The First Meditation Experience

Mindfulness has been a big part of my personal healing journey. I first learned to meditate when I was about 22 – that is 20 years ago when the research and hype about meditation had not yet landed. ⁣⁠

I bought a book called ‘Meditation for Dummies’, I sat down and did the first exercise. It said to light a candle, sit cross legged, and gaze into the candle for 5 minutes. I set an alarm, sat down and looked at the candle. I tried to gaze…gazing hurt my eyes…when I moved my eyes, there was the imprint of the candle still on them. Was this good for me eyes? My physical body was uncomfortable, and my mind was metaphorically on fire, jumping around all over the place.⁣⁠

???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? for first time meditators. It is like taming a wild horse. Of course, it is going to feel uncomfortable and try to throw you off the first time you sit on it. The mind is just the same. The first time we sit down to still it, we realise just how noisy it is, and when we try to silence it, it simply won’t listen.⁣⁠

⁣⁠???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????????????????. ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????. For me, it has been invaluable. It has given me access to the observer, given me space to respond, rather than react.