Meditation Techniques for Successful Meditation Results

Ever since I began teaching meditation, I have heard this one complaint more than any other from people who are experimeningt with meditation: "I can't still my mind. It wanders and I lose focus." Welcome to the world of meditation. In fact, the hardest part of meditating is meditating. Unless you can learn to control your mind and focus intentionally, you will never reap the tremendous benefits that meditation provides.

When I began meditating, it was through my practice of yoga. My teacher, George Curnoles, taught us that first we had to learn to concentrate. We spent our time initially building our focusing skills. This takes some time, but once you master the ability to concentrate and focus, you are ready to begin basic meditation.

The initial goal is to build basic concentration skills. The first technique is to focus on the sounds around you - the air moving from the air conditioner or heating system, the road sounds from outside, the panting of the dog or purring of the cat, or the sounds you can hear inside of your head.

As you listen to the surrounding sounds, remember to take an easy, relaxed approach. Don't think about the sounds; simply listen without judging, valuing or getting lost in thought about the sound. This is the difficult part. Listening to sounds will at first naturally create imagery. When this occurs, go with it but stay with the sounds at the same time. You are seeking an objective and unconnected feeling about what you are hearing.

This beginning technique is not easy and will take some dedication to consistently practice before you see results. Be easy with yourself. it will take time and whatever time you put into developing a strong ability to concentrate will make your meditations deeper, broader and more meaningful. Without a real sense of focus, the results you get from your meditation attempts will probably not be authentic. Obtaining results from meditation are as good as the preparation you put into the process.

Start with this simple exercise in a quiet room by yourself, sitting up or lying down as long as the spine is straight. Once your concentration improves, vary this exercise by concentrating when in a crowded room. There are more sounds and distractions, which will require an even greater focus, but again, simply follow the sounds rather than trying to categorize them or create stories in your mind.

This is the first of concentration and meditation techniques that will lead you to your meditative goal. Stay tuned. Remember - concentration first, then meditation.