Reclaim Your Life From Over-Occupied Mind
Bliss is your birthright, discover it within.
“How can they do this to me? What about my past many years of service? Don’t they remember the good times we spent together? Am I guilty?” I experienced intense pain at my heart.
It was a special day in 2013. I had resigned from my position as a software engineer. But what followed was unexpected. My boss harassed me for putting down my papers.
It was nothing less than emotional torture. I was in agony and needed solace.
It was then that I remembered my childhood friend, Ravi — he used to talk a lot about calm and peace. I called and told him about the struggle which was consuming me.
He listened patiently and advised me to see him at the Dhyana Kendra (Meditation Center). I was reluctant to go. I had questions popping in my head. “Meditation? Can I do it? Isn’t it for old people? What will my friends and family think? Is it even cool?…”
But the pain didn’t allow me many choices. I agreed to meet Ravi and try meditation.
The next day, I was feeling better. The torture seemed to matter less. Yet, I kept my word and joined Ravi at the Dhyana Kendra.
We did a meditation technique. I felt peaceful for a few moments. Then, the torture of the past day returned.
Hundreds of thoughts filled my mind, “Why did my boss say this? I could have given him a befitting reply, that creep. This company is bloodsucker……” and somewhere lost in the office dream, I remembered I was in the middle of meditation.
The guilt of failure to meditate overtook me, “Oh, I have lost it all. Such a waste of time. It was supposed to be peaceful… I knew it! I told Ravi. Silly me to trust him. I should have gone for a movie instead.”
I opened my eyes and saw others who were sitting. Embarrassed, I closed my eyes again.
“This meditation is not my cup of tea. This is not working for me. It’s over”, I decided in my mind. I still kept sitting for another few minutes. An intense urge to rise and leave overtook me.
I left the Dhyana Kendra. All this occurred within 30 minutes.
This was an eye-opener. “How couldn’t I sit even for a few minutes? Shouldn’t do nothing be the easiest task?”, I thought.
This incident shook me up. I took notice that something is wrong within me. This is how I came face to face with the demons in my mind!
It is not until you try to relax with eyes closed that you encounter the chilling reality of life — the iceberg of thoughts and suppressed emotions.
Society regards the unhindered flow of thoughts as natural. Do you see why? Because almost everybody experiences the same. And when the same disease afflicts everyone, how can it not be a norm!
Today, after years of continued meditation, I remain in a calm state effortlessly.
My friends and family consider me extraordinary.
Society considers a relaxed person as ‘unique’. But is it true?
Is a tranquil state that hard to achieve?
Is relaxation a superpower?
Well, most of you are made to believe it is. I can understand because I was one of you. Earlier, I could not relax or maintain calm either until and unless I was doing something I liked.
If a frustrated, impatient, disgruntled, aggressive Indian IT guy can transform into a peaceful, serene, and happy individual, why can’t you?
Relaxation is your natural state. You might find it extraordinary because most human minds are restless!
Society teaches you, “Relaxed and Silent state is for the special ones, not for us!” There seems to be nothing wrong with this thinking because almost everyone is on the same bandwagon!
Nothing can be further from the truth. Don’t fall for the conditioning. As an individual, peace is as accessible to you as it was to Jesus, Gautam Buddha, Shiva, and any other Enlightened Being.
The culprit and the solution
Instead of helping us simplify lives, unwanted thoughts overpower us. Like a leech sucking blood, they suck out peace from our hearts.
Researchers in the latest study at Queens University discovered that an average human today has over 6000 thoughts¹ per day. Will you consider this normal?
Humans have passed on this sickness from one generation to another because of failing to experience a healthy mind en masse. Most people simply don’t know what a healthy mind is.
A relaxed mind is necessary for holistic health. In deep relaxation, you discover the joy that resides within.
The blissful state is your birthright as you are born with it. As you grow older, you forget it in a fast-paced lifestyle.
Although you might have forgotten the treasure of inner bliss, it sits inside waiting to be discovered.
Meditation helps you recognize the diseased mind that has taken over your life.
The meditation process then helps you tame the untamed thoughts leading to a healthy state within.
How meditation helps you return to sanity
Through meditation, you initially see the trouble within. The first part of the healing process is realizing that an issue exists. The unwanted thoughts and emotions within show their ugly face.
As you meditate every day, you get in touch with inner peace. You stop giving energy to thoughts. You learn to allow them and let them pass. You experience thoughts as a passing phenomenon, and they stop affecting you.
As thoughts don’t get any energy, they subside. Then, the mind is just a tool. You use the tool when you need otherwise, you pack it in a box for the next time. The tool is no longer the master!
Consistency is the single biggest factor in determining how effective meditation will be for you in the long term.
Experience Bliss Right Now — The Breath Beads
How about experiencing inner peace in 10 minutes? You can slip into a deeper and calmer place through this very easy meditation.
You can do this exercise at home or office — a meeting or yoga room, garden, anywhere you feel comfortable! Can you spare 10 minutes for this small experiment? Let’s do it!
Preparation:
Take out 10 minutes for yourself. There should be no disturbance. Switch off all gadgets.
Sit in a comfortable position, or lie down if you have back problems. Try to keep back straight but don’t stress on it too much.
Steps:
- Listen to a heartfelt (slow and soothing) music you like for 2 to 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, turn off the music and continue.
- Take 5 breaths — slow and deep.
- Now, come back to the regular breathing pattern, and start counting your outgoing breaths. Try to count 25 outgoing breaths — Can you do it? If you cannot, start with counting 10 outgoing breaths.
- If you miss the count and thoughts carry you away, return to counting as soon as you become aware. There is no need to judge yourself.
- After the above steps, just relax. Let go of everything. Continue sitting in silence for another 5 minutes.
- If thoughts come, let them pass. Don’t judge them as good or bad. Don’t be against or for the thoughts.
- If you find thoughts overpowering you, return to counting the outgoing breaths.
- Try to practice this technique 3 times a day.
- You can raise the outgoing breath count every week. I suggest increasing the count in multiples of 5.
As you progress, you can try counting 50 outgoing breaths at a stretch. If during counting, you slip into a silent state, you can leave counting. You can also extend the silent sitting time as per your convenience.
You find that harmony and joy spread in your life. This is the magic of conscious breathing. This technique connects you with deep peace and bliss always available in the present moment.
One of the simplest ways to be attentive is to count your outgoing breaths for some time. Breath is a tool you can use anytime, anywhere.
The Peace you feel always exists Now-Here!
To create a joyful tomorrow, sow the seeds of peace today.
Final Thoughts
According to a study from the University of Waterloo², just 10 minutes of daily mindful mediation can help prevent your mind from wandering and are particularly effective if you tend to have repetitive, anxious thoughts.
Incessant thoughts afflict our minds.
Meditation liberates you from unwanted thoughts. You can start reclaiming your life by dedicating just 10 minutes every day to the Breath Beads meditation.
Whenever thoughts carry you away, simply start counting the outgoing breaths.
If you must have a long-term meditation goal, let it be “I will meditate every day”.
Include meditation as a daily routine. Enjoy experimenting with it. See what suits you best. Let every session of meditation enlighten you.
Don’t bog yourself down with heavy goals. Let it be a light-hearted, joyous adventure in discovering a new blissful you.
One of the greatest Gurus in Indian spiritual tradition, Guru Gorakhnath, has put it aptly.
Hasiba, Kheliba, Dhariba Dhyanam
Laughing, Playfully, Go into Meditation!
References:
[1] “Discovery of ‘thought worms’ opens window to the mind.” Medicalxpress. Medicalxpress, 14 July 2020.
[2] University of Waterloo. “Just 10 minutes of meditation helps anxious people have better focus.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 May 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170501094325.htm
PS: If you enjoyed reading the above, you might also like the one below.