Most of you have already read about the benefits of meditation, ranging from improved physical health and reduced stress to enhanced mental and emotional well-being. But is that all meditation can do for us? Actually, its benefits run much deeper, transforming our whole inner being. One of the most amazing benefits is that we become more and more authentic, and believe in that authentic self.
With a regular meditative practice, we develop traits like an optimistic outlook on life, self-acceptance, self-discipline, moderation and balance. Meditation works in such subtle ways; without even being aware that it is happening, we become kinder, more compassionate, empathetic and courageous. We also learn how to use anger and fear in constructive ways, for transformation, without judgement. Not only that, our desire for material things decreases because our sense of worth comes from within rather than from possessions and accolades.
Heartfulness practices purify the full spectrum of consciousness. As a result, we can then actively work with the subconscious and superconscious realms, giving us access to states, information and wisdom that are not otherwise so easily attainable.
Meditation purifies our heart’s energy field and continuously recharges and refines the neuro-circuitry of our brain. Regular practitioners of meditation are less affected by the negative brain responses of fear and stress under threat, and so they have a more positive outlook on life, improved attention span and focus, and better emotional regulation. These non-tangible benefits are correlated with greater neuroplasticity in the brain, amongst other things.
The frontal cortex and pre-frontal cortex, which are the parts of the brain involved in cognitive function, attention, sensory processing and problem-solving, are more active after a few weeks of meditation. And research has shown that the improved focus that results from meditation helps with memory and mental agility in the elderly, and has the potential to reduce age-related memory loss and dementia. Chemicals in the brain also get altered, preventing depression, and some research suggests that daily meditation may be as effective as anti-depressants in the treatment of depression.
So if you want to keep your mind and consciousness healthy, meditate! There are many meditation practices available, but I want to focus on one practice that is effective in a very short period of time. It is called Heartfulness .
Why is Heartfulness so effective? Here are 6 reasons:
1. It can be practised in the midst of a busy modern lifestyle, with family, work and all the accompanying time constraints. It can be easily slotted into your daily routine.
2. It requires no particular belief, background or pre-requisites, and is based purely on your personal experience and interest.
3. It does not matter if you have lots of thoughts during meditation—it still works! Heartfulness emphasises on the heart, the seat of feelings, emotions and love. Thoughts may continue, but you learn to ignore them and dive deeper so that your attention moves to the feeling level of existence. As a result, meditating on the heart develops your Emotional Intelligence, sensitivity and intuition. And with time and practice, the number of thoughts also reduce until you easily experience stillness within, but this happens naturally, not as a result of forced attention or suppression of thinking.
Eventually, you go beyond even the feeling level to experience much deeper states of being—usually only described by mystics and sages. In today’s era, the spiritual realm of existence is available to one and all.
4. Heartfulness gives you a simple technique called Cleaning to remove your past emotional baggage. It removes the heaviness, depression, anxiety, anger, fear, confusion and negativity from your system. You feel light and carefree as a result.
5. You learn to listen to the inner voice of your heart, your guiding conscience.
6. The greatest benefit is the expansion of consciousness that results from meditating with the aid of Yogic Transmission or Pranahuti.
Whenever you wish to experience your inner potential and the beauty of living, try meditation and you will discover how easy it is to be authentic and to believe in yourself.
Consciousness is our energy field, the canvas upon which all our mental, emotional and energetic functions play out every moment of our lives. It is also a spectrum, like the spectra of light and electromagnetic waves. Our everyday waking consciousness is just a thin film in the middle of this spectrum, sandwiched between the vast ocean of the subconscious on one side and the vast sky of the superconscious on the other.
When we go to sleep, our subconscious is active, as we sometimes notice in dreams. This is the storehouse of all our past experiences, memories and feelings. Our superconscious gives us access to inspiration and connection with higher wisdom. We sometimes access this when daydreaming or, at other times, when we let go of our limited world view and drift into higher states of consciousness.
Heartfulness practices purify the full spectrum of consciousness. As a result, we can then actively work with the subconscious and superconscious realms, giving us access to states, information and wisdom that are not otherwise so easily attainable. Just as we have evolved to the stage of modern-day Homo Sapiens, with capacities for thinking, problem-solving and invention, our consciousness is continuing to evolve towards even greater potential. Evolution is about growth, transformation and moving forward into the future.
Throughout history, human beings have always pushed the boundaries of the unknown. Now is the era when we are pushing the boundaries of consciousness so that we can live the best lives possible, in joy and peace, and with harmony in society.
Can there be joy without peace?
Can there be peace without harmony?
Can there be harmony without contemplation?
Can there be contemplation without thinking?
Can there be focused thinking without meditation?
You know the answers to these questions, so whenever you wish to experience your inner potential and the beauty of living, try meditation and you will discover how easy it is to be authentic and to believe in yourself.
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