Yoga and Meditation

There is a lot of nonsense talked about meditation. I do not mean what it can do for you because that is difficult to prove one way or the other. I have read people saying that they found all sorts of things in meditation and who am I to say that they did not merely because I have not had the exactly same experience.

I believe that there are many stages of evolution and therefore what one person experiences in one way another might experience in a entirely different way.

No, I mean that there is a lot of rubbish talked about how one has to meditate. I am reading an article this moment by someone who says: ‘… for a successful meditation practice, everything has to be perfect ….. the room has to be set up in such a way …’ and so it goes on. The person who wrote that piece appears never to have even thought let alone ever meditated.

Meditation has always been most often carried out by people with a spiritual bent. Of those people, most people who meditated were monks, because they were seeking enlightenment and had the time and tranquility to meditate. It was difficult to find the time or the quietness if you were a subsistence farmer with ten kids running around.

Anyway, lower orders of monks are not famous for living opulent lives where ‘everything … is ideal’. They live quiet lives and when they want to meditate, they will not be disturbed, no matter where they are but particularly in their cells.

My father used to drive out to a cliff top and meditate behind a bush looking out 100 feet over the Bristol Channel. Frequently he did it in the middle of the night.

It is best that the people you live with understand that when you want to meditate that they should endeavor not to make a great deal of noise and certainly not call you by name or barge into the room where you are.

How you can accomplish this in your household, you know better than I, but talking to cohabitants and displaying a sign in a prominent position can help as can always meditating at the same hour of the day, but is not usually practical. Most of us have to take our free time while we can.

Turn off anything that makes a noise. Turn off phones and even the door bell, if you can. Open the window, if it is not unbearably cold or raining cats and dogs. Take a shower and put on loose-fitting comfortable clothes like pyjamas.

Sit on the floor, if you can; cross-legged, if you can. If you are nearly there, try sitting on a cushion or pillow. There are items known as zafu or meditation pillows, which are small and thick.

Some are round and others are square, but a round zafu might be 12 inches in diameter and four to six inches in thickness. This is to raise you off the ground enough to take the strain off your hips and knees, if you are not used to sitting cross-legged.

It will encourage a correct posture, that is a straight back. It is also softer on the behind and when you are sitting comfortably, you may begin.

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It was in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE that Buddhist art was implemented in the Indian subcontinent to document the life of Gautama Buddha. Throughout Asia the dharma of the Buddhist of the religion spread and developed as it came into contact with the various cultures in its path. Practitioners and artists who created Tibetan art used a style that is known as aniconic, which was the use of Buddhist symbology and iconography without the actual use of the image of the human figure. In the first century CE, the human appearance of the Buddha started to become prominent in the Tibetan art at the time and this practice continues even unto this modern day. Buddhist art followed the believers in the Buddhist religion wherever it developed throughout all of Asia, in every Buddhist temple.

The art of Tibet has always been thought of as religious in nature, particularly that of Buddhist art in Tibet and all over the rest of Asia and the ancient Himalayan kingdoms like Bhutan, Nepal and Ladakh.

The Tibetan Buddhist art that was created previous to the middle of the twentieth century was steeped in traditional techniques and devoted to the vision of sacred iconography. Not only are the works of these early Tibetan Buddhist artists festooned with the central topics of philosophy and spirituality, they were also dedicated in showing the energy of the aesthetics that Tibetan Buddhist art was known for as it came into eminence during the growth of the various schools of Buddhism all over Asia and the regions it influenced with its presence over the years.

In the fourth century saw the emergence of the Mahayana Buddhist influence. This particular influence emphasized those who wished to forgo achieving Nirvana in order to help those others in need. The deity Chenrezig is commonly depicted as a thousand armed deity with a single eye in each hand in the Tibetan art of this Buddhist influence.

Another great influence in Tibetan Buddhist art is the Tantric influence, its main symbol being the diamond thunderbolt. Tantric influence art is most often depicted as having many gods with angry faces that actually represent guardians of those who are dedicated to the practice and teaching of Tantric Buddhism and the purging of negative thoughts.

The in the Himalayas, a religion with shamanistic foundations known as Bon brings to Tibetan Buddhist art a wide variety of local gods. These local deities are often depicted in Tibetan temples along with statues of the Buddha. These shamanistic gods were once considered harmful, but are now subjugated and in the service of Buddha.

A great variety of techniques are used in Buddhist meditation in order to achieve mindfulness, concentration and the promotion of well being. Ancient texts were set down by priests and other practitioners of Buddhism to preserve the core techniques that are passed between teachers and pupils.

As Tibetan Buddhist art flourished it had a great influence on the development of art in the Hindu religion. In the tenth century Buddhism nearly disappeared from India due to the brisk expansion of Islam along with Hinduism in India.

Tibetan Buddhist art started in the subcontinent of India with the intent of using art to document the life of Gautama Buddha in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. As the Buddhist religion spread throughout the Asia and the rest of the world, the prominence of Tibetan Buddhist art spread along with it. The earliest Buddhist art generally followed the practice of aniconic Indian traditions. This is the use of Buddhist symbols and iconography without any actual representation of the human figure involved. However, it was about the first century CE when an iconic art period came about and represented the Buddha in human appearance; a practice that continues to this day. As Buddhism spread and evolved in each new country or region, Buddhist art followed those adherents to the faith and developed throughout Asia if different ways.

Tibetan art is considered a form of consecrated art that reflects the influence of Buddhism, particularly that of Tibetan Buddhism, over other cultures in Asia and Himalayan kingdoms such as Nepal, Bhutan and Ladakh.

The Tibetan Buddhist art that was created before the mid twentieth century were dedicated to the depiction of sacred subjects and permeated with traditional technique. These works of Tibetan art not only detail the key concepts of philosophy and spirituality but also the energy of Tibetan art aesthetics in terms of the development of various schools of the Tibetan religion in different regions and countries. The Buddhist symbols used in the development of Buddhist art can be studied as variations of the influences that have contributed to Tibetan art over the past centuries.

The main influence of Buddhism in the fourth century was the Mahayana influence, which was known for its emphasis on the denial of Nirvana in order to better help others in need. Chenrezig is the chief deity depicted in the Tibetan Buddhist art of this time period of Mahayana influence. He is most often as a god with a thousand arms and in each hand is an eye.

Another influence in Tibetan Buddhist art is that of Tantric Buddhism; the most common symbolism being that of the diamond thunderbolt. Angry deities with furious faces are also prevalent in Tantric Buddhism as depicted in the art of the period. The ghastly images often represent protectors who are dedicated to the teaching of tantric practices and the conquering of negative aspects.

In the Himalayas, a shamanistic tradition known as Bon is considered another great influence of Buddhism and Buddhist art. In this shamanistic practice, many local deities are depicted in Buddhist temples as being with the Buddha as their conqueror and are considered to serve him by keeping mischief and evil away from the people.

A great variety of techniques are used in Buddhist meditation in order to achieve mindfulness, concentration and the promotion of well being. Ancient texts were set down by priests and other practitioners of Buddhism to preserve the core techniques that are passed between teachers and pupils.

Tibetan Buddhist art also greatly influenced Hindu art, but in the tenth century, Buddhism was all but gone from the Indian subcontinent by the rise of popularity in Islam along with Hinduism.

Generally speaking, Buddhist symbols can be considered based on a particular culture and its followers. Everebody heard about Eight Auspicious Symbols, dorje and bell, mandala etc. Many of these symbols can be found in ancient India where Hinduism is the main religion. Their meaning and usage may however not be in the same light. The Buddha lived around the 6th Century B.C. However, no Buddhist art or artifacts are known to have been in existence by then. In the Buddhist holy writings, it is claimed that the Buddha would sometimes use Buddhist art or images such as the Wheel of Life to illustrate his teachings. Ornamental carvings have been found dating to the reign of Emperor Ashoka. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism, thereby making this religion popular both in India and the countries in the vicinity.

Excavations of Buddhist art that have been discovered dating to the first century have mostly been symbolic by nature and their significance remained symbolic until the appearance of the Buddhist Tantra. This Buddhist used imagery and visualization as part of the Buddhist meditation. From here, Tibetan Buddhism was born and Buddhist temples began to have collections of Buddhist art and religious artifacts for Buddhist meditation purposes.

Common symbols found in almost all Buddhist temples are the Lotus, wheel and the stupa. These symbols are commonly used in Buddhist meditation rituals. Looking at some of these symbols will help us have a better understanding of the both Buddhist meditation and the accompanying religious practices.

One of the Buddhist art symbols is the bell. This symbol has a natural function and is believed to dispel wicked spirits. It consists of the moondisc, dorje and the lotus symbols. The bell complements the dorje in the religious light. While the bell has a feminine representation to it of wisdom, the dorje represents compassion in the masculine gender.

The dorje is a substantive symbol that represents the invincible state of Buddha hood. The dorje is actually a scepter and is regarded as a very important ritual item in Buddhism meditation practices.

Incense burning is also taken to be a significant part of Buddhism worship. During the incense offering, this is the time to offer specific requests of success, longevity and any personal need. After this, Buddhist meditation is performed and such qualities as love, joy and compassion are reflected upon during these meditation periods.

Locations are also important aspects of Buddhism. Apart from the Buddhist temples, Mount Kailash is also a significant religious symbol to Buddhists. Mount Kailash is a peak on the Himalayas, and is symbolically considered the central point of the universe. It has a religious significance to the 4 religions that are found in the region. These are the Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon and Jainism.

While one may interpret Buddhist art and symbols as visual mantras, contemplating on this artwork that is found in Buddhist temples and trying to understand how it is so much a part of Buddhist meditation is claimed this will build inner contact with the element being represented.