What is meditation?

Meditation is common throughout Asia. Tibet, China, Burma, India and Japan,
along with many other nations, have amassed a vast expertise on the subject. But
meditation has its roots in the West also. The forbearers of the Gnostics, a
pre-Christian movement of some three thousand years ago, advocated very
similar ideas to the Buddhists and Taoists in Asia. It is a common theme that
'Enlightenment', 'Cosmic Consciousness', 'Nirvana' - call it what you will – can
be achieved only through meditation.
The Buddhist scriptures ('Sutras') state: The mind is like a drunken monkey
dancing on hot coals. This is as true today as when it was written 2500 years ago.
Our minds are in continual turmoil, hopping from one thing to the next, forever
in motion. The unceasing chatter of our thoughts insulates us from reality. How
can we possibly see anything in our lives with clarity while we are trapped
between the past and the future?
The past is with us for much of the time; even though it has gone, it still
impinges on the present. The nasty comments or deeds that have been done to
us, even years earlier, still haunt and goad us. Anger, bitterness, regret and guilt
are never very far away for most people. Life has a habit of amassing hurt; our
minds are willing receptors as a place for this hurt to stay, ready to upset us once
again.
The future, too, is an ever present uninvited guest - hopes, fears and
day-dreams crowd in, filling the present and obscuring our lives.
The past is gone and will not return; the future has yet to come. Live in the now. This
Buddhist verse states the obvious but wisdom is often so obvious that it eludes us.
How many of us can say honestly that we live in the here and now, experiencing
the present as it happens? Much of our day is missed as our minds are engaged in
one pursuit after another. When we run out of those absolutely vital things we
have to cram into our everyday lives, we invent new ones to fill our day -
television, stereo, walkmans, DIY, and on and on. I am not saying that any of
these are wrong or bad - far from it. But they often fill every passing moment of
our free time, preventing us from seeing what is going on 'in here', not 'out
there'. The whole of our lives are lived 'out there' - sights, sounds, smells,
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MEDITATION
activity fill our consciousness. But what is happening 'here', inside of you, right
now?
Modern Man has created an environment for himself which is totally alien to
his nature. We live in little boxes, totally insulated from everything going on
outside and from each other. We live in huge cities where we are crowded
together, where tension and frustration abound. Co-operation and a common
purpose have been replaced by excessive personal ambition and a 'Me first'
attitude.
You may believe this to be true, but what can you do about it, just one person?
The answer is meditation and tai chi. For a short time each day the senses will be
turned in and the outside world excluded as you come face to face with your
inner self.
Do not expect fast results; just practise without pre-conceived ideas as to what
to expect. At first you may feel frustrated with your poor concentration, but
persevere. Gradually you will find that meditation becomes easier. The
chattering voice inside you will slowly subside and the peace will grow. A feeling
of not being 'scattered', but whole, will eventually pervade you.
Meditation 1
Choose a quiet place that is clean and well ventilated. Be certain that for your
period of meditation you will not be disturbed. Practise for 15 minutes in the
morning and for the same at night, as a minimum.
Wear clean, loose fitting clothes, preferably for the sole purpose of tai chi
meditation. Allow at least one hour after eating before commencing meditation
or tai chi. Do not practise if you are upset or depressed and do not try to force
yourself. Meditation should be a calming experience, not a traumatic one.
Do not lie down to meditate — you may fall asleep easily if you are too relaxed
in your normal sleeping position. Either sit cross-legged in the lotus posture, or
sit in a straight-backed chair. If you choose the latter, cross your legs at the
ankles.
Before beginning the meditation proper, rub your two palms together
vigorously for 30 seconds until they are very hot. Place one palm on your navel
and circle the hand 81 times clockwise and the same anti-clockwise. Why 81? -
tradition principally: within Taoism certain numbers are thought to have special
significance and nine is one of these numbers. (Nine multiplied by nine is 81.) If
you deviate and do 80 or 82 it would make no difference, but stick to the
prescribed method as outlined. When you have completed the circling, your
abdomen will feel warm inside as well as out. Keep your spine straight with your
head held up slightly leaning forwards, but not too far. Relax your shoulders and
hold your left thumb with your right hand. Rest your hands in your lap. (See fig.
219.)