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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying
Bliss More (2018) outlines a radical and effortless approach to meditation. Whether you’ve found yourself restless while sitting on your pillow or more mindful of your backache than your oneness with the universe, this book outlines easy steps to help you find your meditative groove.
Ever tried meditating? If so, you probably sat cross-legged on the ground, hands palms-up on your knees, with your back straight. After about five minutes, your back was probably killing you.
So if it hurts so bad, why do we all keep sitting that way? Well, in the West, meditation is associated with Eastern monastic practice – the image is one of a serenely detached monk who seeks to be one with everything. That’s where we get that pose from.
However, in India, not every meditator is a monk seeking to renounce all his earthly possessions. Plenty of normal people with jobs, friendships, and even nicotine addictions practice daily meditation. In other words, acting like a monk won’t make meditation any easier.
The key message here is: Meditation should be easy.
Let’s say goodbye to that painful cross-legged position. To meditate right, you want to find a position that’s effortlessly comfortable. For instance, try sitting the way you do when you binge-watch television. The whole point is to sit so naturally that you don’t even think about it. Oh, and if you get an itch – scratch it! if you need to sneeze, then sneeze.
Figuring out where to meditate should be just as effortless; no matter what you see on the internet, meditation doesn’t require a mountaintop or a beach at sunrise. Life is busy, so meditate where you can – on your couch, in bed next to your partner, or on the subway heading to work. Ultimately it’s not that quiet, zen-inducing spot that gives you the serenity – it’s the meditation itself.
Lastly, meditate for only ten to twenty minutes twice a day, once after waking up and again in the afternoon. While you sit, time yourself with a watch or a digital clock – something you can peek at to see how long you’ve been going. That’s right! You can peek whenever you want. But don’t use an alarm – that’s too jarring.
As with learning anything – whether it’s swimming or playing the piano – meditation requires steady practice. And the best way to ensure that you practice is to make it as hassle-free as possible. As we’ll see in the next blink, getting into a daily meditation practice is far easier when you learn to take it easy.
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 5,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trialBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma