4 reasons why Passage Meditation is good for the soul
If you haven’t heard about Passage Meditation then this article could change your life (not even exaggerating).
The late Eknath Easwaran developed Passage Meditation back in the 1960s.
It’s super simple and is a practice that anyone can do!
First, you start by choosing a piece of inspirational or spiritual text that you connect with. This should be something positive and uplifting. It can be long or short, but you’ll need to be able to memorize it so choose wisely. Then find a comfortable and quiet place to sit. Close your eyes and start to slowly recite the passage in your head. Focus on every word that you say to yourself and if you find yourself getting distracted, catch yourself and immerse yourself in the words once again. Repeat the passage as many times as you like and really absorb it’s meaning into your mind and body. If you haven’t tried it before you should! And here are four reasons why.
- It’s good to take time out
Whether it’s 5 minutes or an hour, taking some time out is great for self-care. Put down your phone, put away your laptop and just spend a few minutes, or a little bit longer, focusing on a passage that inspires and resonates with you. Switch off from the busy world and focus on you, your breathing and slowing your mind.
2. It lowers stress
A 2006 Harvard study actually found that Passage Meditation reduced stress and improved the mental health of health professionals including doctors and nurses. It also found that it enhanced their ability to deal with difficult situations and their ability to control upsetting emotions. This came from the test participants doing just 2 hours of Passage Meditation each week. All of this from just repeating a passage in your head? Sounds good to me!
3. We become what we meditate on
Since we choose the passage that we’re meditating on, we already have a connection with the words and ideas they express. As Easwaran said himself, “slow, sustained concentration on these passages drives them deep into our minds. And whatever we drive deep into consciousness, that we become.” It’s similar to what Buddha says as well, “all that we are is the result of what we have thought”. So pick a passage that relates to what you want to achieve. It could be related to breaking a bad habit, inviting new relationships, succeeding at a task or just being more positive.
4. It can improve memory and concentration
Another study found that while Passage Meditation is great for your mental well-being, it could also boost your memory and concentration skills. Spending time just focusing on the single task of repeating a passage and every word it contains improves your concentration. After a little bit of practice you’ll find it easier to focus on every day tasks without getting distracted. Your memory will also benefit as remembering and reciting a new passage causes your short-term memory to be put to work.
So if you’ve tried meditation before but couldn’t switch off and let your mind be silent then maybe Passage Meditation is more your style. Start off with just a few minutes a day and a short passage and then gradually build into longer sessions with more complex passages. See how it goes! You’ll be feeling relaxed and rejuvenated in no time.
