Q&A in spiritual benefits of meditation

When first beginning to meditate, many questions come about the spiritual benefits of meditation. Here are answers for some of the most common and frequently asked questions related to meditation and spirituality.

Can People Of Any Religion Meditate?

People of every religion can and do meditate to get spiritual benefits of meditation, although the terms meditation and spirituality are not always the first choice of wording.

In addition, some religions frown upon certain types of meditation. For example, in some Christian faiths it would be considered taboo to meditation and spirituality to recall past lives or to align one’s chakras.

What Is The Best Time Of Day To Meditate?

To get spiritual benefits of meditation it is generally believed that mornings are the best time to meditate before the distractions of the day can cloud your focus, although meditation can be practiced at any time of the day. Evenings are also a good time to wind down and meditate after a busy day. Meditation is known for being great at reducing stress and allowing for relaxation.

Does Meditation Hurt?

Meditation can be uncomfortable at times, especially if one is in an uncomfortable position, but, it shouldn’t hurt. One of the most difficult adjustments is learning to keep the back straight when meditating as so many people are used to slumping when they sit. Using a meditation mat or cushion can help bring comfort to a meditation and get more spiritual benefits of meditation.

Can Children Meditate?

Absolutely yes children can meditate to get spiritual benefits of meditation. In fact, in Eastern cultures, parents begin to teach their children to meditate as soon as they can sit on their own. For younger children, meditation can help with a child’s imagination, while it can ease stress for older children. In addition, meditating can be done with the entire family.

Is Sitting The Only Way To Meditate?

Meditating can be done in many different positions. People can walk, kneel or even lay down while meditating, although laying down is the least preferred as it’s much easier to fall asleep in that position. For beginners, sitting may be the preferred way, but it’s always good to try out the different forms the body can be in while meditating.

The article titled How to Practice Walking Meditation provides information on how to meditate while walking.

What Is The Best Food To Eat For Meditation?

Whether meditating or not, it’s always best to eat healthy. When meditating, it is preferred to wait an hour after eating before meditating. When people are full, they often feel sleepy and as meditation is very relaxing, there’s better chance a person will fall asleep when full. In addition, it’s best to stay away from caffeine and alcohol for at least an hour beforehand as well.

Is It OK To Meditate While Pregnant?

Many women find it rewarding to meditate during pregnancy. They get spiritual benefits of meditation. It helps to keep stress levels down which are beneficial to both the Mother and the baby. Also, some women claim that meditating while in labor reduces pain. While being able to sit during the first part of pregnancy, some women prefer to lay down to meditate towards the end of their pregnancy.

Do The Eyes Have To Be Closed To Meditate?

No, the eyes don’t have to be closed to meditate.. In fact, some meditations are done with the eyes open. For example, meditating on an object such as a flower or gazing into the flame of a candle. While some people find it easier to meditate with open eyes, others find they can meditate deeper with their eyes closed.

Children And Meditation

There are many benefits for children through the experience of spiritual meditation. From increasing the imagination, to reducing stress, to help with studying for a test, meditation can be a very rewarding experience for children.

Spiritual Meditation for Young Children

Monkey see, monkey do! Many times this seems the case with children. If a child sees a parent meditating, that child may very well want to imitate what they see. If meditating and your child want to join you, welcome the child to participate.

Of course, how a child meditates will most likely be different than how a parent meditates. For young children, meditations should be fun and creative, thus inspiring a child’s imagination. This can be fun not only for the child, but for the parent as well.

A simple meditation for a young child is to have the child sit down, close their eyes, and imagine a picture in their mind. It could be something magical like a fairy, or something calm and pretty, like a stream. A parent can even have a child focus on the color.

Have the child try to experience the picture as many ways as possible. This should only be a short meditation. When it is over, ask your child to tell you what they saw, heard, or felt. If meditating with more than one child, make sure each child gets an equal turn in talking about their experience.

Meditating With Young Children Outside

If wanting to meditate with a child outside, simply take the child by the hand and go for a walk. If the child spots something interesting such as a pretty rock, a flower, or a leaf, just sit down with your child and have the child focus on the object. Feel free to ask a simple question such as how the object makes your child feel while doing spiritual meditation.

Meditation For Older Children

Spiritual meditation expert says older children, particularly teenagers, are under so much stress and pressure these days. Between the transition from childhood to adulthood, peer pressure, and academics, older children can really benefit from the effects of meditation.

To help your child cope with stress, merely have the child sit, back straight, with eyes closed. Tell the child take deep, calming breaths, while imagining a peaceful scene in the mind. While some children may easily be able to picture a peaceful scene in their mind, others may need help.

Feel free to talk your child through the meditation by describing the scene and encouraging the child to experience the scene with all five senses. The amount of time the meditation takes can vary according to the child. This type of meditation should have a very calming effect on children.

In addition, the above type of meditation can be beneficial when a child is facing a big test. If a child is stressing out and having difficulties studying, have the child take a break for a few minutes and perform the meditation listed above. This should help the child to feel calmer and thus better focus on studying.

Meditating With The Family

Sometimes an entire family likes doing spiritual meditation together. One of the key factors to this is that parents agree on what the meditation will be before introducing it to the children. Not only can this be a very creative experience, but a great bonding experience, as well.

Teaching a child meditation can open up the door for many of the wonderful effects that meditation can bring to an individual.