nameandform.AsyouprogressyouwillbeinstructedonhowtoworshiptheDivineinanabstract
way without using any names or forms.
RitualsAssociated With MeditationPractice
Inthebeginningthemindmaybedifficulttocontrol.Whatisneededhereisperseveranceandtheap-
plicationofthetechniquesdescribedhere.Anotherimportantaidtomeditationisritualism.You
shouldobserveasetofritualswheneveryouintendtopracticemeditation.Thesewillgraduallyhelp
tosettlethemindevenbeforeyouactuallysittopracticethemeditation.Theyareespeciallyusefulif
youareabusypersonorifyouhavemanythoughtsorworriesonthemind.Firsttakeabath.Water
isthegreatestcleanserofimpurities.InancienttimesthepractitionersofYogawouldbathebefore
enteringthetemplesandengaginginthemysteryrituals.Thispracticehasbeenkeptaliveinthe
Christian practice of baptism and the prayers using the Holy Water.
Onceyouhavebathed,putonclothingthatyouhavespecificallyreservedforthepracticeofmedita-
tion.Thiswillhaveastrongeffectonyourmindandwillbringmeditativevibrationstoyoubecause
theclothingwillretainsomeofthesubtleessenceofthemeditationexperienceeachtimeyouuse
them.Theclothingshouldbelooseandcomfortable.Itisrecommendedthatyouwear100%Cotton
orSilkbecausethesearenaturalmaterialsthatwillallowtheskintobreathandfeelcomfortable.
Keep the clothing clean and use the same style of clothing for your meditation practice.
Whenyouareready,gotoyourspecialroomorcornerthatyouhavesetasideformeditation.Take
thephoneoffthehookorturnofftheringerandclosethedoorbehindyou,leavinginstructionsnotto
bedisturbedfortheperiodoftimeyouhavechosen.Whenyousitformeditation,lightacandleand
some incense of your choice and then choose a comfortable position.
Posture for Meditation
Beforeyoubegin,practicesomelightphysicalexercises(yoga,taichi,etc.)forseveralminutes.This
willservetofreeupanyenergyblockagesandwakeupthemindbystimulatingthecirculationofthe
vital forces within the body.
Nowchooseacomfortableposture.Ifyouconsistentlypracticemeditation,youwillgraduallybeable
tostayinonepositionforlongerperiodsoftime.Ifyoupracticeregularly,youwilldiscoverthatyour
body will develop a daily rhythm that will be conducive to your meditation time.
Postureisoneofthemaincomponentsofthemeditationpractice.Maintaintheback
straighteithersittingonthefloorinthecross-leggedposture(Lotus),orsittingina
chairwithfeetonthefloororlyingonyourbackonthefloorinthecorpse-mummy
pose(withoutfallingasleep).Thistextprescribesasittingpositionthatismostcom-
fortableforyouwhichdoesnotallowyoutofallasleep.Allthemembersofthe
body, the arms, legs, etc. should be motionless.
Tips for FormalMeditationPractice