The Still Mind: How to Begin Meditating (Part 2)

 

When I published the previous post on why we need meditation, I didn’t imagine life would underline it so poignantly so soon. Just a few days later, we lost a dear friend — someone who epitomised life, laughter, and warmth.

Now, meditation feels even more urgent — not as a philosophy, but as a lifeline. It has calmed my mind for years, but now it feels like a calling — to share, to remind others that peace of mind is no longer a luxury; it’s survival.

Contrary to what many believe, meditation is not religion, and it is not complicated. Despite its Indian origin, I learned it from a Turkish colleague — sitting quietly in my parked car. She shared what she had learned from an Indian guru: the simple art of following the breath.

That’s how meditation truly spreads — one calm soul passing the flame of awareness to another.

In the early days, meditation can feel confusing. What am I doing? or even Am I doing anything at all?
Well, that’s the precise point — not to do anything. Let the mind settle. It will wander, resist, and tempt you to give up — that’s normal.

There are a few simple tools that make it easier to begin:

Image lock — Focus on one image, real or imagined, and gently bring your attention back each time it drifts.
Time lock — Choose a small, regular time each day to sit — even five minutes — and stick to it.
Space lock — Use the same corner or chair so the mind begins to associate it with quiet. You’d be amazed how much is happening within you once the noise of the mind subsides.

Observe your breath — Sit quietly, even on your couch, and simply follow your breath. Inhale and exhale. Watch the air move in and out, feel your body absorb and release.
Let thoughts drift — Allow your thoughts to sail away like passing clouds. You don’t have to control them. Just watch, pause, and let them go.

In time, meditation becomes part of life itself — in traffic, at work, even in moments of worry.

Meditation doesn’t remove life’s chaos — it changes how we meet it. The storms stay, but we learn to stand still within them.

(If you haven’t read Part 1 —  The Still Mind: Why We Need Meditation More Than Ever— you may find it a good place to start.)

🕉️ Meditation for beginners isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll soon discover how mindfulness transforms not just your calm, but your clarity, focus, and joy in everyday life.

The Still Mind: Why We Need Meditation More Than Ever

 

Photo by Felipe Borges: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-meditating-on-rock-2597205/

My heart cries every other day when I read about young people collapsing in the gym, in the office, or taking their own lives — unable to cope with the pressure. That is when we see the need to wonder:

How do some people remain calm and composed?
How do they keep their focus when everything around them feels chaotic?
How do they manage to stay present while so many others sink into the past or drift toward the future?

We spend our waking hours juggling thoughts, deadlines, and notifications. Our minds run faster than our bodies ever could. Even in moments of rest, our thoughts rarely stop spinning — replaying the past or rehearsing the future. It’s no wonder so many of us feel restless, distracted, and unable to truly live in the moment.

There are many reasons for this modern unease, and some are more severe than others.
First, information overload — we consume more in a day than our ancestors did in a lifetime.
Second, constant comparison — social media convinces us that everyone else is happier, higher-achieving, more successful.
And third, seeking external validation — in a world obsessed with self-promotion, we look to others to tell us how great we are.

It’s not that we take this lightly — we try to cope. We go for walks, listen to music, scroll mindlessly, or read motivational quotes. These soothe us for a while, but they only distract the mind; they rarely reach the root cause.

What we truly crave is silence — not the absence of sound, but the quieting of the mind.

This is where meditation enters — neither an exotic ritual nor a passing trend, but an ancient practice of inner balance and mindfulness. For thousands of years, seekers and sages have turned inward to find clarity beyond words, stillness beyond thought, and peace beyond pleasure.

At its core, meditation is the practice of training the mind to become aware — of thoughts, emotions, and sensations — without being controlled by them. It’s not about escaping life, but engaging with it more consciously. It’s about recognising that thoughts and worries are like clouds drifting across the sky — observe them, and let them pass, without being swept away.

Over time, the practice helps us regain focus, reduce stress, build emotional resilience, and reconnect with our inner peace.

We may not be able to slow down the world around us, but we can learn to slow down within it. And that stillness — that sacred pause — is where real transformation begins.

In an age that glorifies speed and distraction, meditation reminds us to return to what is timeless — our breath, our awareness, our calm. In the next part, we’ll explore simple yet profound ways to begin this practice and experience the stillness within.