The Grand Views

Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Andrew Davis Meditation [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Andrew Davis Meditation [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Andrew Davis Meditation [Click to enlarge]

On a large area rug sits four cross-legged people, each on their own black cushion, all facing the same direction of room 216 in Rasmussen.

Their hands rest on their knees, their eyes are shut.

The east and north walls are glass from floor to ceiling, allowing the outdoors to light up the room. A lit candle fills the room with a light aroma scent. A hand-sized bell sits on floor next to the leader who will ring it to bring the participants back into reality at the end of the 20-minute session.

For thousands of years people around the world have been practicing different forms of meditation. The four general elements to meditation are a quiet location, a comfortable posture, focus of attention and an open attitude.

Every Wednesday at noon, Grand View College offers meditation to improve on mind, body and spirit. It is opened to all students, faculty and staff.

Former Pastor, LeAnn Stubbs, brought meditation to Grand View College seven years ago. In the beginning, the meditation met on the second floor of the original Holy Grounds, which has since been torn down. The group has always varied in size from four to 12 people.

Stubbs said meditation is important to her.

"It continues to change my life and I wanted to share it. I wanted to have a group to sit with," she said.

The meditation starts with a short reading selected by one of the meditators. The reading varies from great thinkers of the church to Buddhist readings. The leader of the group then announces it is time to start the meditation.

During the next 20 minutes, the goal for the meditators is to clear their minds by concentrating on their breathing, if they wish. Some may choose a word to repeat in their minds.

Benefits for the mind include better memory, greater creativity, ability to focus and being more alert.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site said, people meditate to get relief from depression, pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia and mood or self-esteem problems.

Stubbs said, "Meditation is the practice of being mindful, of being aware of the present moment, present to what's happening."

"To live today is to live in the here and now. When we sit, we practice the courage to be real," she said.

Irene Faass, assistant professor of English, said, "It centers me and it calms me. It helps me to focus on tasks or otherwise I'm too scattered. Life is more than meetings and classes. Every faculty would appreciate it."

Faass said her meditation is different every time. She tries to clear her mind and think of nothing but positive thoughts and what she is grateful for.

Jeanne Wheeler, liberal arts senior, said, "I chose things I was grateful for and couldn't get through the list."

Wheeler said she has visualized her body attacking her cold. She tries to use her senses and experience the world around her.

Benefits for your body include less stress, more energy, better health and less tension.

According to The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site, meditators who suffer from physical or emotional symptoms find relief for chronic illness and their treatment such as; cardio vascular heart disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer.

Thomas Peterson, associate professor of psychology, said, "Meditation is about letting go of it. You note it, observe it and let go of it."

Peterson said the more he meditates, the better he gets. If he gets distracted with an outside noise, he tries not to fight himself. He just calls himself back to his breathing.

"Some days are easier than others, but it feels so good. Sometimes it is a struggle. It's like a warm bath I'm trying to sink into," he said.

Peterson said the world looks and feels different. He feels he is more compassionate and less judgmental.

"It's nourishing," he said. "It fills a hunger."

As a result of improving one's mind and body through meditation, meditators experience peace and serenity. They have positive energy, are more focused and in control and their spirit is high because they are happy.

To help lower stress, gain mental clarity and improve one's life. All this and more can be attained by 20-minutes of mediation regularly.

According to The Transcendental Meditation Program Web site, over six million people have benefited from their program and this statement has been validated with over 600 studies.

The weekly meditation is a humanities passport event. Students who attend can earn extra credit by attending.

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