MEDITATION
We were browsing in an antique shop housed in a beautiful old farm home located near a small town in the State of Washington. It was evident that the owner of this shop considered the site a labor of love. The outside of the house was surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. The display of antiques inside was unique and artistic.
We spotted an old Buddist Meditation Bell. The proprietor, an attractive woman in her sixties, overheard us talking about the bell and about meditation. She suggested, "If you want to meditate, try gardening." We replied that it was obvious she loved gardening. "I do," she replied, "but it's more than that. It centers me."
In the broadest sense this lady was correct, anything that centers us can be called meditation. Things that we do and love and that captures our full attention in the now has the effect of centering us. In a narrower sense and for most of us it takes a more disciplined approach to achieve this centering experience. I suspect that even this lady could profit from the regular practice of a meditation technique.
Meditation is the key to what we call "Practical Spirituality." It is a spiritual practice with many practical benefits; being centered is one of them! We believe meditation is best learned from a teacher and we recommend that the teaching be within the context of a long-standing tradition. The websites offered on the right will give you more than enough information about meditation and exposure to some of the traditional methods.
|
|
