Long ago, Buddha, the originator of meditation, was asked by an individual “What are you?” He responded, “I am awake.” For anyone who has ever attempted meditation, it is pertinent to understand this awakened state of mind is not attained overnight. This state is developed over time and once this level is reached, there is only one way to sum up the experience: Heightened awareness leading to the ability to live a fuller life.
“The best way to describe the state of mind during meditation is to look at it backwards when you are not meditating,” explains Dr. Joseph Gaziano, Professor of Political Science who has practiced Meditation for 14 years. Every person lives life on automatic pilot or busy mode. Always occupied with daily demands that stay in the forefront of our mind, we cut every conversation short and we pretend we’re listening when really we’re thinking of our next move. These constant thoughts bombarding our mind prohibit us from fully interacting with others and enjoying simple things.
“It’s like a tennis match. Our mind is trying to anticipate what is going to happen next and how we want each conversation, encounter or situation to work out,” Gaziano shares. Our attention is not in the present but in the past and future, all taking place in our mind. “Within seconds we can have a million thoughts in our mind but never really live in the present.”
During meditation, all thoughts are quieted and, with time and practice, we become an observer of the mind. Once you are fully aware of your thoughts and surroundings, you have awakened and are able to adjust attitudes, function better and live an exceptionally higher quality life.
“Instead of playing this tennis match, you really listen and stop trying to control the world around you,” Gaziano says. He provides a great example, mothers. “They know just what to say to press our buttons, and we let them make us angry, but with meditation, you are able to look at why you’re getting angry and instead of giving in, you can adjust your attitude so your emotions don’t run away with you.”
At Lewis every Wednesday at 1 p.m., joined and guided by Dr. Joseph Gaziano, a group of students and administrators make their way through the narrow halls of McNamara hall with one goal in mind: To de-stress, forget, and embark on a journey where their ultimate goal is to experience intense relaxation.
Meditating isn’t as easy as sitting and breathing heavily; there is more to it but is easy enough and does not require its participants to be of certain denominations or hold certain beliefs. Anyone can do it, and everyone can benefit from it.
Just as when exercising, comfortable clothing is preferable that is not too tight, distracting or will obstruct deep breathing. Remove shoes and socks if necessary for full comfort.
For any ritual, established procedures are essential. In order to prepare to meditate, you will need a few things: Incents or scented candles, a bell, a zafu (round cushion for sitting), a zabuton (a sitting mat) and a timer. Place the zabuton on the floor under the zafu and use light incents or scented candles to prepare your mind and body for meditation. Turn off the lights. Gaziano recommends a bowl shaped bell but we will come back to the bell later.
Sit in a straight-up cross-legged position on the zafu and place hands on knees to prepare for deep breathing. Up right posture, not stiff however, is crucial. This will allow breathing from deep within the body, getting oxygen flowing, resulting in increased energy after the exercise. Sitting in a chair is another option; however, there are further steps to be taken. Pick a comfortable chair, and to prevent slouching, place a pillow behind your back. If feet are not touching the floor, place a pillow under feet to prevent legs and feet from falling asleep. Sitting cross-legged is highly recommended as it facilitates increased blood circulation over sitting in a chair.
Set the timer. Be aware of your posture, feel your body touching the cushion, feel your hands and feet. Ring the bell three times and close your eyes. Follow the bell as it resonates throughout the room. Begin taking deep breaths. Follow your breaths as you inhale and exhale. When inhaling, pay attention as you feel air come in through the tip of your nose. When exhaling, do the same or follow your midsection as it goes in and out with each breath. A mantra is another tool used to keep focus and keep the mind from wandering. It is a word or sound repeated over and over again, the most common being “umm.” It is common for the mind to wander subconsciously, and next we will discuss what to do when that happens.
When breathing, if you happen to lose focus and find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of daily demands, the first step is realizing it and finding your breath again, clearing all thoughts. If sounds in the room the exercise is taking place in become too loud to ignore, simply use the sound as part of the activity.
Gaziano explains in order to use sounds, which we have no control over, it is necessary to understand the three processes sound goes through in our mind:
Instead of letting these thoughts continue, Gaziano advices to keep focus on stage 1. “Use the sound as a source of focus,” adds Gaziano, “To help you relax” and continue meditating. Once the sound goes away, return to the breath as the focus point, or switch off to whichever is more prominent.
Once the timer goes off, your session has ended. You will find yourself relaxed and experience great ease and calm. This calm lasts for a while, but practice is needed to achieve heightened awareness, which eastern traditions consider the awakening of a third eye. This third eye is a form of being for our part of the world. It is a form of being without stressing, rushing and letting our emotions get the best of us. This new form transforms individuals from being in a zombie-like state to awakening and truly experiencing life and one another. Then, and only then are we truly free from the mold that sentences us to being creatures of habit.
Laura Bailon, Staff Reporter
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