Meditating alone at home is surprisingly difficult

That said, this isn’t my first time meditating. Previously, my yoga class included a meditation session at the end of practice. Meditating after practice was very calming, and I thought, “Meditation feels so good.” But once I stopped attending the class and started doing yoga at home, I tried meditating on my own, and it was a complete failure. Far from calming my mind, the moment I closed my eyes, thoughts would flood in: “Oh! I forgot to tidy that up,” or “Right! I should rewrite that passage like this.” Things popped into my head one after another, making me more restless than usual. Then, when I’d peek with half-closed eyes to check the time, thinking, “Is it about time yet?” I’d be shocked to see only two minutes had passed – this happened every time. Frustrated by my inability to do it, I eventually gave up on meditation.

I received my personal mantra from Yogmataji, the Mother of Yoga!

But meditation must have lingered in the back of my mind. When the editor for my series asked, “Ms. Fujiwara, what will be the theme for your next installment?” I immediately replied, “I want to write about meditation!” What’s more, I humbly sought out Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, who has been recognized as a Samadhi Master (one of only two in the world!) by the Indian government and the international meditation and yoga organization, “WORLD DEVELOPMENT PARLIAMENT.” Since experiencing meditation during that interview and receiving my personal mantra from Yogmataji, I have continued to practice every single day. I’m able to keep it up because Yogmataji told me, “Please continue meditating every day.” Actually, she said, “Twice a day,” but I gave up after a week, thinking, “Twice a day is too much to start with!” So, I’m currently aiming to continue at least in the morning.

Even so, in the beginning, just like before, distracting thoughts kept coming, and I could barely keep my eyes closed for three minutes. Still, believing “consistency is key,” I would sit and close my eyes while chanting my mantra, but I couldn’t achieve a state of mental clarity. So, I decided to thoroughly research the effects of meditation and try to understand it intellectually first. What I discovered was that meditation is now practiced by many people worldwide, and its effects are scientifically proven. Simply put,

• It improves concentration and memory.
• It enhances the body’s natural healing abilities.
• It builds resilience against stress.
• It increases anti-aging hormones and sleep hormones, contributing to anti-aging.

These are some of the benefits. While some might think of meditation as abstract or religious, it is actually an activity with scientifically proven effects that has a tangible impact on both mind and body.

The more I seek emptiness, the further it seems to recede

I started meditating with the goal of clearing my mind and eventually experiencing “the state of nothingness,” believing it would connect to the anti-aging theme of my series for Kateigaho. However, through the experience, I realized that reaching such a state requires immense time and discipline. Moreover, expecting to achieve it is, in itself, not a state of mental clarity. It’s as if the more I seek emptiness, the further it recedes. So, I decided to change my approach. “Since meditation offers these concrete benefits, I’ll put my effort into it!” And just like that, I found myself able to meditate for over 10 minutes. My mind also felt calmer and more settled than before. Hmm, even though it was difficult to stay clear-headed for even three minutes when I was trying to be mindful by chanting the mantra, the moment I learned about the specific benefits, my meditation time increased and my mind felt at ease. What does this say about me…! I suppose I’m just a very greedy person. But that’s who I am, so what can I do? (I tell myself, accepting it). For now, I’m using whatever works—be it a carrot or a stick—with the goal of extending my meditation time to 20 minutes. By the way, I meditate while bathing in the morning sun, and it feels like being enveloped in light, which makes me feel incredibly happy. If you’re considering starting meditation, I highly recommend the “morning sun meditation.”

Am I feeling the effects of meditation now? To be perfectly honest, I’m still not entirely sure. But what is certain is that for a short while after finishing my meditation, my mind becomes profoundly still, and I feel a sense of peace and happiness. I wonder if, for meditation masters, this feeling lasts all day long. If I could achieve that, how much easier and happier would my life be? That must be the ultimate connection to anti-aging, I think to myself each morning as I diligently practice meditation. (I catch myself thinking, “See, you’re still seeking something!”).