Living
Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation
introThe benefits of meditation are many, but getting there can be difficult. Indian wellness guru Rujuta Diwekar has some tips for achieving this peaceful yet elusive state.
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Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation.
2“An agitated mind cannot meditate.” When I read that in Light on Life by BKS Iyengar, it struck me like a bolt of lightning. The internet is loaded with information about meditation and how to quickly get there with scents, chants and yoga poses. The by-lanes of Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, are filled with banners and posters of programmes that teach you to meditate in as little as 3 days – with a certificate to boot. All this and still meditation remains a mystery.
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3Of the 8 steps of Ashtanga yoga as Patanjali laid it out, meditation – or dhyana – is the 7th step just before Samadhi, or complete Nirvana. Unlike what is commonly understood, it’s a state that one arrives at after years of practice and of leading a disciplined life, one that teaches us at the very least to eat, sleep and talk in moderation.
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4Honestly, I am not even sure if there is a guide to meditation, or if I can write one, but I will surely tell you what I have heard from various yoga masters about this ancient spiritual practice. They may strike you as pretty basic or simple, but then we all know one thing: simplicity is profound. The following are the steps that the yoga masters have laid out, and which I pass along to you:
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Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation.
5Wake up and go to sleep at a fixed hour every day. Try to wake up before the sun rises and watch how the morning arrives to the sound of the singing birds and swaying branches around you. [Photo: Susanne Nilsson/Flickr]
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6Adopt an exercise routine that you stick to daily. The Suryanamaskar (sun salutations) yoga sequence is especially beneficial, as it brings a rhythm to both the body and the breath.
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7Eat food that is cooked and served with love. Maintain silence around meal times, and be grateful for what’s on your plate. Make food choices that lead to heeta, or well-being of all living things on earth.
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8Build a bedtime routine that allows you to unwind. Stay off gadgets at least an hour before sleep, and spend some time in silence, just with yourself before you hit the bed.
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Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation.
9Begin and end your day with a prayer.
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10Meditation in photographs is different from what it is in reality, be prepared to recognise the difference when you practice it in real life.
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Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation.
11The path is beautiful if you take it a step at a time. The journey is the destination of meditation.
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Rujuta Diwekar’s Guide To Meditation.
12Rujuta Diwekar has earned a reputation as one of India’s most respected and inspirational wellness and nutrition experts. She advises India’s elite on nutrition, yoga and Ayurveda. Her next book Indian Super Foods (out in April) will be about the inherent wisdom and power in India’s traditional food and eating practices. Rujuta is a regular contributor to this website as one of our special American Express Essentials Global Citizens. Discover more at rujutadiwekar.com and her Facebook page.
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