Meditating Outside the Lines: Discovering Inner Peace and Freedom at Cora Cora Maldives
Meditation is a powerful practice that has been revered for centuries for its physical and mental benefits. As it i seen in the modern Western media, most people nowadays think that meditation is only the act of sitting, legs crossed, and chanting “Om” repeatedly. While this is a very real and very beneficial spiritual practice, it is no the only way to meditate. In his life, Buddha taught that to mediate was to experience the world around oneself and within, to allow time to flow without focusing on the past or future, to live in the moment. This can be done in a variety of ways, all of them just as easy as sitting down and chanting, perhaps even easier.
What Really Is Mediation?
Mediation is, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, “the practice of profound spiritual or religious reflection or contemplation.” More simply put, it is the practice of reflection for spiritual or emotional clarity. This ancient practice has long been used in natural medicine as a means of easing mental anguish and creating a healthier environment.
It exists in a myriad of religions and traditions, spanning from Buddhism in the East to Rastafari in the West, and is said to have originated in the early days of the Indus Valley Civilization. Nowadays, it is widely practiced around the world by both religious and nonreligious people due to its proposed psychological benefits.
Going for a Walk
Yes, going for a walk is meditation. That goes almost entirely against the general idea of what meditation is today, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be equally as beneficial.
Not only is walking a great, holistic physical exercise, it can also be an easy way to relax the mind and take in one’s surroundings. This is because walking forces the subconscious to focus on the physical act of putting one foot ahead of the other, allowing the conscious to work freely, letting thoughts drift in and out as one walks.
Many people have argued that going for walks around their neighborhoods or through parks give them a new appreciation for nature and the world around them, and subsequently, for the bodies that they inhabit. This is one of many crucial goals of meditative practices.
*Listening to Music
Music has an almost magical way of tapping into people’s emotions and sucking them into a world of their own. Sound has been used by Hindu and Buddhist yogis for centuries to aid in meditation and soothe the mind, hence the famous singing bowls of Eastern and Southern Asia.
Nowadays, there is a multitude of albums, playlists and podcasts dedicated to playing soft, calming music for the express purpose of meditating. That doesn’t mean sitars and harps are soothing to everyone, though. Some people find more comfort in heavy metal and that’s perfectly fine. Mediation is an entirely personal practice and depends on one’s own experiences and preferences.
*Cooking & Cleaning
Everyone loves having a tidy home (or most people do), and the only thing people love more than a clean home is a delicious home-cooked meal. Of course, cooking a meal and cleaning an entire house can be daunting and quite honestly exhausting, but when done comfortably they can be very meditative.
Like walking in a park, cooking for oneself (or others), or tidying up can be done at any pace; “cleaning” can just mean cleaning up one corner of the living room, “cooking” can just be making a sandwich. What matters is that they are done with the intention of gaining joy from eating or being in a clean environment, or simply the intention of having fun.
*Writing, Drawing or Dancing
Creativity is perhaps the mind’s greatest superpower. The ability to express oneself and create something beautiful and personal is spiritually the best medicine for a clouded mind, and it has been regarded as such since the dawn of time.
The allure of expressing oneself through creativity as an act of meditation lies in the fact that it is entirely up to the practitioner; there are no rules! Many people draw or paint to ease their tired brains, others sing, and others write poetry.
All of these are perfectly acceptable ways to invite a more tranquil mental space and exist in a world of serenity. At Cora Cora, we encourage guests to take walks when the sun sets and have some fun behind the counters at our restaurants, where we try to cook delicious and wellness-centered food. Every individual is unique, and so are the things that might give them peace. We are proud to have curated for you a wide range of experiences on the island so you can discover which ones bring you closer to a sense of inner clarity and lightness.
