The Benefits of Meditation

There are many benefits for developing a regular meditation routine. Perhaps one of the clearest and most straightforward methods of communicating these benefits is the analogy of the two jars as presented by Ernest Wood within his book Concentration: An Approach to Meditation (Page 95):

“The first jar represents the ordinary man; the three levels of the jar, the physical, emotional and mental sections of his personal constitution. Physically he is restless and distracted by everything that touches his senses; emotionally he has little self-control, and the most trifling event can destroy his balance for a considerable time; mentally, his life is almost without direction at all. The water pouring down from above represents the life within, which is dissipated through the innumerable holes in the vessel.

The second figure shows the man of meditation. By concentration he closes up the holes, and the water, pouring into him in ever-increasing volume, fills up the vessel constantly higher and higher; and the life within does creative work up to the level which it has reached. Do not, therefore, think of meditation as something to soothe you when in trouble, or as a means of escape from the world, but think of it as the way to rise to a higher platform of consciousness, so that, facing the world with that new consciousness, you will attain greater reality, and so proceed in a “virtuous circle” to the realization of an altogether fuller and richer life and consciousness.”

Concentration: An Approach to Meditation is a great book for learning the basics of meditation as well as techniques for greatly improving your level of concentration. At 154 pages this book appears deceptively short. In fact, to perform all the exercises within the book it will take approximately six months. When reading this book one should consider it as a course in concentration rather than just gathering information. That being said, if one read this book without performing the exercises, they would learn much, but in my opinion the real benefit is the information coupled with the concentration exercises.

As with the preceding jar analogy there is plenty within this book which will be useful to the individual with an interest in meditation, regardless of experience level. Furthermore, the concentration and meditation aspects are of value and will affect all aspects of your life.

Concentration: An Approach to Meditation may be purchased at the Celestial Source bookstore.

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