Right concentration is focussing our attention on what we choose without being distracted.It's absence of worries, doubts & drowsiness. It's a state of joy & ease .More one is relaxed,comfortable & worriless one can concentrate better & more . The simplest practice for concentration is always the best.Concentration is control over sensitive organs like eyes,mind & ears.It needs care & practice. It makes one unaware what's happening in their surrounding many a time . Everything being equal in two,it's concentration that makes the difference between the two.To concentrate means to bring to a point. To concentrate the mentality means to bring the thinking to bear on one point of interest and to hold it there.Concentration always promotes involvement. It enables one to spot the right target & hit. It is which often behind a success. There are various kinds in it too. In meditation concentration is not possible without closing of the eyes.
Nature will never allow a vacuum to be created in the mind. If one thought or preoccupation is over, another anxiety immediately manifests. The mind can never become totally vacant. Concentration is a way of using mind according to our need. It does not allow mind to make us its servant but it is we have it under in our clasp due to it .Can it be said how much concentration where a man should have? A man's life is in the concentration of surgeon who performs operations. He performs heart , brain & other operations. Even, a little lapse in concentration costs life there. Concentration is precious
Young old & all need concentration to lead their life with ease & comfort. It is needed in whatever one does if if that is to be perfect. Concentration varies from man to man. All don't have the same quantum of it. Why Concentration not only varies from man to man. It varies in a man itself. What concentration one would have in the beginning they would not have at the end usually. Concentration has to be developed & maintained. A few only inherit it.It is the basic requirement to learn anything. It saves wastage of time. It minimizes time for any task. Advantages of concentration are numerous . It has no disadvantages at all. Devotion, interest, & concentration usually go hand in glove. Solitude, and silence are beneficial to concentration. Silence enhances focus and mental clarity. One's concentration always receives praise. It is recognised as virtue . It is not considered as a vice at all. However, one's concentration should be where it should & not where it should not be.
There is always a lot of difference between one done with concentration & one that is done without it. Concentration is always a blessing in disguise. It is a secret of strength. Perfection couldn't be achieved without concentration at all. Whether it is meditation, archery , shooting & scholars everywhere concentration is essential & is of paramount importance.
Bruce Lee was a Hong Kong American martial artist. He rightly said "Concentration is the root of all the higher abilities "
One who maintains concentration even in distraction is really commendable. Concentration enables one achieve anything.When not able to concentrate find out the reasons. Certainly there are reasons. Take steps to remove them. There are certainly remedies. Where is a will there is a way.Confidence & encouragement always help one to concentrate.
Concentration in any matter must be gradual and not all of a sudden. It is better not to concentrate on more matters or objects at a time always . In that case one cannot concentrate on any of them.
Concentration is often variable. It fluctuates due to many factors. Maintaining it at old age is a stupendous task. One of the disabilities of old age is lack of it .Having it at the old age is really laudable.
Here are 10 ways to increase concentration.
1.Understand what concentration is:
2.Decide what you want to concentrate on.
3.Watch other people concentrating.
4.Avoid constant sensory input.
5. Make it a point to put your full concentration on whatever you are doing.
6.Stay calm.
7.Learn techniques to increase and control your energy.
8.Take breaks.
9.Learn to meditate.
10.While meditating, watch your breath
Practising the Concentration Exercises
Find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. If you wish, you may sit crossed legged on the floor, but most people would find it more comfortable to sit on a chair. Sit with your spine erect.
Take a few calm deep breaths and then relax your body, by directing your attention to it, and relaxing each muscle, from head to toe.
Practice each of the exercises below for about 10 minutes, and after a few weeks of training, lengthen the time to 15 minutes.
Concentration Exercises
Exercise 1
Take a book, any book, and count the words in any one paragraph. Then, count them again, to be sure that you have counted them correctly.
After a few times, do so with two paragraphs.
When this becomes easy, count the words of a whole page. Do the counting mentally and only with your eyes, without pointing your finger at each word.
Exercise 2
Count backwards in your mind, from one hundred to one.
Exercise 3
Count in your mind from one hundred to one, skipping each three numbers, that is 100, 97, 94, etc.
Exercise 4
Choose an inspiring word or phrase, or just a simple sound, and repeat it silently in your mind for five minutes. When your mind can concentrate more easily, try to reach ten minutes of uninterrupted concentration.
Exercise 5
Take a fruit, an apple, orange, banana or any other fruit, and hold it in your hands.
Examine the fruit from all its sides, while keeping your whole attention focused on it. Do not let yourself be carried away by irrelevant thoughts that might arise, or thoughts about the grocery where you bought the fruit, how and where it was grown, its nutritive value, etc. Stay calm, ignoring, and showing no interest in these thoughts.
Just look at the fruit, focus your attention on it without thinking about anything else, and examine its shape, smell, taste and the sensation it gives you when you touch it.
Exercise 6
This is the same as exercise number 5, only that this time you visualize the fruit, instead of looking at it.
Start, by looking at the fruit and examining it for about 2 minutes, just as you did in exercise number 5. Then close your eyes, and try to see, smell, taste and touch the fruit in your imagination. Try to see a clear and well defined image. If the image becomes blurred, open your eyes, look at the fruit for a short while, and then close your eyes and continue the exercise.
You may imagine holding the fruit in your hands, as in the previous exercise, or imagine it standing on a table.
Exercise 7
Take a small simple object such as a spoon, a fork, or a glass. Concentrate on one of these objects. Watch the object from all sides without any verbalization, that is, with no words in your mind. Just watch the object without thinking with words about it.
Exercise 8
After becoming proficient with the above exercises, you may try this exercise.
Draw on a piece of paper a small triangle, square or a circle, about three inches in size, and paint it with any color you wish.
Put the paper with the drawing in front of you, and concentrate your whole attention on the shape you have drawn. For now, only the drawing exists for you, with no unrelated thoughts or distractions.
Keep your attention on the drawing, and avoid thinking about anything else. Be careful not to strain your eyes.
Exercise 9
Start the same as number 8, but after looking at the figure for a moment, close your eyes and visualize the figure with the eyes closed. If you forget how the figure looks like, open your eyes for a few seconds, look at the figure, and then close your eyes and continue with the exercise.
Exercise 10
The same as number 9, but now visualize with your eyes open.
Exercise 11
Try for at least five minutes, to stay without thoughts. Do this exercise, only after you have practiced all the previous ones successfully. If you practiced the preceding exercises correctly, you will be able to impose silence on your thoughts, even if this is at first, just for a short while.
Constant practice is the secret of success. The more time you devote to the exercises the faster you progress, but you should do it gradually. Start with ten minutes, and as it becomes easier, and your ability to concentrate improves, increase the time.