There are so many ways of looking at meditation. But simply put, for me, meditation is
not being your thoughts and reacting to them, but instead being the observer of your
thoughts.
Now normally when a thought comes along, we think that we are that thought. We
associate with it, we identify with it. We have one thought, then we have another and
another and so on. “I need to call that person up! I hope he takes my call. Actually… I do
need a new phone, maybe I’ll get that new model! I feel like some chocolate cake!” We
get lost in trains of thinking. And we reinforce the thinking by getting carried away with it.
We become emotionally hijacked by our minds. The mind owns us!
Meditation often involves focusing, let’s say on a part of the body, or a sound or a word
or even a chant. That focus takes us away from a scattered mind. As you practice being
the observer, the thoughts begin to exhaust themselves, they begin to get released so
our mind is clearer. Eventually there are fewer and fewer clouds in the sky. And then
some glimpses of our inner silence can enter.
Imagine that thoughts and emotions are like clouds. Meditation is a process of watching
the clouds come and go, but we remain still like the sky, the space, within which the
thoughts come and go.
Meditation is the gap between our thoughts, the space, when we associate more with the
witnessing awareness.
Now you might say, “How is meditation different from just relaxing like I do at the end of
the day, or when I go to sleep?” Well, meditation is much more impactful than sleep,
because it’s deep rest whilst you are conscious. And with practice, you can experience
more energy and more creativity. Over time, more enthusiasm and joy. Some people
describe profound feelings of love, compassion, peace and joy, although really, it’s indescribable, you have to experience it yourself to know the feeling.
Ashok
Ashok Gupta is the Director of the Gupta Program. He has dedicated his life to helping people get their life back from Chronic Illness, improving people’s well-being, and helping them achieve their potential. He has been teaching meditation around the world for over 15 years. He runs a global e-clinic specializing in treating ME, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia & Multiple Chemical Sensitivities – guptaprogram.com
Ashok has spent many years researching the brain neurology of emotion and linking well-being tools with science. He has published medical papers on the basis of stress-related illnesses. He has appeared in many media as an expert on stress on the BBC, CNN, Guardian Newspaper, ITV, The Independent, and many others.
He wrote and presented the Meaning of Life Experiment which is a Free, Award-winning Meditation and Self-Development App www.themeaningoflife.tv
He also works with companies around the world, teaching courses in Leadership, Time Management, and Personal Development. www.ashokgupta.tv