Concentration Dictionary

nidi-dhyasana:

nidi-dhyasana (nidhi-dhyaasana). Inner concentration, profound meditation.

(See also: nidi-dhyasana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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)

(See also: MEDITATION , Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Dharana: Concentration of mind; fixing the mind upon a single thing or point.

(See also: Dharana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharana - Concentration is holding the mind within a center of spiritual consciousness in the body, or fixing it on some divine form, either within the body or outside it.’

(See also: Dharana , Hinduism, Yoga, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

trance: In general, a condition of altered consciousness, accompanied by a lack of awareness to physical surroundings, neither a state of wakefulness nor sleep. In a religious sense it is a state of intense concentration, introspection or

meditation. In such a state, called samadhi, body consciousness is completely lost as the energies are drawn up the spine into the sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head. Great prophets have gone into trance and spoken out predictions of the future and in their waking state later had no memory of what they had said.

 In spiritualism, trance describes the phenomenon in which an individual leaves the physical body, and a disincarnate being enters or takes control of the body, often giving forth verbal messages to others in attendance, as in a seance. Trance can be either voluntary or involuntary.

See: mediumship, samadhi.

(See also: Trance , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Midlam method of healing: A means of accomplishing anything. Entomologist, poet, and Purple Heart awardee Charles E. Midlam began to develop this mode of meditation or concentration in 1972.

(See also: Midlam method of healing , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Dharana:

Dharana. Concentration of mental energy on one point.

(See also: Dharana , Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Tibetan Buddhism:

Tibetan Buddhism derives from the confluence of Buddhism and yoga which started to arrive in Tibet from India briefly around the late eighth century and then more steadily from the thirteenth century onwards. Indian Buddhism around that time had incorporated both Hindu yogic and tantric practices along with the classical teachings of the historical Buddha who lived around 500 BC.

It acknowledged that there were two paths to enlightenment (complete transcendence of identification with the personal ego). One path was that taught in the sutras according to the historical teachings. The heart of sutra practice was based on morality, concentration, and wisdom (not identifying with the personal ego. The other path, which has become the cornerstone of Tibetan variations, was tantric. This practice blended the sutra teachings with techniques adapted from Hindu systems of yoga and tantra.

(See also: Tibetan Buddhism , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

samadhi (samaadhi): Concentration; the practice of centering the mind in a single sensation or preoccupation, usually to the point of jhana.

 (See also: Samadhi , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharana:

Dharana: Concentration, fixed attention, one of eight steps in Patanjali's yoga discipline.

(See also: Dharana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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: Meditative Postures , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharana: Concentration. The sixth limb of the Ashtanga or Raja Yoga system.

(See also: Dharana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Selfishness Making the gratification of the personal self or ego the paramount aim in conduct; a disregard of the interests of others. While individualism is a necessary stage in evolution, yet humanity on the upward arc of evolution is on the road towards realization of the essential unity of all selves. Hence selfishness is our greatest obstacle in spiritual unfolding or development.

It is not its grosser manifestations that are most harmful, but the subtler forms in which it may wear the mask of the virtues. It is overcome by aspiration towards the source of our being, by recognizing the barrenness and futility of self-seeking and its destructive results, and by the cultivation of that primal instinct of altruism which is at the heart of every being.

What is here called selfishness corresponds in the minds of Buddhist philosophers and scholars to the ideas they disputed grouped about the word atman. They never intended to deny the fundamental meaning of atman or selfhood, and yet this misconception of ancient Buddhist teaching has brought about the false idea that Gautama Buddha and his followers taught that man has no essential self or selfhood. Because selfishness was popularly considered the permanent soulhood in man, the doctrine of anatma (in Pali, anatta) was strongly and continuously taught.

The deduction shows clearly that even in India at the time of the Buddha, selfhood in its popular sense of concentration on the lower self and its interests was as popular and widespread as today. It is a paradox that in selflessness is found the noblest and highest emanation of self-expression of the atman or spiritual self in man.

(See also: Selfishness , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Dharana (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root dhri to hold, carry, maintain, resolve)

Intense concentration of the mind when directed to "some one interior object, accompanied by complete abstraction from everything pertaining to the external Universe, or the world of the Senses" (VS 73). It is the sixth stage of spiritual yoga, the effort to unite the human with the divine within, in which training "every sense as an individual faculty has to be 'killed' (or paralyzed) on this plane, passing into and merging with the Seventh sense, the most spiritual" (VS 78-9).

(See also: Dharana , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Diet Planning

Since diet, along with daily habits, is crucial to the health of an individual, it must be made clear at the outset that there is no standard ideal diet for all people in general. The various factors that need to be kept in mind while working out the ideal diet for each person, which will be distinctly different based on the person’s specific constitutional characteristics, are as listed below:

·      The natural qualities of each food.

·      How those natural qualities can get altered.

·      The effects of combining foods – proper and unacceptable combinations.

·      The quantity of food intake.

·      Individual differences in food intake.

·      The places & climate where the food is grown, prepared and consumed.

·      The effects of the seasons and time of day.

·      Avoidance of artificial flavors, chemicals, preservatives and colours.

Diet Composition

One other factor that has remained a matter of great debate worldwide over the ages has been the vegetarianism vs. non-vegetarianism controversy. Initially it was common belief that non-vegetarian diet is superior in that it is full of energetic ingredients and thus provides more strength and stamina. But now it has been scientifically established that vegetarian diet is more natural and useful to human nature.

Non-vegetarian diet contains cholesterol saturated fatty acids that are the root cause of diseases as coronary heart problems, cerebro-vascular accidents (strokes), eye disorders & high blood pressure. With only about 60% of its contents useful for human body, the rest 40% contains harmful toxins. In addition, such diet is usually heavy for the stomach and produces acidity, which in turn can cause problems in the gastrointestinal system.

Another significantly important difference between the two is that fruits & vegetables (cereals & grains, legumes, seedy fruits, citrus fruits, carrot, cabbage, celery, green leafy vegetables, apples, melons, peaches, pears etc.) are rich in dietary fibers that reduces incidence of coronary heart diseases, cancer of intestinal tract, piles, obesity, diabetes, constipation, hiatus hernia, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dental caries and gallstones.

Also many disease causing organisms are transmitted through and thrive in animal protein – serious ailments as Encephalopathy and Mad Cow diseases are caused by Bovine Spongi. Similarly the Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria can be passed on through consumed eggs, causing diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis and typhoid.

Given that the body of non-vegetarian animals contains 10 times more amount of hydrochloric acid than that of vegetarian ones, and that the human body should not be having such a high concentration of hydrochloric acid, it is reasonable to assume that the fact human body is basically meant for a vegetarian diet.

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

dharana:

dharana (dhaarana). Concentration, fixed attention, one of eight steps in Patanjali's yoga discipline.

(See also: dharana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

jhana (jhaana; Skt. dhyana): Mental absorption. A state of strong concentration focused on a single physical sensation (resulting in rupa jhana) or mental notion (resulting in arupa jhana). Development of jhana arises from the temporary suspension of the five hindrances (see nivarana) through the development of five mental factors:

á      vitakka (directed thought),

á      vicara (evaluation),

á      piti (rapture),

á      sukha (pleasure), and

á      ekaggatarammana (singleness of preoccupation).

 (See also: Jhana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Concentration:

Focussing the mind on a particular ideal or object, either tangible or intangible as an aid to meditation and subsequent spiritual realization.

(See also: Concentration , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

CONCENTRATION: focusing the mind on one object or idea so that nothing else exists during the period of concentration.

(See also: CONCENTRATION , Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Practicing this method for many years, I have gotten the impression that "stepping out of the body by will" can be performed in three related states of consciousness:

¥  in trance

¥  in the "half sleep state" (the hypnagogic state before falling asleep)

¥   in lucidity or the state of false awakening

Read more here: » Out of Body Experience: Methods Based On Movement Imagination for Out of Body Experiences

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Mudras, the science of hand and finger postures, can help you to cure bodily ailments in a wonderful manner. It actually helps in balancing the five elements ( panch-tattvas ) in the human system to their optimal levels. The elements can even be increased or decreased to cure appropriate ailments. When the elements are completely balanced, the yoga (unison) of mind, body and soul with the Supreme Soul can be achieved!

Read more here: » Mudras: Mudras - the science of hand and finger postures