Mind & Soul: Meditation and Peace of Mind

Mind & Soul: Meditation and Peace of Mind
by Elaine Yoshikawa

For many of us, everyday life is fraught with conflicts, distractions, and stress. We are conflicted by the many roles we play in our personal and professional lives. We are also conflicted by our inner divisive desires and thoughts. We often feel scattered and fragmented as we perform task after task. Fortunately there are many ways to alleviate the negative symptoms of a fast-paced life. For instance, meditation is an ancient practice that can reduce stress and reconcile the psychological fragmentation that many of us experience. We can sit quietly, breathe, and be.
The beneficial psychological and physiological effects of meditation are well documented. For example, neuroscientists have discovered that experienced practitioners of meditation have more activity in the left frontal lobe of the brain than non-practitioners. This part of the brain is associated with feelings of happiness and contentment. According to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet, we can discipline our minds to cultivate states of happiness and peace. We can learn how to gather ourselves, calm down, and experience psychological harmony.
Here is a basic exercise. For a few minutes each day, give yourself time to breathe. Sit in a comfortable position with a straight back and breathe slowly and deeply. With your full attention, follow your breath, in and out. Typically someone who is new to meditation will find that the mind and attention tend to wander. This is natural. Do not judge, do not evaluate—just detach. As thoughts arise, merely observe the thoughts, and allow them to fade away as you refocus your attention on inhaling and exhaling. With practice, you may lose the sense of having a separate self and merge with the act of breathing. As you allow the natural rhythm of life to breathe through you, there is only breathing, stillness, and silence.
There are numerous types, theories, and formal systems of meditation, especially within the eastern religious traditions. However, an essential objective of most meditative practices is to stop the flow of thoughts in the mind. When we stop the thoughts, we can experience the deeper aspects of our inner self, a self that is undivided, harmonious, and tranquil. At the highest levels of meditation, we encounter what is holy and sacred within us. In the Wholeness of Life, J. Krishnamurti writes: “Out of that immense silence there is that which is sacred; then only is there a possibility of coming upon that which is the eternal...”
Life is rife with potential sacred experiences. The sacred aspects within us are like precious gems that we can excavate from deep within our being. Meditation alleviates stress and disciplines the mind, but more importantly, the diligent practice of meditation can lead to a more comprehensive and profound understanding of our deeper nature.