I believe Breath Meditation is one of the most powerful, yet easiest of mediations to learn. It is my favorite type of meditation.
Before we begin learning about Breath Meditation I’d like to discuss our mind. Our mind is made up of wave patterns. When we think, it causes wave patterns to occur in our brain. There are four main types of brain waves. The pattern we are in right now is when we are awake and thinking, actively using our mind. This first pattern is called the “Beta Wave”. When we are heading off to sleep and our mind begins to quiet and be still, that is the “Alpha Wave”. When we are in a deep sleep and our mind is very still, very quiet, that is called the “Theta Wave”. The final stage, when we are in a deep sleep and our mind is basically very still with very little to no activity is called the “Delta Stage”.
The goal in mediation is to get you to the “Theta/Delta Stage”, which is difficult but not impossible. I have found that the Breath Meditation technique is one of the most effective ways to get to the deeper levels of meditation and quiet your mind. Most people who are new to meditation and are trying a variety of ways to meditate will most likely go between the “Beta and Alpha State”. These stages are very relaxing and a wonderful experience, but with all things in life the more you practice the better you will get. Eventually you will desire to quiet the mind at the “Theta/Delta Stage”. You will go to deeper and deeper levels of meditation to achieve this stage.
I’d like to teach you the most effective and helpful way to quiet the mind with Breath Meditation. It can also be the most challenging way, because although it is simplistic it is not easy to do. It is something easy to learn but sometimes difficult to do.
The Breath Meditation is a simple technique. In this form of meditation, what I want you to do is simply “follow your breath”. Follow your breath with no mantra, no prayer word, just simple and quiet following of your breath. How it works is that you sit in a quiet, comfortable place, sitting up with your feet on the floor or legs crossed. As you are sitting there watch or take notice of your breath. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, and breathe out. You can breathe in through your mouth or your nose, it doesn’t’ matter. The only thing that matters is following your breath. If something distracts you, simply come back to your breath. When strenuous thoughts or uncomfortable thoughts arise or come to the surface, don’t try to ignore them or push them away but instead acknowledge them and go back to your breath. Focus on your breath, nothing but your breath. Again, any distractions are acknowledged but always to simply go back to your breath. There are no thoughts, your mind will get quiet and still inside and your brain patterns will begin to go to those deeper levels. You will find a deep peace that you may only experience when you are at a deep sleep at night; however, with meditation you are giving your mind this break during the day. Stresses will go away and peace will come to you.
I encourage you to try the Breath Meditation and practice it often. I also highly suggest you meditate twice a day, once first thing in the morning and again just before bed at night. I find these times to be the easiest to make into a habit. You can meditate at any time of day or night, but I highly suggest you make it a point to do so twice a day, once first thing in the morning and again just before bed at night. The Breath Meditation is truly what I consider to be one of the most powerful meditations in the universe.
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Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net
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