Before a session of meditation, write down everything that is on your mind. Your to-do list, your concerns and worries, your regrets, whatever is on your mind for that particular day. Keep writing until you can’t think of anything else. After the list is finished, close your eyes, visualize your paper with all of it’s concerns and imagine it bursting into flames and disintegrating into ashes. Resolve to not think of any of these things during your meditation.
Next, sit in a comfortable position, in a quiet place and locate any object nearby, a plant, a book, or even a tree outside the window. Just make sure the item is non-moving, and fixate your eyes on it. If any other thought enters your mind, recognize it, dismiss it (remember the ashes?) and continue focusing on your object. How the object feels, what the object would taste like – anything but the ’real thoughts’ rolling around within your mind. This helps you shut out all unrelated thoughts and will deepen the benefits of meditation. Set your timer for at least 5 minutes. At the end of the 5 minutes, your mind should be much more focused.
Mantra
Meditation is often accompanied by a chant, mantra, or song. Mantra’s or any repetitious verse or sound will help you clear your mind and focus, so that you are able to clearly hear the messages you are receiving. Depending on what kind of meditation you are accustomed to, you may already have a favorite mantra. I prefer to use biblical scripture. MY favorite, and the one I most often use is Matthew 7:7, you can also use Matthew 7:8 or both together. The preference is yours. Find something that you are comfortable with and start with that.
”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “
Following your mantra, allow a few moments of complete silence and mind clarity. It can also be beneficial to ask specific questions in the quiet of your own mind, repeat the mantra and then with a clear and silent mind, wait patiently for the Lord to answer. If you don’t receive an answer – sometimes that is the answer.
Repeating this process and practicing your techniques daily will achieve greater enlightenment as you develop a better understanding of the words of the Lord and the clutter of your own mind.
