Learning to Meditate

Years ago, I had promised Lord Maitreya, a Spiritual Teacher, that I would make an effort to meditate every day in order to become more aware of the messages I needed to hear.  It was a pact really -  if You let me live, I will undertake this incredibly difficult task of meditating.  At that time, I had very little patience for sitting still and just being.  I found it to be a frustrating endeavour, with five minutes  feeling like an eternity.  My body would fidget with restless energy, and my mind was filled with thoughts of things I should or would be doing. I started training myself to stay seated by visualizing a seat belt fastened around my hips. I also visualized a tiny broom gently sweeping away any thoughts that engaged me. I look back on this image with fondness, but that was how I began.  Like anything else that is worthwhile, it took much practice to improve, but I am so glad that I persevered because without meditation, my life would be much less rich and meaningful.