We usually think of silence as a quiet, sleepy state of rest. However, spending time in silent meditation can actually be a great way to bring your mind, your body and your spirit to life.
Here is a great one minute exercise in silence and spiritual openness that requires nothing more than an empty room:
A great way to become open and stay open, is simply to be quiet and receptive to what might be:
Be Still.
Breathe.
Relax.
Breathe again.
And again.
Let a little time pass, doing nothing.
Slowly the space you are in becomes open, receptive. Slowly, you realize that you can trust the quiet; nothing will scare or overwhelm you. Slowly you begin to realize that this is a time of receiving, not just of emptying. Slowly.
Now again:
Be Still.
Breathe.
Relax.
Breathe again.
And again.
Let a little time pass, doing nothing.
Now note how you are feeling at the end of that little practice. Give the feeling a name, like Tranquility or Composure. And when the time comes for you to get going again, bring Tranquility or Composure with you. Name it to yourself from time to time during the day and revisit the feeling.
Do this a few times today.
The above exercise is shared from the book Quiet Mind – One Minute Retreats from a Busy World, by David Kundtz.