ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE
Meditations where you are doing something are the best ones for beginners. It is easier to maintain awareness when you are doing an action, rather than sitting still.
This is a dynamic meditation, a 'running meditation'.
Why running? When you are running, you are naturally alert, aware. When you are running, you experience a beautiful unity of body, mind and spirit. It is as if everything inside you is functioning as one, with only one goal.
When you sit still, only your body is sitting still, your mind is still racing! Your body and mind are divided. Your body is sitting, but your mind is on its own trip! When your body is running, the opposite happens. When you are running, your mind sits still. Your mind stops talking.
And when you continue to run, after a while, the running takes you over. Then neither body or mind is yours. You belong to your running. You become the running!
Choose a time to start your run.
Early morning is the best, next is late evening. Sunrise and sunset are the times when your body is most open, most receptive to the energies of nature.
Choose a path which is fairly straight and easy, not too tough, with a fair amount of silence and solitude. A path where you can focus on your running, without worrying about falling off the edge or being run over by traffic!
If you are not used to running, start off with short distances – say half a mile. Then you can gradually increase the distance.
After that, just run!
Breathe deeply, from the stomach. Run with every limb. When you grow tired, don't push yourself. Rest and enjoy the rest period. Take off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your bare feet. One energy source we have lost touch with is earth energy because of artificial flooring everywhere, and because we no longer enjoy walking barefoot.
In Bharat, it is considered a sacred exercise to walk barefoot. That's also why you are not allowed to use footwear inside many places of worship. The energy level in these places is high, and it is best to keep all your senses open to receive the energy.
If the path is good, running barefoot can be a tremendous experience. Try it on grass, or on the beach. Just being in touch with the earth is being connected with the source of life. It is a beautiful way of staying centered.
Don't get caught up in the extras of running. Don't time yourself, don't try to improve your performance. Don't run to lose weight! Of course, if you also lose weight, that's good – but don't run for a reason. Simply run.
If, after running for many days, you find that the act is becoming monotonous, drop it and switch to another meditation. Try swimming, try dancing. Come back to running when you feel like it.
Apart from the basic instructions you will need to follow, don't make rules for yourself. Rules destroy the joy of the meditation.