What is meditation?

Meditation can be considered a technique, or practice. It usually involves concentrating on an object, such as a flower, a candle, a sound or word, or the breath. Over time, the number of random thoughts occuring diminishes. More importantly, your attachment to these thoughts, and your identification with them, progressively become less.

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Meditation

According to Swami Vishnu Devananda, meditation is "….a continuous flow of perception or thought, just like the flow of water in a river." A practice wherein there is constant observation of the mind, meditation brings awareness, harmony and natural order into life. It helps you dig deep into your inner self to discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within.

Principles of Meditation

The basic points to be kept in mind in practicing meditation are:

·      Have a special place and specific time for meditation. Try doing it daily.

·      Choose a time when your mind is not clouded with worries.

·      Sit up straight with your back, neck and head in one line. Facing north or east.

·      Condition your mind such so as to remain quiet for the duration of your meditation session.

·      Regulate your breathing. Start with 5 minutes of deep breathing. Then gradually slow it down.

·      Follow a rhythmic breathing pattern - inhale and exhale.

·      Initially let your mind wander. It grows more restless if you force to concentrate.

·      Then slowly bring it to rest on the focal point of your choice.

·      Hold your object of concentration at this focal point throughout your session.

·      Meditation happens when you reach a state of pure thought. Even while retaining an awareness of duel self.

Followed diligently you will soon be able to attain a super-conscious state.

Tips on Concentration

·      At the outset, it is hard to keep your attention to keep focussed on one object.

·      So it is better to start off by limiting your field of concentration to a category of objects.

·      Choose your objects with care e.g. any four flowers, fruits, trees...etc. You must feel at ease with what you choose.

·      After concentrating on one, you can move on to the next, if & when your mind starts wandering.

This style of meditative exercise will help you control your mind down to a finer focus, teaching you the principle of single point concentration.

Meditative Postures

Yoni Mudra

·  Close your ears with thumbs.

·  Cover your eyes with your index finger.

·  Close your nostrils with your middle fingers.

·  Press your lips together with your remaining fingers.

·  Release the middle fingers gently to inhale and exhale while you meditate.

Frontal & Nasal Gazing

·  Gaze at a point between your eyebrows, seat of the 'Third Eye' or at the tip or your nose.

·  This would improve your level of concentration. At the same time, strengthening your eye muscles. Nasal gazing has a positive effect on the central nervous system.

·  Remember not to strain your eyes. Start with one minute of gazing and then slowly build it up to ten minutes.

Candle Gazing

• Place a candle at eye-level in a darkened, draught-free room.
• Close your eyes and hold an after-image of the bright flame.
• The practice steadies the wandering mind, leading you to focus with pin-point accuracy.

(See also: Meditation, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Meditation - Reflection, contemplation, turning inward toward the self or outward toward Deity or nature.

(See also: Meditation, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

Meditation is the best medicine, an instant medicine for mental health.

In order to understand the real approach and significance of Meditation, one must first understand what health signifies. Complete health is a symphony of both physical and mental well being.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

It is important to understand this simple distinction between meditation techniques and meditation itself. The techniques bring us to the point where meditation can happen. The processes are important and are helpful in bringing us to a point where meditation can dawn upon us. But, meditation cannot be forced upon me or you. It is always spontaneous.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

According to Swami Kriyananda, Paramhansa Yogananda often urged his students to be steadfast in meditation: "Practice night and day. It is the greatest key to salvation. Meditation is the most effective way of destroying temptation. Once you can feel the inner joy it gives you, no evil will be able to touch you."

The following tips will help beginning meditators to acquire a taste for the joys of which Yogananda spoke:

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Meditation isn't some sort of magical panacea. It is a direct and powerful way to engage in your own growth and evolution.

The life-stories of most of the great saints and sages, from all cultures, show tremendous struggle and pain that comes into their life after they have progressed in meditation, not before.

There are both extra-ordinary benefits and extra-ordinary pains on this path. For meditation does what nothing else can it introduces you to yourself!

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Call to your guru in meditation. At the start of your meditation, ask one of these great souls to help you in your meditative efforts.

After your practice of the techniques, ask him to help you go deep in the Spirit, or to give you a clear perception of truth, or a solution to some spiritual problem.

Above all, pray to him, "Introduce me to God." Draw from him, by the magnetic power of your devotion, the power to become like him - an awakened child of the Infinite.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

We begin the process of Meditation as propogated by Swami Vishvas Ji.

Meditation is the natural, simplest and original form of meditation, very secular in nature. It is the most easy form, beyond all self efforts- a direct approach to the mind. We all have been blessed with the third eye or the Shiv Netra to look within directly. On closing the outer eyes, 80 percent of your energy is accumulated within, your awareness turns inwards and the inner eye starts looking within, automatically.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

In order to understand the approach and significance of Meditation, one must first understand what health signifies. Complete health is a symphony of both physical and mental well being. Considering physical health alone as one's sole purpose is the highest form of ignorance, for it is very temporary. At the first instance of any adverse situation, if you are not mentally strong to face it, you will readily fall prey to stress that comes along with it and then, even all the physical health gained, will be lost.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

You can meditate at bedtime lying down, making it more comfortable than sitting meditation, especially for those who are not in the best physical shape. Simply close your eyes and watch your mind. If thoughts arise, let them go. Don't let them engage you. Don't judge them. Don't identify with them. Just be a non doer and watch your mind.

(See also: Meditation for Beginners, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Research on health benefits of Sahaja Yoga

To verify some of the claims of Sahaj Yoga, a systematic research study was organised in the physiology and medecine department of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals in New Delhi.

The research projects studied were psychological effects of Kundalini awakening by Sahaj Yoga and the effect of Sahaj practise on psychosomatic diseases like hypertension and bronchial asthma.

Read more here: » Sahaja Yoga: Health Benefits of Sahaja Yoga

How is meditation different from relaxation, thinking, concentration or self-hypnosis?

Relaxation: Relaxation is a common by-product of meditationÉ Thinking: Thoughts generally consume energy in the process of their formationÉ Concentration: Meditation begins with concentration, but after an initial period of concentration.. Self-hypnosis: Self-hypnosis, like meditation, involves at least an initial period of concentration on an objectÉ

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What are the different meditation techniques?

Meditation involves concentrating on something to take our attention beyond the random thought activity that is usually going on in our heads. This can involve a solid object or picture, a mantra, breath, or guided visualization.

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Which is the "right" meditation technique right for me?

There is no "right" meditation technique for everybody. Some techniques work better for certain people while other techniques work better for other people. The important thing is to find what works for you.

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What are the abc's of meditation?

There are a few recommended guidelines for meditation:

* It should be done every day, preferably at the same time

* It should preferably be done before a meal rather than after a meal

* A spot should be set aside for meditation, which should be a quiet place and used for nothing but meditation

* One should sit with the spine straight and vertical (a chair is ok to use)

Read more here: » Meditation: What are the abc's of meditation?

Read more here: » Introduction to Meditation: How to Meditate

 There are many misconceptions about "meditation." In fact, there are so many that you may not know if and when you are doing it. I point that out because most see meditation as a separate act, like sitting in the lotus position and chanting. Further, how you personally meditate may not be labeled or seen as meditation

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation as a natural act of life

 This is a course in meditation. This course is for beginners and advanced alike. The process of meditation taught in these pages is easy and effortless. Anyone can do it because it is about finding out who you really are and bringing this realization into every moment of your life. We call this "Practicing the Presence." Your understanding will come from practicing the meditation taught here, and not from reading these words. The instructions in the lessons are as simple and straightforward as possible.

Read more here: » Introduction to Meditation: Introductory Class on Meditation

Buddhist Meditation: Meditation in Buddhism

Meditation is something that plays a part in virtually all religions, although some of them don't use the word meditation. And meditation is something that can be done with no religious element at all. Meditation involves both the body and the mind. For Buddhists this is particularly important as they want to avoid what they call "duality", and so their way of meditating must involve the body and the mind as a single entity.

Read more here: » Buddhist Meditation: Meditation in Buddhism