Clarity And Tranquility: A Glide fo Daoist Meditation by Stuart Alve Olson

If you're into meditation, pick up this book. It is detailed on how to the Daoist styled mediation, but that is at the end of the book. Before that there is plenty of writing that is best understood if you already have knowledge on Daoist terms and will likely be most interesting to those who are more serious practitioners of the Dao.
 Reading the whole book can be worthwhile to the more casual reader trying to learn the meditation style presented but just sticking on the guide on how to do the meditative practices may be best to certain peoples.

Meditation

When I look back at myself on how I meditated over time, I have certainly changed. To think I was introduced to meditation from a friend about seven years ago seems so strange to me now for one reason in particular, the fact that I meditated so little at first.

Upon learning about meditation I was given a few tips on how to do it, tips I no longer remember. With me, I was one of those people who couldn’t sit still for long in meditation, six or seven minutes at most.

One thing I really should have done sooner was meditate on a regular basis, something I didn’t do until the last couple years. Since I have started meditating daily I went from meditating about five minutes a day to usually between fifteen to twenty minutes a day, a much needed improvement.

Like what happens with many friends, they go their separate ways. About three years after my introduction to meditation, the very friend who introduced me to it had lost contact with me. Saddening as it was, it was bound to happen due to going to two separate schools and having little to no time to see or talk to each other. I’m certain that if I was still in contact with this person, he would be quite happy with how long I can meditate now.

Meditation

Meditation is something that is used worldwide and I am one of those who meditate daily. So here are three small and quick tips for anyone who is starting to meditate.


First things first, always make yourself comfortable as possible while meditating. If you like to meditate on the floor, use a pillow if needed. I am one of those who find it hard to focus if uncomfortable and chances are if you are uncomfortable you will have some difficulties focusing.

If you have troubles with visualisation start with something small and simple. You can light a candle, watch it for a minute then close your eyes and try visualising the lit candle. Once you have started to visualise the candle you can next try visualising the flame changing colour, the flame getting smaller or bigger or moving around due to wind. Keep trying if unsuccessful and over time try to make the visualisations more complex.

If you are like me and need something to keep your hands busy to help stay focused, get and use something to keep one or both hands busy during meditation. Two things that can be used are prayer beads and meditation balls.

Hope these tips have been useful as they have been to me.