When I meditate I am always wondering if I am doing it correctly. This takes my mind of what I should be concentrating on. I am a Christian and took plenty out of your book The Third Jesus, in my opinion you’ve got it spot on. Although reality (the physical world) always get to me, how can I change this?
Answer:
It’s important to stay integrated with physical reality because that is what makes the development of our spirituality practical. So while you don’t want to let the values of the material world dominate or overshadow your awareness of your true nature, neither do you want to run from the world to seek a fragile peace. To establish and integrate the silence of your awareness into your daily life, you need to alternate your meditation practice with balanced activity during the day.
The simplest way to determine if you are meditating correctly is to ask yourself if you are meditating easily and effortlessly. Whether you are using a mantra or following your breath, your attention should be fluid and relaxed, not rigid or fixed. Remember, the mind needs to wander off, get distracted and lose focus in order for the awareness to move from the surface level of the mind to the deeper, expansive realms of consciousness where we open up to our greater potential.
When you become aware you are no longer thinking the mantra or noticing your breath, then that is your indication to gently return your attention to the process and start the cycle over again. If you maintain an easy frame of mind as you lose the mantra and then return to it, then you are meditating correctly. Whatever that meditation process brings you is governed by the intelligence of the cosmos and is exactly what you need at that time.
Love,
Deepak
