Last week I attended a meditation workshop. I've meditated for several years on my own accord and figured the workshop would teach me something new. First off we sat around and talked about stress and meditation, something I was already quite aware of. Stress is generally the source of changes in diet, sleep patterns and tension which lead to other health problems such as obesity/malnutrition, fatigue, heart attacks, and weak immune systems which make us prone to infections and disease. Knowing this much I can see how doctors would blame stress for causing alopecia however at the same time 98% of the world deals with stress without losing any hair so there's more to it than just stress. We also concluded that those who meditate handle stress better as they see problems rise and fall like the waves in the ocean (accepting that everything will pass) thus reducing the urge to change diet and sleeping patterns or to tense up.

Next we practised meditating for two minutes which passed by very quickly. We sat up straight with our feet on the floor, relaxed our arms, closed our eyes and concentrated on our breathing, specifically the feeling around the tip of the nose as we would inhale and exhale normally. Personally, I like to meditate for at least 10 minutes at a time and afterwards you could see that the group would have also benefited from a longer meditation. In a group setting it takes at least a minute before you can fully let go of your surroundings. My belly was gurgling, the clock was ticking, throats were clearing, etc. Some believe that meditation is clearing your mind, to think of nothing at all but they couldn't be more wrong! The main point of meditating (at least when you practise vipassana) is to concentrate on the feeling of your breathing as I mentioned yet also to let the mind wander as it will. You are not emptying your mind but accepting that thoughts, be it negative, positive or impartial, come and go. Just as I finally got into it, our two minutes was up.

Then we watched a video similar to that of a movie called "The Dhamma Brothers" about inmates practising meditation. These were people who killed, stole, abused drugs and alcohol and did not believe meditation would change their lives. They attended a 10 day meditation retreat and were not allowed to speak (except to the instructor) or look anyone in the eye. There were no books to read, tv to watch, radio to listen to, no chores - only them and nature. After several days of practising meditation and having only their own minds to amuze themselves a self realization or self acceptance begins to occur. Some of these people did not believe they could complete the retreat and wanted to leave desperately however they were convinced to stay. The impact of this retreat was immense and changed their lives completely. They learned how to respect themselves and others around them, it really made them think!

We ended up doing another meditation session afterwards for 5 minutes this time, which also passed by quickly. It was just long enough though for those at the workshop to realize what a difference meditating can make. Out of 12 people there was only one fellow who just couldn't grasp the concept of meditating but the results nonetheless were amazing. The one thing I walked away with was new knowledge of these free meditation retreats that occur all over the world. Of course they'd love for you to donate something as you do not have to pay for lodging or meals, and even the instructors earn nothing. So I actually looked up the web links we were given and read into it a little more.

In a world where there is so much negativity around us and where sometimes uncontrallable things just happen to us, meditation is one very effective manner to which we can learn to accept this yet still love ourselves and be happy and at peace with our immediate surroundings and circumstances. Even if you don't have 10 days to run away and meditate there are websites that can teach you more about doing this on your own and even guided meditations online. In my somewhat small city there are places where one can go to meditate one night a week and just hours away there is a retreat. I think that we should all learn to do this if not for better health, to reflect on our own lives and accepting our alopecia. It probably won't make your hair grow back but at least you can accept what has happened and live with that thought freely without fretting. If this is something you are interested in feel free to visit: http://www.torana.dhamma.org/index.html to learn more about meditation and their retreats. I'm hoping to go on a 10 day retreat myself sometime this year!