Stop to drop tension

In a world full of speed and noise, if someone asks you to stop in the middle of the track for no good reason, you will probably call that person crazy. When everyone is running towards a goal and there is cut-throat competition, stopping for a second means losing the race. This constant anxiety takes a toll on your mental and physical wellness. But there’s no need to see a psychiatrist or a doctor. You can change this situation just by stopping for a few seconds. You will feel the difference. For example, on a busy street stop suddenly for at least three seconds. I mean, physically. Just stop. When you stop suddenly, your chain of thoughts halts and your worries evaporate for a few seconds. Your heartbeat and breathing slows down and you become a silent watcher, not only of your own movements, but also of the activities all around. The world is running at full speed and there you are, absolutely still. You enjoy the game because you are not playing it. You are a like a spectator or a referee, who is just watching the match. The moment you are out of the game, your tensions drop. Tension resides in your mind and when the mind stops, it drops the baggage that it carries. Only a beautiful realisation that the mind is just a machine starts to surface. You can use this trick anywhere, anytime. While climbing the stairs, in the middle of a conversation or downloading an email. Just stop for three seconds. This sudden discontinuity brings you to the moment. For once, you will feel a tuning between your body and mind. The body is always in the moment, but the mind is wandering all over. Bringing yourself to the moment makes time stand still. When time stops for you, suddenly the constant pressure under which you were living so far is gone. You are no more burdened and it makes you feel like a conqueror. This is Osho’s technique to give a jolt to the overdrive of the mind. Osho says, “It is really a beautiful meditation. You can try it many times in 24 hours. Just half-a-second will do; for half-a-second simply stop and let the world continue. When you become more and more alert to the fact that without you the world continues perfectly well, you will be at peace.”

Amrit Sadhana is in the management team of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune. She facilitates meditation workshops around the country and abroad.