Want to live life to the fullest? Without regrets or guilt? It is possible, by being mindful or aware. Mindfulness is nothing but meditative awareness. And to understand the essence, one has to experience meditation. Meditation is a technique which helps you remain mindful in your daily life. A lot of people think that meditation is a synonym for mindfulness. They, indeed, are integrated.
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Practising mindfulness
So what happens when one practices being mindful?
- Life becomes a celebration as you are enjoying every moment and living life to the fullest.
- Keeps stress at bay as that constant struggle of the mind between the past and future is reduced. The mind is restful and alert at the same time. A splendid bonus, right?
- The mind is happy; the body is healthy.
- Becomes easier to be a witness to the changing events happening. Remaining unperturbed, another stress buster skill added to your bucket. Such a phenomenon can maintain your happiness in the long run.
- Better clarity, focus and improved quality of life happens with mindfulness.
A joyous journey
Practicing mindfulness explores a more joyful, effortless approach to deepening our lives. The result? A natural state of mind and happiness. Meditation gives an individual a taste of freedom and joy - the two most craved human instincts. It is, but natural, that emotional disturbance, anxiety, and depression are far removed.
This could be your experience
Vijeth, an administrative officer in a national company, didn’t understand meditation. How can I improve my mindfulness, when I didn’t understand the idea, he asks. His experience, indeed, changed with time.
“I’d always hear from my teachers that meditation was the art of doing nothing and being aware of everything. But I never got it for a long time. No matter how much I tried, some stubborn thought would plant its flag, refusing to move. It’s only after I started practicing the Sudarshan Kriya that I managed to get a glimpse of meditation. The experience? Well, it's rather difficult to explain. It feels like I'm in a deep state of rest that not even a good night’s sleep gives me.
At the same time, I’m aware of everything around and inside me. I observe the sound of my breathing, the tensions in my body, the flow of thoughts and the ambient noises. I don’t think it’s wrong to call it an otherworldly state. And the effect? Who would have thought that it was going to have so many wonderful consequences? That too by almost doing nothing? On hearing this, my earlier self would have laughed. Today I display a positive sense of myself. I don’t overreact. I am less angry than before. I experience an exalted sense of contentment. I am calmer and healthier. And happier!”
How can I improve my mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is as easy as brushing your teeth. Begin with these mindfulness exercises.
- You can start with guided meditations on a daily basis.
- You can also learn with a mantra that leaves you with a profound meditative experience. Know more about the mantra initiation technique offered in the Sahaj Samadhi program.
- Follow these simple rules to slip into mindfulness meditation.
- Learn and practice pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya.
Mindfulness exercises may seem to involve effort. It is a matter of time before you experience effortlessness. If practicing mindfulness seemed like a mystery to you earlier, you now know how to solve it!
Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s wisdom talks
