Articles - An Enriching Experience
As published in Defence 2000 Bulletin
MEDITATION
An Enriching Experience
by Maj Margaret Davis
Editor's note: There
are different approaches to meditation, which are taught through a variety of
organizations such as workplaces, health and fitness centres, churches and
groups dedicated to yoga and other eastern disciplines. Years of experience, cost and personal
comfort level are among the variables to be carefully considered when choosing
an instructor. See accompanying
articles.
Meditation is for people and it is
people who make the military work. I am
a member of the CF and I also meditate.
I have discovered the enormous
benefits that extend throughout my on- and off -duty time. In my opinion, these hold incredible
potential for individual service persons and the organization as a whole.
Currently, the department is asking
personnel to do more with less. Our
budget is decreasing, material resources are diminishing, and manpower is being
reduced.
People taking on more and more
responsibility with less support can experience fatigue and undue stress or
feel they are “at their wits end”. The
organization has responded with stress management and programs that teach
relaxation techniques.
I would like to present another way
namely meditation. The method I have
chosen, is called Turaya and the founder has developed it for the North
American lifestyle.
Like many other types of meditation,
it has a large following throughout
Sessions cover the physical and
mental preparation to become calm and centred, and how to reach a deep state of
relaxation. The body must be
comfortable, at ease and relaxed while the mind must be free of its continuous
chatter.
Since one's mental state has
significant effect on the body, maintaining emotional balance is
important. The term “uptight” often
describes the state of the body as well as the mind.
Meditation students learn how to
remain calm and focused throughout the day no matter what the situation.
In addition to its individual and
organizational benefits, meditation is very much a personal growth
experience. I have found the results
astonishing.
I have done meditation for several
years and have found it to be the single most effective method I have ever
learned for managing and taking care of myself, for addressing my issues and
concerns, and for finding true relaxation.
I no longer need external support to assist me in reaching a relaxed
state.
For me, meditation removes emotion,
stress, and fatigue from my decision making.
I have learned how to step back from a situation, and “witness it” from
an objective viewpoint in order to make a clear and effective decision on what
steps to take.
In this age of “do more with less”, instead of “feeling under the gun” as many of my
colleagues do, I am enjoying my work and personal life more than ever. My stress level has diminished dramatically
and my ability to relax has increased exponentially.
In addition to improving my
interpersonal skills, it has allowed for dramatic internal changes in me and my
outlook on life. My attitude is
increasingly more positive, my confidence has soared, and my health has
blossomed.
Meditation has given me a source of
internal strength, enabling me to give clear and effective direction with
increasing ease and confidence, as doubt and indecision fade. More significantly it has enhanced my ability
to relax, to release the stress and the tightness (from my body) that has
plagued me for so many years.
Meditation is an option worth
investigating and entirely practical for use by all members regardless of rank,
job or posting location.
Major Margaret Davis has just
completed her 19th year of service with the CF.
She is currently seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) in
