Meditation is a discipline that is aimed at attaining a calm and focused state of mind, as well as relaxation and awareness (Smith, 2021). The meditation class, of which I was a part, was much more than merely sit and be silent. It was a journey of introspection, an exploratory trip of self-revelations that had an indelible imprint on my soul. The moment I walked into the tranquil meditation room, I knew that I had already been doing something monumental. It was guaranteed to be peaceful, with soft lighting and cushions set in a circle, which draws us into the flow of relaxation. I felt excitement mixed with a hint of anxiety gradually taking over me as I settled onto a cushion. It was my first time to be at a meditation class and I did not know what to expect.
The lecturer, a quiet person with an unperturbed presence, smiled and greeted us. She led us through a series of relaxation techniques, asking us to replenish and disregard the stresses and distractions of the outside world. We started with deep breaths, inhaling through the nose slowly and exhaling through the mouth slowly, going deeper into a state of relaxation every time we took another breath.
As the meditation session began, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the sound of my breathing. Initially, my spirit was unfaithful; my mind was brimming with competing ideas, each jostling for control. Nevertheless, later on, when the teacher slowly guided me, I allowed myself to relax and look inward. With each passing moment, I became more attuned to the sensations within my body: the pulsating of my chest, the little tingling in my fingers, and the rhythmic throbbing of my heart. It was as if I woke from a deeper level of understanding about myself, a connection to the core of my existence, which was even greater than the physical realm.
The further I inwardly journeyed, the better I felt, as if the calmness of these waves was caressing my mind. At that moment of serene silence, I experienced letting off worries and anxieties, just going with the flow and welcoming the present instant with the whole heart and mind. With the session ended, I was flooded with an immensely overwhelming sense of thankfulness. It felt like I had found a hidden treasure inside myself: a fountain of quietness, peacefulness, and stillness, which was already there but kept waiting to be discovered by me. As I opened my eyes and gazed at the room, the other meditators looked different than I had seen them before. We had a spirit of unity and common experience that bonded us irrespective of our different languages or cultures, which went beyond all barriers. That moment brought me a strong feeling of unity with every living being as I realized that all of us are one common being with highness in it, the divinity.
Leaving meditation class, I was clutching peace and clarity that I never had before. Whereas all the hassles and struggles of ordinary life seemed less dramatic and less hard to deal with, they were now accompanied by some sense of perspective and mental tranquillity. I knew that the journey of self-discovery was far from over, but I felt reassured knowing that I had found a powerful tool to navigate the difficulties of life: the yoga of meditation.
Ultimately, after the initial shock and confusion, I continued this self-exploration process by using meditation to plunge into the depths of my inner world. Each session has presented me with new insights and so much deeper understanding of who I am and the world around me. Like a seed that is beginning to germinate, I was conscious that the seeds of transformation had been laid deep within me, and they were waiting to grow into a beautiful flower in the fertility of my soul. The exercise of meditation is very private, and the benefits of it may be quite different for each person. Be it used as a means for stress management, a spiritual journey, or just as a way to pause in a busy day, meditation provides a pathway to a greater degree of self-understanding, inner peace, and a deeper connection to oneself and others (Gál et al., 2021).
References
Gál, É., Ștefan, S., & Cristea, I. A. (2021). The efficacy of mindfulness meditation apps in enhancing users’ well-being and mental health-related outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 279, 131-142. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032720328317
Smith, J. C. (2021). The psychology of relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness. Principles and Practice of Stress Management, 39. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ibb2DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA39&dq=Meditation+is+a+practice+that+involves+training+the+mind+to+achieve+a+state+of+focused+attention,+relaxation,+and+heightened+awareness.+&ots=8uLZtLuMZQ&sig=AzzLOx3EPibGz8bsipL9l00-TLA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=meditation&f=false
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