Meditation Can Help You Quit Smoking ?

Daily life if full of "controlling business", we try to manage everything that we could, our business, our life or other people's life as well. But have you ever think that meditation is also some kind of management ? Yes, mind management. We can manage our mind as said by The Buddha in His message about mind :

- To know the mind, that is so near to us, and yet is so unknown.
- To shape the mind, that is so unwieldy and obstinate, and yet may turn so pliant.
- To free the mind, that is in bondage all over and yet may win freedom here and now.

It's not an easy thing to do but it is not impossible otherwise there wouldn't be The Buddha in this planet. Meditation is about to give attention to the mind, watch the movement and how to deal with it and you don't have to be a genius person for being able to do so.

The first verse of Dhammapada (one of the best known books of Sutta Pitaka - a collection of Buddha's teaching) stated clearly that our thought, speech and action have the mind as their forerunner. For example, smoking activity (habit to be precisely :P). We don't just merely grab a cigar and light it on. Actually there is a process in our mind. Only we couldn't see it, First the thought about smoking arises, after thought arises, feeling arises (what a pleasure if we can smoke) and next is a desire to smoke will follow. This restless wanting mind won't stop until we grab a cigar and start smoking.

Meditation can help us see this process more clearly. If we know how the mind works then we can start to learn how to deal with it that means we have chances to get free from its trap.

Meditation Postures

Sitting is the most common known meditation posture but not the one and only. What about people who have physical discomfort in sitting for long periods ? They still have chance to meditate because basicly there are four postures of meditation :

1. Sitting
You can sit on the floor using a cushion with the leg in a suitable position, you don't have to
cross the leg or you can sit on a chair / stool (don't take this as a second class position )
because there is no magic in sitting on the floor :) just make sure you keep your back
straight but not tense. One hand placed in the other with palms upward and held below the
navel.

2. Walking
Simply find a clear and straight path between six and ten meters long. Corridor in
a house will do or may be a bedroom with six meters clear and straight path inside. As long as it is comfortable to walk, use whatever is available and walk without shoes.

3. Standing
Gently close your eyes and stand still for about fifthteen minutes until 1 hour. Keep the back
straight but not tight and place your hands comfortablly in front of you.

4. Lying Down
You may practice meditation by lying on one side, keep the body quite straight and bend one
arm up to support your head with the palm placed behind the ear.

These postures help us to practice better however the essence of meditation is about training the mind not how well done the posture is.

Meditation And The Mind

There are many styles of meditation and meaning . Sometimes if I mentioned the word meditation to other people (my friends) then the first thing that will come up to their mind is "Ah yes, I know, it's a relaxation technique" or the other will say "Oh no, you must not deal with it. Meditation is a dangerous practice because it deals with black magic and can make you insane!". What a poor definition , but at least these are perspectives taken by people regarding to meditation in where I live.

First of all the word "meditation" itself from buddhist perspective can be defined as "The way to train the mind" . Fortunately I do learn and practice Buddhist Meditation since five years ago and if meditation can cause people get insane, then I don't have to wait until five years, infact, it is quite amazing to find out how meditation has changed the way I live my life from being a jerk to a sane and good normal living being.

If we practice meditation with a pure motivation (e.g. to gain inner peace) we will never get insane ! Meditation can show us how to deal with our thinking mind, from what I've been through it is more pain came from a thinking mind than my sick body and it is the thinking mind that will make people get insane not the meditation.

So I think it's clear enough that meditation has nothing to do with mysticism or black magic but it is something to do with our mind. :P

How To Start Practicing Meditation

Fairly speaking, meditation does not owned or monopolized by one particular religion. What I am trying to say here, if someone practice meditation it doesn't mean that person has to be a Hindus or Buddhist or (worse perception) will be converted from one's religion ! It is completely has nothing to do with whatever your religion is but once again it is something to do with your mind.

How much is the cost to get our self start the meditation ?

1. Time/Schedule

Choose the most suitable hour for us and does not disturb our daily activities. How long

should the practice ? fifthteen minutes or one hour we decide it. If a fixed schedule has been set then we can expect meditation as part of our habit.

2. Place

We need a quiet place but doesn't mean it has to be in the jungle or top of the mountain. Anywhere will do as long as not too noisy. It can be an empty room or bedroom whichever is available. It is important at the beginning of the practice after all if we are about in a higher level we are supposed to be able to meditate everywhere. Meditation then become a twenty-four hours activity.

3.Meditation Teacher

Nowadays there are so many meditation teachers, the question is how can you find a good one ? If we can't find one, we can use books. There are plenty of good and free resources like here to start with.