meditation. You can analyze it afterwards. |
| and blissful state of mind and body. | | | | Remember, it is usually best not to take it literally, |
| After you become relaxed, it will be easy enough | | | | but to look for the symbolic message. Often you'll |
| to let your thoughts go. If distracting thoughts | | | | solve a problem by paying attention to a picture, |
| come to you, simply brush them away with an | | | | idea or a phrase that bubbles up from the inner |
| imaginary broom. If more distracting thoughts | | | | mind. |
| come, simply sweep them away. Soon you will | | | | In Sum |
| feel deeply relaxed and you can focus on the | | | | If you want to improve the effectiveness of |
| joyful aspects of your rich inner experience. | | | | your insight meditation practice, remember to: |
| Once you have put your mind on the problem | | | | 1. Overcome desire |
| and identified it as an avenue for exploration, it's | | | | 2. Make time on a regular basis |
| time to wait for possible insight to pop into | | | | 3. Avoid a literal interpretation |
| awareness. It may come in the form of images, | | | | Whether you practice insight meditation or not, |
| words, gut impressions and so forth, so you must | | | | you'll increase your meditation success by working |
| remain in a tranquil state of readiness... without | | | | with meditation on a regular basis. Learn |
| hurrying. The trance state should keep you | | | | meditation. It pays! Just doing it will help you to |
| profoundly relaxed and at peace. Avoid getting | | | | solve problems and reach a new level of |
| anxious, pushing or rushing the process. The | | | | expertise. The regular practice of meditation can |
| information you're seeking will come to you as | | | | really boost spirituality. Plus, meditating feels |
| your inner mind sees fit. And there is no way to | | | | wonderful! Meditation is a rewarding experience, |
| hurry. You must wait as long as it takes. Simply | | | | and makes you feel so good! If you want to learn |
| sit in the silence, remaining open and receptive to | | | | meditation or get more mileage from your |
| any information that may eventually emerge | | | | current meditation practice, find a little more time |
| from the depths. | | | | for meditation and soon... you'll be solving your |
| 2. Lack of Time | | | | problems, reaping amazing rewards and enjoying a |
| This brings me to the second common pitfall or | | | | rich and satisfying interior life. |