The power of imagination

For beginners, meditation exercises normally commence with the proposition that you use your imagination to create an idyllic scene, awareness or experience. For many these visualisation exercises are easily created, while others find them more challenging as they require the freedom of creative, not analytical awareness. If you have difficulty visualising, do not worry!

Take a long deep breath and simply recall places, sounds and feelings that bring upliftment, inspiration, a sense of calm, tranquillity and happiness.

Can you remember spending time at the beach? What were your happiest memories of this experience? Sailing your yacht with the wind filling the sails, enjoying happy times with friends, the invigorating feeling of walking along the beach in the early morning light, the soothing sound of the breaking waves, or the peace felt while watching a sunrise or sunset?

Such recollections required no mental processing. You simply reemerge yourself in the fullness of an experience that brought happiness or fulfilment. Such is the nature of meditation. Such recollections are experiences of the spiritual heart, which you can recall at any moment, anywhere.

Next - Understanding the physical mind