To develop concentration is very important for meditation. The mind may appear unruly but through perseverance we can improve our concentration. These following exercises will help us to practice concentration for meditation.
1.Concentrate on the Heart.
The heart has a special significance for meditation. It is the spiritual heart that we can have access to our soul, our inner being. For this exercise we want to concentrate all our awareness on the spiritual heart which is located in the centre of our chest very close to the physical heart. If our concentration becomes most intense we will feel that only our heart exists. What we are and what we are growing into is only our spiritual heart. If we identify only on the heart we will be taken away from the domain of the mind and into the realm of meditation. Whilst doing this exercise we should feel the necessity of not allowing any thought or distraction to take us away from our spiritual heart. We should also feel that our heart embodies great purity. We can imagine it is like an inner shrine of light and peace
2.Concentrate on the heart beat.
Related to the last exercise we can concentrate only on our heartbeat. If we focus on our heartbeat and nothing else we will be drawn into very powerful concentration. The heartbeat is very significant because it embodies the heart beat of life. Sri Chinmoy says that whilst doing this exercise you should try to feel that within your heart is an unlimited, infinite consciousness.
“Each time you hear the sound of your heartbeat, immediately feel there your infinite, immortal life.
3.Concentrate on Breathing.
For this exercise we rely only on our breathing. We try to become one with our breathing, so we feel totally identified with our breathing and nothing else. When breathing in be aware of the breath as it enters our chest. After breathing in try to hold yor breathe for a short time, so that we can feel a moment of absolute silence. Then breath out. As you breathe out you again concentrate only on this sensation of breathing out. For several minutes, try to feel that this breath embodies a real life energy.
“Naturally, the more energy you can draw inside you, the higher will be your meditation. Everything depends on the energy that is circulating inside you. Where does it come from? It comes from the Universal Consciousness.”
As you breathe out you can imagine you are breathing out any impurities or negative thoughts.
4.The inner Flower.
For this exercise we are going to concentrate on a flower which will be placed just in front of us.With your eyes half open and half closed look at the entire flower for a few minutes. Then try to establish a feeling of oneness with this flower. Feel this flower embodies your inner consciousness. You can then imagine that this flower is growing inside your own heart. Initially in bud form it is slowly starting to unfold petal by petal. After concentrating on the flower for a few minutes you can then narrow the focus and attention of your concentration to a small part of the flower, like a small tip of a petal. This means you will be concentrating on only a very small part of the flower. Then you can switch back to concentrating on the whole flower. Whilst doing this exercise try making your mind absolutely calm, quiet and tranquil. After trying this exercise a few times try to close your eyes and then visualise the flower inside your heart. As your concentration develops you will see and feel only a flower, embodying beauty, fragrance and light.
