on meditation

Imagine a jar full of water and sediment that is constantly being shaken - you can't see through the jar and you're not going to see through the jar just by setting it down; you need to set it down and leave it for a while for things to become clear. Your mind is like this - take a moment, the clarity is there if you let yourself experience it.

One simple and very beneficial means of meditation is counting the breath. Count the "in" or "out," or both, it's up to you. Simply start with "1" and remain calm and non-thinking as best you can until "2", and on. Although this seems simple, it is quite difficult in the beginning!

I have at times focused on each number in my mind's eye (What is the mind's eye? if I say "Loaf of bread" to you, you likely saw that loaf of bread in your mind somewhere - I call that the "mind's eye" or mental screen). Imagine each number visually in the mind's eye, made out of earthly materials like a "1" made of brick, a stone 2, a water 3, a wooden 4, etc. Remember to count and visualize each number as you breathe.

While counting breaths, stop when you think of, see, hear anything at all (other than the visualized number), calm yourself for a moment, and start again at 1. If you make it to 3 or 4 without hearing that car starting, an airplane fly by, the clock ticking, thinking of the clothes you wore yesterday, you're doing well! If you make it to 10 or 15 right off you may be doing it wrong!

Try counting your breath two to three times a day for 10-15 minutes to start but honestly ANY little bit helps! Waiting for water to get warm? take that time and count a few breaths it can truly make a difference in many aspects of your life!