As I have mentioned before, mind focus and concentration techniques are extremely helpful when training the mind.
By training the mind to focus at will, you will be able to meditate more effectively and connect with your Divine self more readily. In fact, I feel that one should practice mind focus before embarking on a meditation routine.
When the mind has been trained in this way, you nullify extraneous mental chatter and shift into conscious awareness of your soul's power. I usually refer to this 'chatter' as Monkey Mind - your mind jumps around like a monkey, bouncing from 'the car needs an oil change' to 'must buy milk at store' to 'my pants have a piece of lint on them' to 'my elbow itches' and so on.
Meditating with an untrained mind is like trying to stop a ricocheting bullet!
So here is a great first exercise . . . Visualize a rose. It can be in any state of bloom:
Now that you have chosen your rose, hold that image in your mind exclusively. Each time your mind wanders, bring it back to the rose.
This rose becomes a focal point for you in your mind. Practice this. If and when the mental chatter encroaches, keep it at bay by visualizing the rose.
Advanced tip: After you have the rose firmly in your mind's eye, you can also expand this exercise to your other senses. Smell the beautiful fragrance, touch the soft petals. And you can also change out the rose for another flower - become your own florist!
By training the mind to focus at will, you will be able to meditate more effectively and connect with your Divine self more readily. In fact, I feel that one should practice mind focus before embarking on a meditation routine.
When the mind has been trained in this way, you nullify extraneous mental chatter and shift into conscious awareness of your soul's power. I usually refer to this 'chatter' as Monkey Mind - your mind jumps around like a monkey, bouncing from 'the car needs an oil change' to 'must buy milk at store' to 'my pants have a piece of lint on them' to 'my elbow itches' and so on.
Meditating with an untrained mind is like trying to stop a ricocheting bullet!
So here is a great first exercise . . . Visualize a rose. It can be in any state of bloom:
- a sweet tender bud
- a rose just beginning to open
- a rose in full bloom
Now that you have chosen your rose, hold that image in your mind exclusively. Each time your mind wanders, bring it back to the rose.
This rose becomes a focal point for you in your mind. Practice this. If and when the mental chatter encroaches, keep it at bay by visualizing the rose.
Advanced tip: After you have the rose firmly in your mind's eye, you can also expand this exercise to your other senses. Smell the beautiful fragrance, touch the soft petals. And you can also change out the rose for another flower - become your own florist!
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