"This Week"
by the
Bahrain Meditation Centre

12^th June, 2006

WHY MEDITATION?

Sometimes, after practicing meditation for a while, especially on our own, we may find ourselves thinking, "Why am I doing this anyway?" Especially if we feel we are making slow progress. In moments like this it's useful to remind yourself of some of the most important reasons and benefits that come from sustained practice.

1. Cultivation of Self Awareness
The simplest definition of meditation is the cultivation of self awareness. Without self awareness you cannot see what you are doing wrong at the levels of your own thoughts and feelings. In fact, you cannot even see that it is you and not someone else who creates your thoughts and feelings! When you
fall under the illusion that others are responsible for what you feel you condemn yourself to a stressful life as you become dependent on external sources of stimulation in order to 'feel' OK, and then perform our very own award winning performance of The Victim! Meditation raises your self-awareness and therefore self-responsibility.

2. Self Control
In the external world we tend to define control as getting a grip on things and handling people and issues firmly. In the internal world of our thoughts and feelings control does not come with a tight grip, or a
struggle, or 'trying' to make certain thoughts and feelings go away. Control on the inside comes from doing the opposite i.e. letting go, and being more like a detached observer of our thoughts and feelings. This is the first step in the practice of meditation which will eventually give you the ability to be the master of our own thoughts and feelings.

3. Creating Your State
In a world almost totally focussed on action it is easy to forget that we are a human being first, and humans doing second. It is easy to forget that everything we do flows from our state of being. Few of us learn how to create our state of being, yet we all know that if we start the day in a grey and grumpy mood it doesn't matter how beautiful the day may be, it is still a grey and grumpy day! Once you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, once you see why they emerge (self awareness) and once you restore the power of choice and control, you can work at a deeper level and consciously create your state. Just as the miner works deep underground at the coal face, so meditation gives you the ability to work at the deepest levels of your consciousness, at the coal face of the soul. It is there that you find your original states - peace, love and a natural joyfulness that are not dependent on anything external.

4. Communication from the Heart
Life is relationship, and relationship is communication. Both our success and satisfaction in life will depend to a large degree on how well we communicate with others. Our ways of communication are largely learned from external influences like parents and society, which means many of us have
difficulty in connecting and communicating from our own heart, our true heart. The practice of meditation, which is essentially a journey to the heart, helps you to see and understand the internal blocks, barriers and burdens that distort our communication with others. Meditation allows us to dissolve our blocks and heal your hearts in your own time, at your own pace in your own way.

Meditation is a journey not a destination. As you practice with patience and perseverance, the process of learning meditation takes you towards perfection. As it does the journey also becomes the destination.

Question: Why is meditation be an important practice for you?

Reflection: The difference between meditation, visualisation and positive thinking

Action: Create a schedule of mediation times for the next seven days, follow it assiduously and then, at the end of the week, write down what you feel you have gained from your practice.

Om Shanti
(I am a peaceful soul)

 Tel: +973-17-712 545, meditate@batelco.com.bh, www.bahrainmeditationcentre.org
Bahrain Meditation Centre is administered by B.K.W.S.U. (visit: www.bkwsu.org.uk)