There are infinite types of meditations and ways how to meditate. The most natural meditation is a spontaneous one. When somebody is sitting and watching a fire or flowing water, moving clouds or tree leaves; listening to the sound of wind or the ticking of a watch. This kind of meditation does not last for a long time, it starts and finishes spontaneously.
There is a conscious meditation, led by somebody or by yourself. The optimal time for such a meditation is 15 minutes, if you are meditating without an experienced teacher. There is a huge diversity exactly in this conscious meditation.
Alongside with the deep religious or spiritual meditation, there is also a daily one. They are different in their goals.
Any meditation has a goal. In the Dances of Universal Peace, which are a type of dynamic meditation, the goal is to achieve inner balance, harmony and peace. By the way, all circle dances are mandala dances.
I'd like to introduce you to two kinds of meditations, which are not widely known yet.
Mandala-meditation
First of all about the mandala: this is a Sanskrit word, and it means a circle or a centre. Actually, it is a model of the universe, which includes a macrocosm and a microcosm. Meaning: as above, so below. If we come from philosophical heights to our real life, then it is a mirror. The mirror, which reflects, if you can see it, our outer and inner lives.
Mostly we are familiar with mandalas, which were creat by travelling Tibetan monks. They create them slowly from coloured sand, being in a state of deep meditation. After the mandala is ready, they destroy it and blow the sand in the wind. There is a deep meaning of detachment to the product of your creation.
However, if the mandala is a mirror of the universe, then each person represents his or her own unique mandala, and not only one. It is possible to draw those mandalas. About the drawing of your personal mandala one could say, that it is a modern way of meditation. This is a deep psychological process, happening in groups or during individual consultations. You can say; that this is therapy, but it is more than just therapy. I call a mandala a magic wand from fairy tales. This is a real mystery, like the meditation itself.
The mandala has three very important functions.
- Self-centring. Bringing yourself to a state of full concentration. It helps to find a straight way to the real goal in your life. Not to those short-term goals, which bring only disappointment and inner emptiness when achieved.
- Self-healing. The illness is your absence in your own centre. As they say, when you left yourself and did not find the way back. Back to your initial healthy state.
- Self-transformation. This is a necessity in a cardinal change of your life or your personality. It happens always unexpectedly, sometimes in a state of welfare, but more often in the state of a big stress. It starts with questions: and what is next? What for? What is a purpose of my life? Those questions are coming, so to say, on the crossroads of our lives. In such a state, some people meet mandalas in their lives.
With more than 7 years of experience in leading workshops of drawing personal mandalas, I noticed, that this process asks some courage from the person. Nevertheless people don't tell me anything, like in psychoanalysis or psychotherapy, not all can look into the mirror of their own unconscious; I'd like to say, that women are rather better than men at this.
As a rule, 5 to 6 meetings are enough for the initial result. Afterwards the person can work with the mandala him (her)self.
Sound meditation
Possibly this is one of the most antique meditations on earth. It seems to be easy - open your mouth and produce a sound. However, more often it happens that the mouth is open, but the sound is not coming. There are many reasons for this, including psychological, connected with different complexes.
Modern science proved that singing of certain sounds has a healing effect. For example, the sound "A" [a:] connected with improvement of the heart-vascular system. The sound "U" [u:] with the ear-throat-nose system. In general, such a meditation helps a person to "open" his/her voice, to learn how to mastery it, to start singing. In addition, this meditation helps to clear and to recognise your chakras, and it brings harmony and peace. This is exactly what some of us miss in the hectic modern life.
Any meditation consists of the three important stages. First - calming down of your body, relaxation. Second - bringing your emotions to peace. And the third - to calm down your brain, your thoughts. Sound meditation is the easiest way to recognise and to study those stages, to feel the vociferance of the silence after the sound.
The workshop takes course in small groups of 2-4 people once a week. The length of one lesson is one hour.
© Isabella Reuta , meditation leader.