| Meditation is an allusive concept when one first | | | | If the beginner's personality will be mollified with |
| chooses to try this form of process. Westerners | | | | esthetics, perhaps light a candle into which one can |
| generally pride themselves on their can-do attitude and | | | | gaze, incense is pleasant, perhaps a little bell to signal |
| work ethic. Meditation is often approached in a manner | | | | the beginning and end of a meditation session. Comfort |
| of needing to do something, when in fact it might more | | | | is helpful, and if a special outfit or type of clothing |
| accurately be described as a method of undoing. | | | | would be pleasing, go for it. |
| When a novice Westerner approaches meditation | | | | A hair shirt is not required. Twenty minutes is normally |
| practice, it may be with a "let's getter done" frame of | | | | an effective length of time to sit in the beginning. When |
| mind. | | | | first starting to sit in meditation, one may become |
| In fact, meditation may more realistically be | | | | bored. This is the untamed and wild mind suggesting |
| approached as a method of entering a new path of | | | | that we should be on to something else. Other |
| not doing. The mind of every person is busy and | | | | activities are awaiting. There are people to see. |
| elusively so to the extreme. When one combines the | | | | When you notice this, you will be on to exactly what |
| naturally erratic mind with the Western culture of | | | | sitting in meditation is about. One may best deal with |
| activity, the result can be people who haven't explored | | | | the tumultuous mind by patiently and gently bringing it |
| the depths of that to which they are a part of, that lies | | | | back to the object of concentration. It very often is the |
| below the world of activity. | | | | breath, it may be the candle flame upon which you |
| How to meditate for beginners can best be | | | | have chosen to concentrate. One may use a pleasing |
| approached with an unfolding, allowing, or quieting. The | | | | symbol such as a chickadee. |
| beginner doesn't need to accomplish much. The | | | | Watching the breath is the most well-known method, |
| beginner wishing to start the practice of meditation | | | | but this is your meditation. The only result you will need |
| may first determine to set aside the time. Time must | | | | is to quiet the mind. Meditation is a process, and to |
| be invested, but don't be concerned with "filling the | | | | realize the benefits, you only need the investment in |
| time" with anything. Just allow the time. Meditation is not | | | | time and patience. |
| so effective on the run, especially in the beginning. | | | | |