Cycles of 10 Breathing

Concentration and Memory exercise

The most basic of all meditations consists of observing one's train of

thoughts. Before one can control a thing, one must become aware of a

thing. So one seeks to distinguish between the consciousness and what

occupies it. Meditations of this type come in many forms. One of the most

basic is the cycles of 10 breathing meditation. This one finds this the

most useful beginner's meditation. 

One simply sits in a comfortable position (but not too comfortable you do

not wish to sleep), and breaths in and out at a normal pace, and that

constitutes a count of one. Continue to count until you reach 10 sets of

breathing in and breathing out. Then start the next set as one. If you

lose count, or find yourself counting 11 or 12, simply start again with

one and try to stop at 10 during the next cycle.

I would suggest you try to do this for at least five minutes to start.

Continue for the whole five minutes, even if you lose count. For normal

human breathing this should consist of about 11 to 13 cycles of 10. Once

you can easily do each cycle without flaw, add more cycles. You may add

as many as you wish, but if you find yourself easily finishing 75 or more

cycles you may wish to consider moving on to a more difficult exercise.

When you start this you may find your mind a raging torrent of unruly

thoughts, or you may find yourself worrying about the days events. When

this happens simply acknowledge you have lost track and begin again. In

doing this you will become aware of what fills your mind during your

waking hours. 

Copyright 1997, by Robert L. Zook II, all rights reserved.

Controlling the flow of Thought

Improving your focus

In this meditation, you attempt to direct the stream of thoughts either
towards some object or away from it. You may chose either to begin, but
by doing both at different times you will gain more from it. In directing
your thoughts toward some object, you pick a subject and strive to direct
your attention to it and to keep your attention from straying onto a
different subject. 

For example, you may sit and study the wall across from you. Look at the
wall, observe the texture of the wall, think of the materials the wall
consists of, examine the many shades of color, focus your attention on
the wall. When you stray off into another subject, once you become aware
of it, simply turn your attention back to the wall. Again, at first
attempt 5 minutes and gradually increase the time as you find the
meditation easier.

In order to turn your thoughts away from a subject, you simply focus your
attention on another subject, or group of subjects. The fascinating thing
about this version of the meditation - once you try to command your mind
to ignore a subject, the more your mind will try to focus on it.Pain
seems like good subject for this meditation, which gives a glimpse of the
meditations to come. Of course,one can chose any subject. 

Unless you have a very limber body try this: sit on the ground with your
legs straight out in front of you. Lean over your legs, stretch out your
arms and try to grasp your feet around their bottoms. Don't fret if you
cannot reach that far, simply let the hands grasp the legs as far up as
they can. At the point where you feel a pain, in the back of your legs,
almost too intense to endure, stop there and grasp.

Stay in that position, and begin the cycles of 10 breathing meditation.
Try at first for 30 seconds. If you cannot last 30 seconds you may have
stretched too far. Pain does serve a useful function, it warns the body
of impending damage, do not stretch too far, too fast. If you easily last
30 seconds you have not stretched far enough. If you cannot feel any pain
when you grasp your feet, you probably do yoga or something similar -
find a painful position which will not damage you.

While sitting this way, turn your thoughts toward some subject. Simply focus on something other than the pain. If you find you can do this for 20 or more minutes
consider moving on to the next meditation.

Copyright 1997, by Robert L. Zook II, all rights reserved.

Flowing water

Relax body and mind. Produces beneficial negative ions, reduces mental chatter. 

1. Sit somewhere near flowing water.

2. Begin to breeze normally and focus on the sound of the water for five minutes. Try to empty your mind of all thoughts. If thoughts come to mind, go back to focusing on the flowing water.

3. With each in breath, allow the sound of water to deepen your relaxation. Notice if you feel better physically or mentally when you are next to flowing water. 

4. When you feel ready, and your meditation. Drink a large glass of water, and remind yourself to drink more throughout the day. 

Do this as many times as you need to during the week. 

Gauding, M. (2009). The meditation bible (1st ed.). London: Godsfield.

Photo by Ahmed Saffu