Sitting Meditation Classic sitting meditation is a vital part of all meditation traditions and has taken many forms, some more effective than others. Traditional approaches to meditation demand that the student sit motionless for hours as if becoming a human statue is the key to enlightenment. A more scientific approach does not make the human body our enemy but rather works with our natural physiology to allow more intense meditation with less effort and discomfort. Begin by finding a relatively quite place to meditate where you will not be disturbed. You can sit cross-legged on a meditation pillow on the floor or in a comfortable chair.
Eyes can be fully open, half open, or just slightly open letting in two small slits of light.
Sitting meditation with the eyes fully closed, especially in a darkened room, presents fundamental physiological problems. When you sit quietly with your eyes closed in darkness your brain interprets this situation as a signal to start shutting itself down for sleep. Sleep inducing hormones such as melatonin are released that make you drowsy at the same time your circulation and heart rate are reduced due to lack of movement. You feel as if swept away on a sea of quite relaxation. This pleasant feeling may just be light sleep state hypnosis, not meditation.