Part 5 Of 6 - The Fundamentals Of Meditation

Welcome to the Bodhi Soul Guided Meditation Sessions and Session 5 of the Fundamentals of Meditation.

The six-week meditation program for real life will be learning how to integrate the aspects of calmness,

Focused awareness,

And an open attitude into your everyday life.

This session is an introduction to Mantra Meditation Mantra is a Sanskrit term with man meaning mind and tra meaning release.

A mantra is a sound,

Word,

Or phrase you repeat over and over during meditation.

It's an easy and effective tool that can help you focus your mind and keep it from wandering.

Whether you choose a mantra that reinforces your intentions to meditate,

Such as the Sanskrit word Shanti,

Which means peace,

Or one that simply reminds you of how you'd like to feel,

Like the word calm or the word joy,

There's no right or wrong choice.

You can also use mantra as an affirmation that resonates with you,

Such as I am calm or my life is filled with joy.

So let's begin by finding a comfortable position,

Either seated or lying down.

One where you're alert yet relaxed.

If lying down,

Allow your arms to be away from your body and your feet to fall open to each side.

If seated,

Relax your shoulders down and rest your palms on your thighs.

Let's make any final adjustments here to get comfortable,

And when you're ready,

Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath.

Start by inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling out through your mouth with a sigh.

Again,

Inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling out with a sigh.

Now allow your breath to come back to its natural rhythm.

Not forcing or judging,

Just simply breathing.

However you're breathing in this moment is just fine.

In this meditation,

We'll be working with the simple mantra,

I am present,

I am calm.

Start to softly repeat the mantra to yourself in your mind as you breathe.

I am present,

I am calm,

On your inhale.

And I am present,

I am calm,

On your exhale.

Allow the mantra to anchor you into this present moment.

If your mind wanders,

Gently bring your awareness back to your breath and start to softly repeat your mantra,

I am present,

I am calm.

Start to bring your awareness back to your surroundings now and to the support beneath you.

To finish,

Take one last deep inhalation and exhalation.

And when you're ready,

Gently opening your eyes.

Namaste.