| Meditation is one of the great skills everybody should | | | | Item #4 A CD Player |
| learn as it helps you in developing a more effective | | | | A CD player is a great tool to have in your meditation |
| mind and to help keep you at a state of calm. If you | | | | room. Using mediation music like Baroque Meditation |
| are serious about meditation having a room dedicated | | | | music will help you be more effective with your |
| to the practice does one of two things. The room will | | | | meditation. Many people find when they are starting |
| after periods of time bring about a sense of calm as | | | | out with meditation that it is hard to get to that state of |
| soon as you walk into the room because of the | | | | calm without using meditation music as the music can |
| association between the room and peace. The | | | | influence your feelings. |
| meditation room will also encourage you and remind | | | | You will find though as you become more experienced |
| you to stick with the practice. All too often people start | | | | in meditation that you will be able to meditate without |
| out on the meditation journey only to abandon the | | | | music but meditation music is essential when you are |
| practice a few months in because they are feeling | | | | first starting out. |
| great. | | | | Item #5 Seven Candles |
| The downside to this is that if you do not continue | | | | Most people in their houses today have harsh lighting in |
| practicing your meditation you will never master the art | | | | their rooms like incandescent or fluro lights. Often these |
| and more so each time you restart the meditation | | | | lights can be very difficult to meditate under even with |
| practice it will take you a while to get back into the | | | | your eyes closed. My recommendation has always |
| swing of the art. Meditation is something that needs to | | | | been to meditate under the glow of seven candles. |
| be practiced every single day. | | | | The candles should be located on your prayer table at |
| When you are setting up a meditation room there are | | | | varying heights. |
| seven things you need to consider to make your room | | | | You will find that the soft glow of an open flame will |
| a little special. | | | | on its own bring about a sense of calm and make |
| Item #1 Cushions | | | | your meditation session a lot more special. I |
| For most people the optimum place to sit and meditate | | | | recommend seven candles simply because the |
| is on the floor. However since most houses have | | | | number seven is auspicious in my society and religion. |
| incredibly hard floors it is always a good idea to have | | | | Seven being a perfect number helps ensure during my |
| a number of meditation cushions on the floor. | | | | meditation sessions that my session will in fact be |
| Meditation cushions are not anything special they | | | | perfect. |
| should simply be cushions with enough padding to | | | | One safety point I would like to make, please ensure |
| soften the impact of sitting on the floor for any period | | | | that you put your candles onto trays so that they will |
| of time. | | | | not burn your prayer table or start a fire. Candles in a |
| It is always worthwhile having a number of cushions in | | | | house can be very dangerous so make sure that |
| your room so that if you consider having a group | | | | after your meditation session is over that you blow |
| meditation session in your meditation room that you all | | | | them out. |
| have at least one cushion each. There is nothing | | | | Item #6 Peaceful Pictures and Photos |
| worse than fifteen minutes into a meditation session | | | | I have already stated it is important to have on your |
| only to find your bottom has gone to sleep and you | | | | prayer table a picture of your family to remind you |
| feel extremely uncomfortable. | | | | why you are meditating. I also recommend having |
| Item #2 Incense | | | | other peaceful pictures in your room to ensure that |
| Incense is a great device to help you relax during a | | | | when you enter your meditation room that you have a |
| meditation session. You can purchase incense from | | | | sense of peace and tranquillity. |
| any quality Asian or Middle Eastern supermarket. Make | | | | The types of pictures that are suitable are those of |
| sure that before you buy a box of any incense that | | | | nature or animals like scenes from a rainforest, a |
| you try out one stick first. Ask the supermarket | | | | flowing brook or even pictures of a calm ocean. |
| attendant if you can because in most Asian or Middle | | | | Item #7 A Vase of Flowers |
| Eastern supermarkets they will have samples for you | | | | The last item I recommend that you have in your |
| to try. | | | | meditation room is a vase of fresh flowers. There is |
| I have found that lavender is a great incense to use | | | | nothing more relaxing and calming than to smell the |
| when first starting out, but everybody will have their | | | | perfume of freshly cut flowers. Often you will find that |
| own preferences. | | | | the smell of both the incense and freshly cut flowers |
| Item #3 A Small Prayer Table | | | | will give off a unique fragrance that will help entice |
| I am a great believer in setting your room up similar to | | | | your mind into a sense of calm. |
| those from countries like Japan, Thailand or India. A | | | | If you cannot afford to buy your flowers, why not |
| prayer table allows you to place your incense and | | | | grow them in your garden. You will be surprised just |
| other important artefacts for your meditation on the | | | | how easy it is to put some seeds into a pot and grow |
| prayer table. Some people use the prayer table to | | | | a bunch of flowers. Note that you do need to water |
| have images of God or Buddha to help in their | | | | those flowers. |
| meditation. If you are not a religious person I simply | | | | Meditation is an important skill you need to master and |
| recommend putting a photo of your family on your | | | | having a special meditation room will help remind you |
| prayer table with small incense holders on both the left | | | | and encourage you to practice this art. Just like sport, |
| and right hand side of the prayer table. | | | | many people start off with the best of intentions but |
| The reason I recommend this is that the photos will | | | | give up. Having a meditation room will certainly help you |
| remind you why you are meditating. Meditation is all | | | | stay on track. |
| about helping you to improve your state of mind. | | | | |