Do you know what happens to most of our energy? Where it is used or consumed? The answer will be the work. But this answer is partially right. Most of our energy is consumed in thought process. Our mind never stops thinking. Regardless of what is the matter, it continuously thinks. Meditation comes handy in controlling the mind. When you practice meditation, sooner or later you become aware of thoughts, aware of things which surrounds you. The moment you became conscious, all thoughts disappear. You will then feel full of energy and stress free.
Meditation is all about exploring you. What will be your answer if someone
asks who are you? You will probably say that I am this, I live in this
country/state etc, I am a businessman and so on. But is this answer correct? Do
you really know who are you? You will only know about yourself when you explore
yourself and meditation is a technique of exploring.
A meditator or a person who practice meditation is always, yes... always free
from any religion, ethnicity & culture.
There is a misunderstanding about meditation, which is concentration.
Concentration is not meditation. When you concentrate on something, the
concentrator or you are present, and when you are present, there is not
meditation. So, in broad meaning, you even cant do the meditation, it just
happens. You can wait and watch. All the meditation techniques prepares you to
be in egoless stage or the meditation.
I personally love two words Maya (dream) and Vasudhev Kutumbkam (the whole
universe is my family). I call these two experiences or feelings is meditation.
Things will be present, but when "me" disappears, we loose all connections,
relations, identities which were due to "me", so all things are dream.
When a drop looses its identity when it mixes up with the sea, same thing
happens when the "me" disappears. We are now connected with the universe and
whole of the universe is our family. These two things are experiences. These
experiences are of all the meditators who have achieved the enlightenment or
loosed their so called identities.
There are countless benefits of meditation, but in general, one can feel full of energy, full of joy and peace whole day. It reduces the stress and thus cures many stress related disease like - hypertension, sleeping disorders, poor health issues etc. It improves your memory and above all it gives you joy and joy without any reason :)
You can practice meditation any time, which is most suitable for you. Our mind is in natural peaceful stage in the morning (just before the sun rise) and in evening (at the sun set), so these are the best time for meditation. Although some methods require special time, but generally, there is no restriction of the time. The time in which you are free and you think no one will disturb you is the best for the meditation.
Mother nature is always in meditation. Our mind feels peace in natural places
like the tress, open sky etc. These natural places are best for meditation, but
if there is no possibility for you to sit in the nature, do not worry, any place
will work for you. But, try to practice meditation in less disturbing ,
comfortable and same place. Scientist says that when you practice meditation
again and again in a particular place, you will be in harmony with that place.
Try to make your meditation room as empty as you can and if possible, the room
in which you are practicing meditation should not used for other purposes.
Experiment it and you will discover the importance of the meditation room. If
you feel some tension, some fear, than go to that place. Do nothing, just lay
down or sit on the place where you meditate, the place will give you peace and
relaxation.
The places, which have been discussed above, are ideal for any meditation. But
as we all know, the prices of land are sky high and everyone can't afford a
separate room. But which ever place you practice meditation, must be used for
meditation only... and this is not impossible :)
If you are a beginner, start with minimum of 15 minutes. Some method requires
minimum time to complete the steps, but in beginning spend less time so you can
be in comfortable position.
Meditation is joy, so it is not time bound. How can a joyful act bound in time?
Its not seriousness either, you are playing with your own energy, so don't be
serious in meditation. If you are serious, you are blocking your energy and if
you are in joyful mood, you are removing all blockages of energy and allowing it
to flow inside you.