What is Meditation?

Meditation is a technique to quiet the mind.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention. 

We believe that meditation helps you most effectively when the formal practice of sitting down meditation is supported by mindful habits.  The course teaches you to acquire consciously chosen habits that help you pay attention to what you are thinking, doing and saying at any particular time. 

What is the purpose of Meditation?

To train your attention into clarity and focus to become more aware and mindful of your life and how you live it. 

You train your attention muscles so you become more connected with yourself and with life.  You learn to pay attention and notice what happens inside and outside of your self at any given time, so that you can be much more present for yourself, your loved ones, friends, coworkers and all that shows up into your life.   You practice to be able to make choices from a place of quiet and peace and not from reflexive impulse. 

Why would you want to quiet your mind?

Because behind the constant chatter of your thoughts lies a place of pure silence and peace.  

It is in that realm of peace that you find wisdom.  Meditation takes you to there, to that place of pure silence where everything, including thoughts, originates.

In the stillness of your meditation practice, you encounter your innate capacities for true love, creativity, joy, peace and healing which then "percolate" into your active life. 

How does it work?

It works like magic, not because the practice of meditation is enshrouded in mystery, but because it is transformational and yet it is effortless.  It is about doing less and allowing more. It is about training your attention to be where you want it to be without interfering, without resistance.   This particular way of paying attention during meditation transforms your predictable, reflexive, automatic ways of reacting to life into a much more reflective, clear, dispassionate, compassionate response to life. 

These "side effects" translate into a richer life that unfolds on themes of Joy, Peace, Presence, Creativity and Compassion.

Is meditation a method for relaxation?

Relaxation is part of the meditation practice.  It is one of its "side effects."

And yes, meditation is commonly and frequently equated with relaxation. . But it is not this is not the main purpose of meditation. We do not teach or practice meditation to just relax. 

We teach and practice to transform our lives and yours.  Notice that I am not saying “change” your life, because change is mostly temporary, while transformation is permanent. When you transform, there is no way back, the same way a butterfly cannot go back to being a caterpillar... Little by little, the experience acquired through the practice of meditation transforms the way you live your life, thus drama, crisis, desperation, fear and even depression unfold into a more gentle state of mind that is more peaceful and life enhancing. 

Is it a religion?

The practice of meditation is universal and does not carry any religious connotation unless you want to give it to it.

It is a practice at the base of all mayor religions of the world but it does not belong to any religion or creed in particular.  It is indeed compatible with any religious beliefs you might have. 

The practice of meditation is simply a tool you use to quiet your mind because when you quiet your mind, you make room for wisdom to permeate you.   It depends on what you want to construe that wisdom to be, you can call it: god, the source of all wisdom, peace, spirit, holy spirit, love, higher self, the Tao, Nirvana, Brahma, presence, Universe and much, much more. The meaning or name you give to your peace and wisdom does not matter, what is important is that you commit to the practice and notice the effects on your life.

What is our meditation tradition?

21st Century City Vedic.

Monica Belizan’s is a Deepak Chopra Center certified meditation teacher and that stamps a soft and wise Vedic bend to her teaching theory and style.  She weaves into it the result of her own personal experience of about three decades of studying and exploring several spiritual traditions across the globe, including the teachings of the Vedas, Buddha and mindfulness techniques.

The result is a meditation technique based on the ancient wisdom traditions of Vedanta adapted to today’s high pace Western cities with their high demands and stress levels.   

It is basically a simple mantra or breath repetition technique designed to establish you into a daily practice  for life.  It sharpens your mind into focus and clarity and  leads you into mindful ways that connect  you more deeply with your life, with the life of those around you, and with life itself as it presents to you.  After a few weeks of practicing meditation your life starts to change in happier, more wholesome and creative ways.  

Do you need a meditation teacher?

A meditation teacher is not absolutely necessary.  

If you have access to an experienced meditation teacher,  take at least a few sessions of meditation instruction and guidance. The instructor can recommend the style of meditation he or she thinks is most appropriate for you at this time in your life.  A caring teacher would help you start on a smooth road and clear away misunderstandings about the practice of meditation, expectations resistances and blockages that most of us have in the beginning.   A good sound start establishes a solid ground on which you want to build your practice and reap its benefits for life.  Check our class schedule and pricing for more information on available courses and workshops. 

However, learning from a teacher is not the only way.  You can learn from books, videos and audios.  Start easy and try to attend a retreat or join a meditation group.   In the book "Happiness No Matter What!"  you will find a few helpful guided meditations and also on the video section of this site.   Please feel free to write to us with questions:  info@monicabelizan.com.  We really welcome and answer them.