| Meditation is recognized by the medical profession | | | | If you practice meditation at the moment and |
| as an ideal way to overcome feelings of stress, | | | | have difficulty focusing on a single thought or find |
| mental exhaustion and depression. Most doctors | | | | that your mind keeps wandering from one |
| agree that stress is a very important contributory | | | | distracting thought to another, here are a few |
| factor in many illnesses. In the highly competitive, | | | | ideas that may help you solve these meditation |
| stressful, often dangerous, world we live in today, | | | | problems. |
| it is difficult to escape feelings of nervous tension | | | | Firstly, think seriously about changing your Mantra |
| and anxiety that is part of every day living. | | | | - the word or phrase regarded as consisting of |
| It is therefore not surprising that more and more | | | | energy-based sounds that you repeat over and |
| people, who suffer from feelings of anxiety, | | | | over again that prevents intrusive thoughts from |
| irrational fears, self-doubt and inadequacy, are | | | | entering your consciousness. |
| turning to this age-old method of healing to deal | | | | If you are using a single sound in your mantra |
| with stress. | | | | consider changing to a sound consisting of a |
| It is an unfortunate fact however, that although | | | | number of syllables. Here is a suggestion. Use a |
| so many people start a program of meditation | | | | collection of sounds that you find relaxing, |
| with great enthusiasm, they do not continue for | | | | comforting and tranquil. |
| any length of time. A large number give up and | | | | Make use of a mantra that consists of letters like |
| do not continue. | | | | L, M, THE VOWEL SOUND 00, AH OR EE or |
| There are a number of reasons why this happens. | | | | other soft sounds, |
| 1. They find the process of meditating every day | | | | The mantra I use is the word "LULAMI" which I |
| very time-consuming | | | | pronounce as LOO-LAH-MEE |
| 2. They often find that body positions they are | | | | Draw out the three syllables of the word. Also, |
| forced to assume in some forms of meditation | | | | while you are repeating your Mantra occasionally |
| uncomfortable | | | | change the speed at which you say your mantra, |
| 3. They find it very difficult to focus on a single | | | | either out loud or in your mind. |
| thought that is an essential element of a many | | | | Another useful tip to prevent your mind from |
| meditation techniques | | | | wandering, is to focus your mind on your |
| 4. They find it very difficult to "switch off" and | | | | breathing. |
| stop intrusive, disturbing or distracting thoughts | | | | As you say your Mantra out loud - or think of |
| entering their mind while they are attempting to | | | | your Mantra in your mind - breathe in deeply with |
| meditate. | | | | the first syllable; breathe out with the second |
| It's a great pity that so many people stop | | | | syllable then lengthen the third syllable so that you |
| meditating and lose this opportunity to gain the | | | | can breathe in and out. |
| remarkable health benefits that meditation can | | | | For examp LOO (Breathe in deeply) |
| offer, because there are ways to meditate that | | | | LAAH (Breathe out)Breathe in and out). |
| are: | | | | ME-EE-EE-EE |
| -Not time consuming | | | | There is also no reason why meditation should be |
| -Do not require uncomfortable body positions | | | | difficult or time consuming. There are a number |
| -Make it easy to focus your mind on a single | | | | of techniques that make meditation a very |
| thought | | | | satisfying process resulting in remarkable health |
| -Stop your mind from wandering | | | | benefits. |