Samadhi or Oneness meditation
Samadhi meditation is known simple as being as ‘oneness with the object of meditation‘ in this case the breath, and can be one of the simplest and easiest of all meditations to grasp, however the untrained mind will find it a lot harder than it sounds. The good news is, just like going to the gym regularly you start to build those muscles up, and so too with meditation you powers of concentration become greater and meditation becomes easier.
How to practice
Sitting in a comfortable position, either cross legged on a meditation mat, using a meditation stool or a solid chair, keep a straight spine, not over pulling it one way or the other, gently relax your shoulders and bring your chest forward to allow your lungs to be fully open. Feel your muscles relax and your worries drift away. Softly close your eyes and take a few long deep breaths when your ready bring your attention to your breath.
Breathing in be aware you’re breathing in,
breathing out, be aware you are breathing out.
Count one.
Repeat this for five or ten counts then start again. This is the basics of samadhi meditation.
To become completely at one with the meditation object takes time, practice, and kindness towards your inner dialogue. The moment you experience this oneness, everything you have ever been told about mindfulness, meditation and being present in the moment are all realised, spontaneously as if you always knew the secret you just need a gently nudge.
Tips and tricks
Some points to remember,
Try to keep the breath as natural as possible, not to deep or shallow just allow it to be, without your interference. We sometimes feel like we are interfering with our breath, don’t worry this can happen when we first stay to meditate because it’s usually this is the first time we have spent time watching ourselves breath. Don’t worry you know how to breath you don’t need to interfere just relax and stay patient.
Our minds will wander from the object of meditation from time to time, and when it does, don’t scold or punish yourself but always be kind, and gently bring your awareness back to the breath and start counting again.
Distractions happen easily, wether a noise, an itch, feeling uncomfortable or an urgent thought that maybe you have left the oven on. Always be kind and gently to your inner dialogue and gently bring your awareness back to your breath.
The underlying most important tip i can give is Kindness, you will never improve you Meditation if you keep scolding yourself with your inner dialogue. Be kind, smile, maybe even a little chuckle that your mind wandered again and gently bring it back to the breath.
Try this meditation exercise for ten minutes at first and slowly increase the time over a course of a few days.
Why are we doing this
The benefits of meditation have been well documented in the last ten years and with MRI scanners now showing us the actual visible results meditation brings it’s all time we started this wonderful new science. Meditation has a direct impact within our brains resulting in increased activity within the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex and the Hippocampus region which is directly responsible for the grey matter produced in our brains. The possibilities this may have within the scientific fields of Alzheimer’s and memory retention are only just being realised.
I wish you all the success with your meditation and mindfulness journey, and would be delighted if you could join are small but growing family of kind and compassionate people just like yourself.
Kind regards
