Introduction and links to related topics Below are some short introductions. Click on the blue hyperlinked word to get more related articles.
Meditation - n. or adj.
1. art and science of contemplation and concentration spanning Paleolithic hunting rituals. Neolithic mysteries and historic religious traditions East and West, especially Zen, Yoga, Sufism and Coptic, Carmelite, Trappist and Quaker Christianity.
2. contemplation reflection, intuition, doing nothing; in duration from a movement to a kalpa, through most frequently for periods of 10 minutes to several hours or days; performed anytime, anywhere or in any position or activity, through often setting on the Earth, floor, a chair, rock or pennacle standing straight or holding a posture, walling, dancing, jogging, making love; sometimes accompanied by chanting silently or aloud alone or with a group; focusing on the breath, the chakras, the mind, parts of the body, light, sound, God, a tutelary deity, symbols, archetypes, a candle or another internal, external or transcendental object.
3. practice leading to cosmic consciousness, enlightenment truth-consciousness-bless, developing body consciousness, rooting in the here and now perfecting harmony and balance with the Earth.
5. discipline of mind awareness and control of thoughts, emotions and states of consciousness.
6. return to the source or emptiness to erase delusions, refresh ourselves day to day and begin a new. (Michio Kushi).
7. exercise or practice of just being experiencing ourselves at whatever we are, without any extra thing added. (Gary Snyder)
8. going into the mind to see wisdom for yourself-over and over again until it becomes the mind you live in. (Gary Snyder)
9. space to work or fears, hopes, neurotic games, self-deception. (Trungpa)
10. self-analysis, self-cultivation, self-enlightenment.
11. thought-form building, bring down to the concrete levels of the mental plane abstract ideas and intuitions and shattering of forms, establishing of a direct channel between the nomad and the purified personality and between the seven centers in the human etheric vehicle; freedom to work on any path (Bailey)
12. the Tao of cats n. mediator, meditativeness, adj. meditative. v. meditate (from meditari, Latin). (NAD)
Raja-yoga - Raja-Yoga (Sanskrit). The true system of developing psychic and spiritual powers and union with one’s Higher Self - or the Supreme Spirit, as the profane express it. The exercise, regulation and concentration of thought. Raja-Yoga is opposed to Hatha-Yoga, the physical or psycho physiological training in asceticism.
Yoga - (from Sanskrit. verbal root, meaning "discipline," )
Any number of physical or spiritual disciplines arising in India. An Eastern philosophy involving spiritual discipline using various techniques to experience union with a Supreme Being. Many yogic paths exist and include work on the physical body as in Hatha yoga, which uses breathing exercises and sustained physical postures to gain physical and mental control over the body; Bhakti, the yoga of devotion and love using the heart as a vehicle for transcendence; and other types of yoga specific to a path or teacher including Iyengar, Jnana, Karma, Kripalu, Kriya, Kundalini, Raja, Siddha and Tantra yoga.
Bandha - Lock, an exercise of hatha yoga. The three main locks are jalandhara bandha, in which the head is bent forward and the chin is pressed against the chest, uddiyana bandha, in which the stomach muscles are pulled inward toward the spine, and mula bandha, in which the anus is pulled inward.
Vata - Characteristics of Vata
Physically such people are either very tall or very short, non- muscular, with thin and bony limbs and have a quick gait with short fast steps. Skin is generally thin, darkish and cool. The hair is thin, dark, coarse and either kinky or curly. The face is usually long and angular, often with an underdeveloped chin. The neck is thin and scrawny. Nose is small and narrow. May be long, crooked or asymmetrical also. Eyes tend to be small, narrow or sunken, dark brown or gray in color, with dull luster. The mouth being small, with thin, narrow or tight lips. Teeth are irregular, protruding, or broken, set in receding gums. And while the voice is weak, low or cracked, speech is fast with interruptions.
Creativity * Enthusiasm * Freedom * Generosity * Joy * Vitality
Vata people have restless minds and weak memories. They avoid confrontation. Have active and sensitive natures and express themselves through sport and creative pursuits. Likely to be artistic and creative with a good imagination, they will sometimes overindulge in pleasures. And are sexually the most active. Fearful, worrisome and anxious they are into questioning, theorising and over-analysis. Often dissatisfied with and unable to sustain friendships, they spend money quickly, often on trifles. With light, interrupted sleep of 5-7 hours a day.
Food
Warm, well cooked food. Sweet, sour and salty tastes
Oil Massage
With calming and warming oils such as Mahanarayan Oil.
Exercise
Moderate exercise such as yoga, walking and light weights
Herbal Dietary supplements
Ashwagandha, shatavari, haritaki, Guggul, Trikatu ,Vata tea, Calming Tea.
Factors that increase vata
Explosure to cold , no routine in yur life, eating to much dry, frozen or leftover food, or food with bitter, pungent or astringents taste.
Fasting, too much traveling, too much or inappropriate exercise, suppressing natural urges, abdominal surgery.
Not oiling the skin.
Tso-chan - Tso-ch''an (Chinese) Sitting dhyana or contemplation, practicing dhyana; equivalent to the Taoist tso-wang (sitting with blank mind), defined as "Slackening limbs and frame, blotting out the senses of hearing and sight, getting clear of outward forms, dismissing knowledge and being absorbed into That which Pervades Everything" (Chuang Tzu 6:10).
Connected with the meditation there was practiced by certain individuals some form of breath control, as expressed by Chuang Tzu: the breathing of the sage is not like ordinary men, "he breathes with every part of him right down to the heels" (6:2). However, this author condemned physical exercises analogous to the yoga asanas (postures).
Hatha Yoga - Yogic system of balancing the body''s energies. Consists of physical exercises, known as ''asanas''.
Sacha Kiriya - Sacha Kiriya (Sanskrit). A power with the Buddhists akin to a magic mantram with the Brahmans. It is a miraculous energy which can be exercised by any adept, whether priest or layman, and "most efficient when accompanied by bhawana " (meditation).
It consists in a recitation of one’s "acts of merit done either in this or some former birth" - as the Rev. Mr. Hardy thinks and puts it, but in reality it depends on the intensity of one’s will, added to an absolute faith in one’s own powers, whether of yoga - willing - or of prayer, as in the case of Mussulmans and Christians. Sacha means "true", and Kiriyang, "action". It is the power of merit, or of a saintly life.
Pitta - Characteristics of PITTA
A moderately well developed physique with mascular limbs and a purposeful, stable gait of medium speed. With a loud, strong voice and precise, convincing speech. The skin is fair, soft, lusterous, warm, and tends to burn easily in the sun – has freckles, many moles, and a tendency to rashes. And the bodies are hot and sweaty. Characterised by fine and soft, either fair or reddish hair that tends to gray soon. Face is heart-shaped, often with a pointed chin. While the neck is proportionate and of average size. A neat, pointed, and average sized nose matches the average sized eyes that are either light blue, light gray or hazel in color, with an intense luster which get red in summer or after bathing. The mouth being medium, with average lips and medium-sized, yellowish teeth.
Ambition * Concentration * Confidence * Courage * Enthusiasm for knowledge * Happiness * Intelligence
Pittas have an intellectual and precise disposition due to a very alert, focussed mind. Sharp and knife-like in anger, they are irritable, jealous and aggressive by nature. Discriminating and judgemental, they are articulate, learned and proud. With a developed sense of responsibility, they can take decisions and organise affairs well. Argumentative, but with a sense of humour, their selectively excellent memory makes them fast learners. Moderately passionate in their sexual pursuits, they spend moderately, usually on luxuries.
Food
Warm to cool rather than steaming hot.Sweet ,bitter and astringent tastes.
Oil Massage
With cooling oils such as chandanbala Laxadi oil
Exercise
Moderate exercise which may include jogging, swimming, Yoga, cycling and weight lifting
Herbal Dietary supplements
Haritaki, Bhumiamla, Chyavanprash, surakta, sitopladi churan,pitta Tea.
Factors that increase pitta
Exposure to heat, eating too much red meat, salt, spicy or sour foods.
Indigestion and irregularity of meals. Exercising at midday, Drugs especially antibiotics.
Too much intellectual work/thinking. Alcohol, Fatigue.Anger,Hate fear, emotion.
Kriya - A type of of exercise in Hatha Yoga.
|
