Editorial
Calming the Mind for a Healthy Body
Opinion | Editorial | John S. Shilshi | 04-Jul-2023
We live in an era when life is always under pressure. As a result, tension, depression, anger, jealousy, and hatred are becoming increasingly the order of the day in people's lives, and not only have individuals become threats to their own fellow human beings but are also ruining their own health. In other words, we look healthy on the outside but are very unhealthy inside—the negative mindset and vibes are slowly but steadily eating away much of our vital organs inside us, which cannot be visually seen or monitored. By the time we realise that something has gone wrong with one or two of our systems, we have run out of time for effective salvaging. Scientists around the world are unanimous in their agreement that the mind is what leads the body to decay in more ways than one. It is for this very reason that yoga and meditation have become much sought-after in modern-day life by people across the globe.
Of the two, however, it is meditation that helps calm the mind; its practice, though seemingly simple, requires a great deal of concentration and personal discipline. Meditation is nothing but an attempt to live in the present without the mind being influenced or invaded by the past or the future. On the face of it, meditation may seem simple and easy, as one is only required to close the eyes and concentrate attentively on something. But the moment the eyes are closed, the mind is invaded with all sorts of thoughts about things to be done, etc., which are forgotten when the eyes are opened and the mind is focused on doing something else. Suddenly one remembers that the electricity, water, phone bill, etc. are yet to be paid; a missed call from a friend has to be returned; medicine for one of the elders in the family or children has to be picked up from the pharmacy; and so on and so forth that concentrating on something in the present becomes almost impossible.
How then does one drag himself or herself to the present? Here are some of the simple techniques: Place yourself comfortably by squatting on the floor or sitting on a chair or couch, ensuring that your spine is in an erect position. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and exhale it slowly. Then breathe slowly, focusing your concentration on how air enters or exits your nostril. Continue to concentrate on this for a few minutes. While doing so, should your mind wander away to another thought, increase the pace of your breathing, and you will be able to concentrate on your breathing again. After about 2 minutes or so, change your breathing speed, slowly inhaling and slowly exhaling, with your mind following each inhalation and exhalation. Remain at this speed and concentration for about 2 more minutes.
Then shift your concentration to your forehead. As you concentrate on your forehead, you will feel a sensation. Be aware of the sensation and concentrate on that point. Then change your concentration to the top of the head, and then to the occipital, down to the neck, upper, middle, and lower points of your back, and in all these points too, feel the sensation and focus on them. After this, talk to different vital parts of your body as you continue to close your eyes, beginning with your brain. Ask the brain if it is alright, and imagine that your brain responds positively. Ask similar questions of your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, lungs, heart, kidney, and stomach, and imagine that all of them responded positively to you. Now take a deep breath, hold it inside for a few seconds, and slowly exhale.
Then focus your attention on certain parts of the Holy Scriptures. Emerge yourself in the mystery of Christ, his birth, miracles and sufferings, the miracles of Lord Krishna, the kindness of Prophet Muhammad, etc., depending on your faith and the scripture you are conversant with. Do not be hassled by the intrusion of other thoughts into your mind, but gently push them away by focusing again on what you were concentrating on. By the time you finish any part of the scripture, it will have taken you at least ten minutes of meditation from the start to the end. Slowly open your eyes and try to be aware of the relaxation your whole body is experiencing. As you increase the frequency of your mediation sessions, you will be able to extend the duration of your sessions. The more you relax your mind this way, the healthier your body will become, slowing down anger, frustration, and restlessness. Happy meditation!
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