Posted on Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm
There are a number of different Buddhist meditation techniques that followers and many meditation enthusiasts practice. Despite their differences, the techniques are all generally based on developing two things- mindfulness and concentration. Attentiveness to the movements of the body and to the ever changing states of mind is to be developed in order to identify the real concept of self. Objectivity in this case can be a valuable aid to clear thinking. With objectivity comes concentration, the ability to focus the mind and keep in focused on a single point or object.
Many Buddhist schools employ different techniques in meditation. Some may focus on such practices as breathing meditation while others on movements. The diversity can be so wide ranging that there are a multitude of variations available. Most Buddhist techniques can be school specific. Only a few masters aim to combine and categorize the techniques from several Buddhist traditions.
One of the known meditation techniques is that being practiced by Western Order meditation master Kamalashila. The teacher identifies that there are five basic methods to be used as a traditional set for meditation. Each method can be used as an antidote to one of the five primary obstructions to Enlightenment- distraction, hatred, craving, conceit and ignorance.
One of the five basic methods is the mindfulness of breathing. This involves the practice of tranquility meditations. This method helps to counteract distraction and aims to develop better concentration. Another of the five basic methods laid out is the Metta Bhavana. This method includes the four brahma viharas and is used to counteract sentimental attachment or hatred. This method aims to develop loving kindness in a person.
Another of the five basic methods in Buddhist meditation is the contemplation of impermanence. This method can help counteract craving and develop inner peace and the feeling of freedom. The six element practice is based on meditation involving the six elements- earth, water, space, air, fire and consciousness. The six element practice method of meditation counteracts craving and develop instead some clarity in a person regarding to self. The fifth basic method of meditation is the contemplation of conditionality which aims to counteract ignorance and instead develop wisdom and compassion. There are also other Buddhist meditation techniques not identified by the five basic methods. This includes different methods of visualizations, meditation by sitting and the walking meditation.
Now, let your hands rest on your lap with the palms facing upward. Its hard to stay in this position for 5 minutes or more so dont be afraid to make a few slight adjustments. The important thing is that you are comfortable the way you are. Then it is time to close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Anybody can do this but there are 4 proper ways of doing it. You can inhale and exhale long, inhale and exhale short, inhale short and exhale long or inhale long and exhale short. It will take some time before you get the hang of things. Dont forget to relax all your muscles so your mind and body is able to act as one. Buddhist meditation is just one of the many techniques around that can help relieve you from stress, make you think better to have a better outlook in life and do all sorts of things that will improve your overall physical health. If you appreciate what Buddhist Meditation can do, you can already invest in cushions, prayer beads, incense and a few other accessories. It is optional so dont think that just because they are not around that your experience is not a fruitful one.
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Tags: buddhism, buddhist meditation, Meditation, mental health, personal development, personal growth, self help, self-development, wellness
Posted in Meditation |
Posted on Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at 7:32 am
Meditation is man’s ultimate weapon to fight just about every kind of disease and overcome just about every kind of problem there is. At first glance, this line might sound as if it is too good to be true. But a closer look into things will tell you that it is not so. Meditation has been practiced for centuries by ancient mystics and wise men.
Have you ever wondered what the secret to their good health was? Have you ever wondered how they gained so much of knowledge? Have you ever wondered how they were so wise? Well, let me tell you that the human mind is indeed your ultimate tool and meditation is what helps a man master his mind. Once you are the master of your mind, you can do just about anything!
Health Benefits
In our modern lifestyles, there is very much a demand for stress busters and other similar things which help to take away from the rough and tumble of daily life. But a lot of people find it hard to find that perfect stress buster. This leads to health problems galore. But there are so many health benefits of meditation that one would be extremely foolish to not embrace it with all their heart. Here are just a few of them:
1. The practice of meditation decreases the secretion of stress hormones such as cortisol. What is more, it enhances the secretion of calming hormones such as melatonin and serotonin. That eliminates a cause for worry right at the outset!
2. Did you know that during meditation, your oxygen consumption drops by ten to twenty percent and therefore it produces a deeper state of rest than sleeping does?
3. Meditation has a great effect on three main symptoms of aging - hearing problems, vision problems and blood pressure problems. It helps to eliminate all of these three to a certain degree.
4. Meditation leads to greater secretion of the youth related hormone - DHEA. In fact did you know that meditating forty five year olds, on an average have 23% more DHEA than those who do not practice meditation?
5. Meditation helps to eliminate chronic pain to a great degree.
Techniques
There are several different techniques of meditation and you can choose any technique which suits you. Remember that what works for your best friend is not likely to work for you all the time. Basically, all the types of meditation techniques revolve around the same thing - cessation. Basically this involves calming down the mind and bringing it to a state of serenity.
The principle of an empty mind holds good for practically every state of meditation. You also have to incorporate the principle of watching or “prajna”. This means you will remain awake and aware of the workings of the mind even when you are in a state of calmness and serenity. That is the magic of meditation - you are at your agile best even when you are utterly relaxed.
Visit our site to learn how meditation techniques and Kundalini yoga can bring holistic wellness in your life.
Tags: buddhist meditation, chakras, Meditation, meditation techniques
Posted in Meditation |
Posted on Saturday, May 14th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
At times our lives are filled with different kinds of problems and worries. It has become quite difficult to lead a stress and tension free life. The kind of lifestyle that people follow these days is one of the major reasons for this problem. Whenever people feel any kind of problems in their body they consult the doctor for proper treatment.
There are lots of people who are unable to sleep properly at night, unable to concentrate on their work and feel restlessness every time. These kinds of problems can hardly be treated with the help of medicines.
These are not bodily problems but are actually caused due to mental disturbance. Therefore you need to find a treatment for your mind. If you are successful in keeping your mind in a good condition then your body will also stay fit and healthy. To calm down your mind these days you have the benefit of meditation.
There are various meditation techniques available these days which can help you sooth your mind. If you want to use the meditation techniques to make your mind calm and stress free then you should learn it in the right way.
The right kinds of techniques are very much important else they might not have any effect on your mind. There are certain tips regarding meditation which can help you get the best results. The first thing that you need to do is start breathing properly.
Learning the right breathing technique is very much important. Slow breathing is important in this case. When the breathing process slows down the thought process also slows down at the same time. At this point of time you can control your thoughts.
You should also sit in the right position and must make sure that you do not move. When you sit alone different kinds of thoughts tend to enter your mind. You need to get rid of these thoughts and only then you can successfully meditate. Choosing the place for meditation is also very important.
You must choose a place which is away from any kind of disturbance and noise. Instead of bringing unnecessary thoughts in your mind you can always try to bring some divine thoughts. To bring these kinds of thoughts you can try using some mantras.
The mantras are usually divine chanting which can help you calm down your mind and get rid of useless thoughts. One of the most important words that can be chanted during meditation is Om.
You need to bring this word from within the body and then only you can achieve proper results. Maintaining consistency in meditation is very much important. If you do not perform meditation regularly then it might not have any effect on your mind.
Select a time for this practice and make sure you sit at that time every day. Concentration is the keyword for successful meditation. People who start with this practice might get distracted in the beginning but with time it can surely be corrected.
Visit our site to learn how meditation techniques and Kundalini yoga can bring holistic wellness in your life.
Tags: buddhist meditation, chakras, Meditation, meditation techniques
Posted in Meditation |
Posted on Thursday, October 28th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Meditation is a practice that is very old, yet still sees use today. It is a mental regimen of concentration and breathing to increase inner and outer awareness. Many people claim that it works well for relieving stress and tension. It is also used to study and understand difficult problems. There are a lot of meditation techniques that are commonly used today. Here are three to look at.
Raja Yoga
Many people may not realize that yoga is more than postures and stretching exercises. Hatha yoga involves increased flexibility of the joints and better circulation. Raja yoga is a the mental yoga discipline. It works to blend the body and mind together.
Raja yoga teaches that the real self is the soul and this soul has three basic parts. Those parts are the conscious and subconscious mind. The other part is the intellect. Thoughts flow like a river from the subconscious mind to the conscious mind. They pass through and are filtered by the intellect, before they get to the conscious mind.
When practicing Raja yoga, you think only positive thoughts of peace, calmness, and love. This helps to still the mind and relax the body. You utilize the intellect to keep any other thoughts from entering. In time, your mind will be filled with only pleasant and good thoughts.
Transcending Thought
Transcendental meditation or TM allows you to look inward on your thoughts. During the process, you concentrate on thoughts from primal and basic areas of the mind. As you do this, you “transcend” the usual manner of thought and see the real self. This is said to bring about great calm.
In this discipline, one sits for a few minutes and concentrates on a sound. Some people use the word OM. OM is thought by many to be the complete sum of all the sounds in the universe. By concentrating on the sound, it may allow a person to transcend normal thought processes.
Relaxing with Zen
Zen meditation teaches that one should clear the mind of all conscious thought. Once this happens, you will see the true self. When you have this knowledge, it will help you in all other facets of life. You will be able to separate the non-important from the important. Life will be easier to cope with.
One method is to sit and relax. Sitting on the floor with legs crossed may help. Breathe deeply and concentrate on the breath. If you wish, you can observe something like one of your hands. Use the concentration to help clear the mind. When thoughts enter, simply brush them aside and continue. It will get easier with practice.
Final thoughts
If you are looking for meditation techniques, you find many to choose from. TM involves concentration on a single sound like “OM”. This eventually allows to “transcend” normal thought, and to see the source of thought. Raja yoga teaches you to filter thought as it enters the mind. Eventually only good thoughts will make it through. Zen meditation allows you to see true reality, by clearing all thought from the mind. These methods may give you a different view of things and help you to learn how to relax.
As you explore how to meditate you gain access to the buried forces of your mind. Why not try basic meditation techniques right now.
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Posted in Meditation |
Posted on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
In a hectic world that people live in today, many are stressed out after a hard day’s work. Some even get so tired that they lose their energy completely that they lose interest in activities that are considered to be pleasurable, such as sex. Imagine yourself living your life like this everyday and just imagine that by living this kind of life, you won’t even have the time or the energy for your family and friends. Stress can definitely ruin your social life.
Today, many people are now looking for ways to get rid of stress effectively and give them that extra energy that they need in order for them to get through another day’s hectic lifestyle and still have that extra energy to spend time with your family and friends.
Many people today aren’t really depending on technology to get them that extra energy that they need. But, they do look for it in the past. Meditation is one of the methods that are constantly growing in popularity among people today. You have to consider that meditation, particularly Buddhist meditation, have originated for centuries and up until today, this Buddhist technique have proven itself to be very effective. In fact, Buddhist monks still exist today where majority of them live in Europe while others are situated in Europe, United States and other parts of the world.
People who do Buddhist meditation have been found that they worked more efficiently and have that somewhat “extra glow” or that extra energy. They do work as if it’s nothing and Buddhist meditation practitioners have testified that they are happy doing work.
Buddhist meditation’s main goal is to get to the path of Enlightenment. Mental development and mind over body is also considered to be one of the goals of Buddhist meditation. You have to consider that the body is controlled by the mind and because of this, Buddhist meditation practitioners have claimed that in order for your body to function properly, you have to get rid of the negative energy inside your mind by meditating.
A lot of people have claimed that through Buddhist meditation methods, they were able to live life happier and have reduced any negative thoughts that can affect their daily life. They also said that they don’t get angry too often even if they get stuck in a long traffic jam or when their boss gives them a hard time. They said that all they do to get rid of anger is do some of the Buddhist meditation they learned in Buddhist meditation schools.
Even scientists and medical practitioners alike were baffled by the effects of Buddhist meditation. Their patients who do Buddhist meditation are healthier and they also recover quickly from illnesses. Although there is still no significant scientific proof about the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation, you have to consider that there are quite a lot of people who are testifying about the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation.
So, if you are looking for enlightenment or you at least want to know how to handle stress effectively, you should try Buddhist meditation.
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Posted in Meditation |