How To Meditate Spiritually: Your Journey to Deep Inner Connection

Meditation is a technique and experience available to everyone. It’s a pragmatic conscious effort that can be as non-secular as you like.

However, it is a practice steeped in religious history and spiritual connotation. You could even argue that the human experience is intrinsically spiritual, and meditation is just an active pursuit of that spirituality.

And whilst meditating spiritually is an inside job, there are some tools and conditions you could take into account to help you on your way.

In this article, we will look at how to meditate spiritually through the below sections:

• Creating A Space For Meditation
• Breathing In Meditation
• Mindfulness In Meditation
• Mantras In Meditation
• Visualization In Meditation

Creating A Space For Meditation

Creating a space for spiritual meditation is a beautiful journey in itself, a space where you can find solace and deepen your inner connection.

Start by choosing a quiet corner in your home or surroundings, one that resonates with serenity. Clear away any clutter, for a tidy space is a canvas for your thoughts.

Importantly with meditation you need a comfortable seat, be it a chair, cushion, or a dedicated meditation mat. Comfort is essential, as it allows you to focus inward without distractions, which is critical for spiritual meditation. 

As you settle in, consider lighting; natural light is a blessing, but soft, diffused lighting can also create a calming ambiance. Candles and salt lamps are also great to set an environment conducive to introspection.

If it aligns with your beliefs, create a small altar or shrine, a place to focus your intentions. Objects with profound spiritual significance can rest here. 

Ultimately, when creating a space, it’s only about reflecting an environment to the activity itself: spirituality in practice happens internally. But creating a space is important. 

For example, if there was loud traffic coming in from the window in one room, it will be “harder” to meditate spiritually in there, as opposed to another room that is quieter. Spiritual meditation can also be pragmatic.

Lastly, maintain the space with care and regularity. A well-kept meditation space reflects your commitment to your practice.

More than a physical location, it is a sanctuary for your soul, a place where you can explore the depths of your being and find peace within.

So, in summary, here’s what to consider with creating a space:

• Choose a quiet space
• Make sure it is uncluttered
• Have a comfortable seat
• Consider soft lighting
• Use candles
• Maybe make use of a shrine or altar relevant to your intentions
• Minimize distractions
• Look after the space

Breathing In Meditation

Breath awareness holds a profound significance in the realm of spiritual meditation. It serves as a cornerstone practice, lending depth and meaning to the spiritual journey.

In the midst of our busy thoughts and distractions, breath awareness acts like a stable anchor. It’s a reliable point of focus that keeps us rooted in the present. 

As we pay attention to our breath, noticing each inhale and exhale, the noise of our racing thoughts starts to calm down. It becomes a peaceful oasis in the midst of our mental chaos.

Across various spiritual traditions, breath embodies the flow of life force or energy. In yoga, it’s known as “prana“; in traditional Chinese medicine, “qi.” 

The breath carries this vital essence within us. As we become attuned to our breath, we learn to work with this subtle energy, potentially opening doors to profound spiritual insights and experiences.

Breathing is a mechanism of the body that can be both subconscious, and conscious. You can breathe with intent, but you breathe when not paying attention either, i.e. in your sleep. 

The Buddha found out that the humble breath is a spiritual bridge to the subconscious mind for this very reason. You observe it in meditation, and it can become the gateway to the depth of your mind and body.

So in summary, here’s what to keep in mind with breath awareness when considering how to meditate spiritually:

• Breath awareness is a fundamental anchor to spiritual insight
• Breath awareness creates calm, allowing presence
• Breath awareness enhances recognition of our life force: prana
• The breath is a bridge to the subconscious

Mindfulness In Meditation

Mindfulness lies at the heart of spiritual meditation, serving as its foundational pillar. 

It acts as a guiding light, shedding illumination on the journey towards a profound connection with our inner selves, heightened self-awareness, and the blossoming of spiritual growth.

First and foremost, mindfulness is the art of being fully present in the here and now. In the realm of spirituality, this presence is paramount. 

We are spiritual creatures at heart, and a lot of Eastern scripture tells us that we are already enlightened at essence. Mindfulness helps us return to this innate state of spirituality, by helping us see through the obscurants within our mind.

For example with cultivating mindfulness, individuals learn to shed the baggage of the past and the worries of the future, grounding themselves firmly in the present moment. 

This heightened state of awareness becomes the fertile ground for spiritual exploration.

In the realm of spirituality, the recognition of impermanence is a fundamental concept.

Mindfulness hones this awareness, allowing us to see the ever-shifting nature of existence, or anicca according to the Buddhists.

It encourages us to let go of attachments to the fleeting and transient, fostering a sense of detachment from material possessions and ephemeral experiences.

To summarize, mindfulness plays a key role in spiritual meditation based on these principles:

• Mindfulness is a foundational pillar that fosters presence in the here and now
• Mindfulness helps remove barriers to our core state, which is spiritual at essence
• Mindfulness helps us remove focus on the past and the future
• Mindfulness helps us cultivate awareness of impermanence, or anicca
• Mindfulness encourages detachment from material pulls

Mantras In Meditation

Mantras play a pivotal role in the practice of spiritual meditation, offering a profound avenue for seekers to connect with their inner selves and the spiritual realm. 

These sacred words, phrases, or sounds are repeated either audibly or silently during meditation, and their importance in the spiritual journey cannot be overstated.

When individuals repeatedly chant or recite a specific mantra, their attention becomes singular and unwavering. 

This intense focus helps calm the mind and reduces distractions, enabling a deeper and more profound spiritual experience when meditating.

Mantras are not mere words; they carry a particular vibrational energy. Chanting or repeating a mantra is believed to create a resonance within the body, fostering harmony and balance in the mind, body, and spirit. 

This resonance can lead to a sense of inner peace and spiritual alignment.

Mantras are often deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions. Learning and practicing these sacred phrases can foster a sense of connection with the cultural and spiritual heritage they represent.

Moreover, mantras can seamlessly integrate with breath-awareness and mindfulness practices. This combination enhances the benefits of both techniques, promoting deep relaxation, presence, and spiritual connection.

Therefore, mantras are key when looking into how to meditate spiritually, based on these points:

• Mantra repetition improves your single-pointed focus
• Mantras carry vibrational energy, creating resonance with your inner self
• Mantras have cultural and spiritual heritage, which is an important thing to study
• When used alongside breath awareness and mindfulness it creates a powerful spiritual mixture

Visualization In Meditation

Visualization is a profoundly impactful practice within the realm of spiritual meditation. It entails the creation of mental images or scenes in the mind’s eye to facilitate deeper spiritual experiences. 

First and foremost, visualization serves as a potent tool for enhancing concentration during meditation. 

By conjuring specific and vivid mental images, individuals gain a tangible point of focus that anchors their attention, diminishing mental distractions and enabling a heightened state of concentration.

To visualize when exploring spiritual connection is to find resonance with the object of your visualization. Such as a chosen deity, guide, or higher power. 

Please note, however, that the Buddha discovered that through mastering all the practices of mantra, visualization, and yogic visualization that they did not assist him in reaching the final goal. 

While they aided in achieving samadhi or tranquility of mind, his enlightenment occurred through the observation of reality as it is, rather than directing that observation to a focal point outside of his mind-body phenomena.

Visualization is also instrumental in manifesting intentions and desires. By vividly envisioning the realization of their goals or intentions, individuals infuse these aspirations with potent energy and intent. 

This practice may increase the likelihood of actualizing these aspirations in their lives.

The practice of visualization often involves mentally experiencing physical sensations and movements. 

This engagement deepens the connection between the mind and body, allowing individuals to explore the interplay between physical sensations, emotions, and their spiritual experiences.

Ultimately, visualization is a dynamic and versatile tool, and in summary it helps us meditate spiritually on these points:

• Visualization helps individuals resonate with their chosen spiritual object
• Visualization, alongside all yogic tools were helpful tools for cultivating spiritual growth
• Visualization helps manifest intention and desires
• Visualization helps deepen the mind-body, spiritual and emotional experience

Further Information

We are spiritual beings at essence, and these points will help you create conditions and develop techniques to realize this internal state.

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