Meditating on Meditation

"One hour's reflection is preferable to seventy years of pious worship." (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 238)

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WOW! That's quite a statement. Do you ever meditate? I have to admit, I rarely, if ever, do myself. I have been trying to more often lately and I definitely see the value, but I still struggle with how to do it.

I mean do you have to cross your legs and put your hands on your knees? I don't think so. You could probably just be sitting there or even laying down.

Do you have to close your eyes? Maybe, but I think sometimes you could be looking at something - like the stars, or the sunset.

Do you have to clear your mind? I would have to say yes to that one. Isn't that the point? To free yourself from distractions and reach a state of complete detachment from the world around you? That is also the hardest part. Check out this commercial starring Ellen Degeneres:

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That is what usually happens to me. I might start off kinda silent and focused but then I start thinking random thoughts and I can't clear my head to try and reach a state of peace and receptivity. Even when I am praying sometimes this happens which really frustrates me.

Is it because the world moves so fast that I am used to multi-tasking and have a hard time just turning down the dial? Do I have A.D.D.? Do I maybe just need to practice more? I have to say that I have been attempting to meditate more and seem to be getting a little better. I will keep my blog updated if there is any progress. :-)

Anyway, what do you think? Do you meditate? How? Are you successful at it? Do you have any good quotes on meditation from your belief system you'd like to share? Here are some that I found...

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"Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit -- the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation." (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 174)

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From meditation springs wisdom. From lack of meditation, loss of wisdom. Recognising these alternative roads of progress and decline, one should so direct oneself so that one's wisdom will increase. (Buddhist, Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

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"O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." (King James Bible, Psalms 119;97-99)

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