Meditation at Matara

The Matara Centre is a space in which celebration; healing and personal development can take place.   People are drawn to Matara because of the beauty, tranquillity and power of this space.  

Underlying the qualities found at Matara is the regular practice of meditation that takes place here. We are keen to offer the opportunity to learn this practice to all who come in contact with Matara.

What is meditation?

Meditation offers the opportunity to quiet the mind, and widen perception. In recent decades, in response to the destructive speeding up of life in the Western Hemisphere, the practice of meditation has been taken up by a significant proportion of the population in this country. 

All authentic techniques of meditation have one aim, to enable the mediator to reconnect with his or her natural stillness and calm, leading to a transformed life experience – greater happiness, more energy and remarkable, clinically proven, improvements in health and well being.

Techniques of meditation involve taking some time out for yourself each day, to reconnect with the deeper level of your nature – similar to diving down in a rough sea to the tranquillity and silence of the ocean floor.  

How does meditation work?

We in the West have over developed the rational, logical side of our brain.

Left hemispheres of the brain orientate us in relation to the rest of the world by drawing boundaries between ourselves and others and generate self awareness. This requires a constant stream of information flowing from our senses to sustain ones sense of self.

Events are separated into linier sequential events progressing relentlessly from past, present, and future. It seems at a faster and faster pace.

This sense of separation can leave us with a sense of isolation. Any perceived threats ignite fears and triggers flight or fight behaviour. Adrenalin released tends to make us frightened or hostile. We will more often than not project our concerns into the future assuming they will only get worse.

We find ourselves sometimes overwhelmed by the stress of having too much to do and little time to do it. The problem becomes how to quiet the mind and switch off.

How can meditation help?

Meditation blocks of left brain activity and the stimulating inputs of the senses. This quieting brings up back to a natural state and any sense of separation starts to disappear and ones sense of perception widens and boundaries start to dissolve.

One starts to sense a deep sense of peace. This stimulates the pleasure centres deep within the brain, releasing endorphins bringing feelings of bliss as you become present to the moment. Fear and self consciousness disappear.

Meditation naturally integrates the left and right hemispheres of the brain: Lineal sequential logic with a holistic, creative, emotional response that allows things to proceed in a loving positive honourable way.

Learning to Meditate

To understand the basics, begin by identifying four levels of human experience: body, breath, mind, and spirit. Each is addressed in meditation.

Body

The body forms the outermost layer of life. In meditation the body is made comfortable and steady. Otherwise meditation will not have a firm foundation.

Breath

Life is a field of living energy. Termed prana in ancient Sanskrit, this field of energy is maintained by breathing. In meditation, breathing is brought to awareness and refined.

Mind

Still deeper, the mind. Mediators develop strategies for gradually mastering the operations of the mind. This is the key to meditation.

Spirit

Finally, there is within each individual a dimension of experience lying beyond normal awareness. It is often likened to the ocean, the source from which individual waves arise. The ultimate aim of meditation is to trustfully rest in that ocean of awareness and bliss.

Meditation begins with physical stillness. Stillness reduces muscle tension and softens the mental grip we hold on our bodies. As stillness develops, tension becomes less demanding and the body acquires a refreshing lightness and transparency.

Mediators are frequently depicted in cross-legged postures that require a good deal of flexibility. The aim of these postures is not to contort the body, but to rest it in a position that is steady and comfortable. With practice, cross-legged postures prove the most effective for sitting with the head, neck, and trunk erect. But there are many postures that can substitute for sitting with crossed legs. Beginning practitioners often start their practice lying down, to completely relax muscles and nerves. Later, in sitting postures, it may also be helpful to support the spine with cushions, in a chair, or against a wall.

As your posture relaxes, it will be apparent to you that although you are outwardly still, there is movement within you. It is the movement of your breathing. The motion of the respiratory system sustains life, and awareness of breathing offers the opportunity to feel the breath’s cleansing and nourishing flow. Smoothing and relaxing the breath leads to a deep sense of inner well-being.

While sensations of breathing offer a good start, mediators often refine their concentration further with the use of a repetitive mantra.

Non-attachment is the effort to disengage from desires and longings that mislead us, offering false hopes for happiness. Ultimately, mediators acquire the ability to let distracting thoughts come and go in meditation without feeding them new energy. This further strengthens concentration, while calming the mind.