If possible, set aside an area that can be used only for meditation. This will create a meditative mood and, over time, your special place will become filled with meditative “vibrations.” A small room or closet is ideal so long as it is well ventilated. If you don’t have enough space for a whole room, then set aside a small area in your bedroom or some other room that can be reserved for meditation. If you can, face east as you meditate. This helps to align your body’s magnetism with subtle earth currents.
Your meditation area can be kept very simple—all you really need is a chair or small cushion on which to sit. You can enhance the mood by creating a small altar with pictures of those holy ones who inspire you. Many people also like to have a candle and an incense burner. Your altar can be as simple or elaborate as you like. In any case, your real altar is your heart.
It is good to occasionally meditate outside in nature, but this should be an exception rather than the rule. Deep meditation demands complete interiorization. There is, in fact, a stage in meditation called pratyahara, which means to interiorize even the senses. Yogananda referred to this as “shutting off the sense telephones.” So choose a quiet place for your meditation area, a place where you can concentrate without distractions.
Being able to shut out sounds will help your meditations. You can purchase inexpensive earplugs at many chemist or sporting goods stores. Simple rubber earplugs can be very effective, but some people find them uncomfortable. If this is true for you, try foam earplugs. They don’t block sounds quite as well, but they are very comfortable. You can also use earphones made to reduce industrial noise. These are very effective and often the choice of long-time meditators. If you have difficulty finding any of these products, write or call us at the number given at the start of this course, and we can help you.
