In a layman’s term, meditation is to think or reflect but those who meditate regularly know that it is actually the ability of not-thinking or reflecting on anything and setting your focus in a state of nothingness. And trust me it is hard to tame your mind not to think :/

Few months ago, I was introduced to meditation by my husband. He actually handed over a book “Zen Mind – Beginner’s Mind” to me so that I could familiarize myself with the phenomena before indulging into it. I liked the idea. In its true essence, what I understood, was to have control over your mind. Remember, when we are praying, our mind drifts somewhere? Or when the conversation prolongs, we start thinking about something totally unrelated? That is when we lose focus or may be we loose control over our mind and it starts acting up? In such situations, meditation becomes quite handy!

Meditation also helps in focusing on one’s problems rather shoving them under the table. This is actually the second stage of meditation. First, you learn to not think about anything. And when you become a pro (I’m still a novice) – the second step is to think about something – just one thing and keep focusing on it. your mind will start giving your answers for it and will set your soul in a peaceful state.

It also helps in prioritizing. So if you are working at some firm, or have a business, or a housewife struggling between different household issues – meditation can actually help you prioritize what you want in life. This whole exercise inculcates the habit of ‘mind-focus’ but remember the starting point is to un-think first – it is like cleaning the slate before penning down anything!

To kick off, you first need to find the most peaceful spot at your home or outdoors and put on a timer of say ten minute. Sit cross-legged in a Yogi style, which is recommended as the Yogis believe that this posture makes mind and body one. And then close your eyes!

And That’s it.

As soon as you start this, you would notice your mind bringing a thousand thoughts – now initially your fight is to knock off these thoughts – it may take weeks. Then there will come a time when you will close your eyes and feel like just a moment has passed, your alarm will ring and you would go like “woah”. People say that the experience is extremely heavenly – it is actually the food for mind!

When I started this, I soon realized that our act of Salah is actually the second stage of meditation. We are required to focus on our Creator when we are praying. Only if we learn to control our mind and abstain it from drifting away, the outcome of our prayer and the meditation will be the same – the epitome of self-satisfaction and peacefulness. But since, we don’t know the art of focus – many of us remain deprived of experiencing the true essence of prayer.

I hear this a lot from people, that even though they pray regularly, their heart still remains restless. It is actually because we don’t know how to pray/focus. Although the realm of “meditation” goes more towards having an “experience” or “faith” but on a practical level and for people, who are not inclined towards all this, many writers have written books on “Mind Focus” or mindfulness – their approach may be different but trust me, they are talking about the same thing :!

This has also made me ponder about atheists…people who don’t believe in God…and doesn’t pray..and hence, might not have any source to remain peaceful. Well, if you think they are a bunch of restless people then my friend, you are wrong. I have seen many atheists who are extremely contented. Have you ever noticed how they extract their share of peace? Well, in my opinion, there are two reasons for that.

Since they fall in minority, they are defensive about what they believe in. They are very well-learned – more knowledgeable than the majority who is now fully complacent about their religion and hence, doesn’t bother to think beyond. When they focus on what they believe in, they become peaceful. Hence, the recipe to find peace is to first believe in something and then having your full focus in it so that your mind and body become one – that’s when your prayers are answered and you felt healed!

The same goes in your professional and personal life. Focus – focus in what you believe in and then miracle will start happening. Once you become friends with meditation, although the act of Salah is already quite peaceful and enjoyable but trust me it will become even more enjoyable or whatever your mean is to reach your God.