Steemit Engagement Challenge | S7W6 | How to Practice Meditation Every Day

Greetings my lovely friends!

As a Buddhist, I believe a lot in meditation and it is one of the core practices in Buddhism. As a fact Load Buddha attained Nirvana while meditating. (Nirvana / enlightenment is considered the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice).

^{Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi Tree, source}

So, as a follower of Buddha’s teaching, this week's topic is very close to my life, and hope I can share some interesting facts about meditation according to what I have learned from Buddhism.

What is meditation?

Meditation is a powerful tool that can use to control our inner thoughts and by doing that we eventually can find inner peace.

I will simplify that description with a common sense explanation that I heard before. It goes like this,

Which part of the car allows you to drive fast?

Well, the answer is obvious, isn’t it? The Accelerator.

But just think if you have a car that doesn’t have a functional brake system, would you still drive that car to the speed you want? Or would you have the courage to drive at all?

In that case, the Brake is the most important function for us to drive fast, which gives us the courage to drive at whatever speed we want.

When the same implies to our mind, the thoughts speed up by themselves if we didn’t control them. So, meditation is the functional system to slow down our thoughts. When we know how to control our thoughts we can live a life with greater inner peace.

How is it useful for our health?

Meditation is important for several reasons for our health, especially mental health. In the present world, we are very concerned about our physical appearance. I myself as a beautician experience this daily. Also, if we have any pain in our physical body, we can treat it. Even internal organs can be treated thanks to technology. But are we really concerned that much about our mental health? This is where meditation is important.

^Source

First, it is a means of cultivating the right mindfulness, or awareness of the present moment. By focusing on the breath, body, or other objects of meditation, we develop the ability to be fully present and attentive to our experience, rather than being lost in thought or distracted by external stimulations.

What are the basic guidelines of meditation for a beginner?

There are many different types of meditation in Buddhism, including mindfulness meditation, kindness meditation, and insight meditation. The specific instructions and techniques may vary depending on the tradition and teacher.
However, what worked for me will be most suitable for beginners I believe.

1. Finding the correct technique:
   There are many variations and techniques. But beginners should always try to focus on concentrating on the breath. It is the simplest task as we began to think about inhale and exhale movement. Try to catch the sensation and keep thinking about it and nothing else. If you can do it for 01min gradually increase the time.

2. Finding the correct time:
   Usually, in the morning hours, when everything seems silent and your body will be at its best to function after a good sleep. I recommend anyone try meditating between 5min to 10min in the morning as a starter.

3. Finding the correct place:
   Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can sit and meditate without any distractions.

4. Finding the correct posture:
   Make sure to find a natural and comfortable posture for you. Because if your body is not comfortable your mind not going to be comfortable in any state. It is better if you can sit in a relaxed manner to stay alert otherwise when you close your eyes in comfortable surroundings you tend to sleep. So make sure to stay alert as well.

How do you practice every day?

For me, I practice meditation every day before starting work at the salon. I pray for Lord Buddha and then spend a minute or two doing kindness meditation, which is a chant that wishes goodwill for others.

When I have the opportunity to visit a temple, I try to do at least 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation. I love to do this everyday but managing time was a problem for me. My morning prayers are regular and natural to me as I go to the salon everyday.

What kind of good results do you find in your body after meditation?

After the prayers, I always began to feel a change in my attitude and behavior. I feel I’m more focused at work and more compassionate toward myself and others. I also feel I have more energy and clarity and am able to approach my tasks with a sense of calm and balance.

In conclusion, meditation is a powerful tool that can help us find inner peace and improve our overall health and well-being. By following some basic guidelines, anyone can learn to meditate and enjoy its many benefits.

I would like to invite my friends @akbaraleiy , @cruzamilcar63 and @noelisdc to join the contest.