“This is Not the Way You’re Supposed to Meditate”

In my book Brain Drain, I discuss how meditation has allowed me to understand the workings of the automatic brain and put me in touch with the power of my mind for a richer, more satisfying life. This is why I have decided to share some meditations on my You Tube site.

I record these meditations directly into my computer, while I meditate. As I suggest to you, I first go to a quiet place in my home, turn off the lights, and get into a comfortable seat (either on the floor on my knees or in a comfortable chair). I connect the headset to the computer and place it over my ears. I close my eyes and begin meditating aloud so I may share it with you. I do not rehearse it. From beginning to end, this is an unedited, personal meditation.

Feel free to use my meditations and share them with others. It sometimes helps to use someone else’s meditation as you learn to develop your own style. That’s how I started over 25 years ago.

There are only a few things to keep in mind while you meditate, and only one rule. The one rule: there are no rules. A patient once shared our work together on meditation with a friend. The friend replied, “That’s not meditation. I have been trained in TM and that’s not the way you’re supposed to do it.” Another person asked me when she should meditate and how long it should be. I told her that there is no set time for either. When she should meditate is when she feels she should, but not to put restrictions, requirements, or prerequisites upon it. There are no “shoulds”. In my opinion, there is no right way or wrong way. The only requirement is that it is your personal, private time alone. I make suggestions only. As you practice, you will develop your own style; that which works for you.

Another question that comes up is that of breathing. In fact, I received a comment on my YouTube post that I was wrong by directed the listener to “breathe deep.” The commenter argued that the monks of the Himalayas do not do such breathing and they are, after all, the experts. The way I see it, those monks live pretty much in a state uninfluenced by the daily barrage of circumstances that activate our primitive automatic brain. Don’t get me wrong, they too have an AB, everyone does. However, their automatic brain drain is well contained in a secluded environment. Since activation of the AB causes us, unconsciously, to breathe more quickly and more shallow, incorporating the deep, slow breaths during meditation, allows for one to control the automatic machinations of their AB and calm brain drain, opening up the mind to receive.

Whether you want to visualize, or think of nothing, try using my meditations at first and see where it takes you. I am hopeful that it takes you to a place where you find that you are in more control of your body, able to connect more freely with your higher mind, and find a deeper truth and more profound inner strength from this personal journey.