As we exhale, not only do we throw out carbon dioxide from our system, but also mental and emotional impurities. Here, Swami Kriyananda speaks of a breathing technique that will help overcome negative moods

When a deliberate effort is made to absorb "prana" from the air that we breathe, then breathing can give us psycho-spiritual benefits as well. There is an intimate connection between the mind and the breath. When we are emotionally disturbed, the flow of energy in the body is also disturbed, and the effect on the breath is instantaneous: The breathing becomes erratic and rapid.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Breathe out despair

The world over, many have confused meditation with concentration and relaxation with meditation. Techniques using music, dance, other forms of creative expression, an array of therapies (both physical and mental), have all been synchronised into one basket - Meditation!

But truly speaking, many of these work more at the intellectual level while others are only channels for relaxation and prepare you for the more serious stages of true meditation. From the point of view of the advanced Yogis, meditation really is a scientific technique for communion with God, and is the seventh step (dhyanai) in Patanjali's eightfold path. To a host of new age and other spiritualists, however, techniques that encourage you to manifest mindfulness and be aware also fall under the gamut of meditation.

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Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Techniques In Meditation

Absolute (from Latin ab away + solvere to loosen, dissolve)

Freed, released, absolved; parallel to the Sanskrit moksha, mukti (set free, released), also to the Buddhist nirvana (blown out), all three terms signifying one who has obtained freedom from the cycle of material existence.

Absolute, in European philosophy, is used somewhat loosely for the unconditional or boundless infinitude. On the other hand, Sir W. Hamilton (Disc 13n) considers the Absolute as "diametrically opposed to, . . . contradictory of, the Infinite," which is correct from the standpoint of both etymology and abstract philosophy. Blavatsky uses the term both ways: sometimes equating it with infinity, at other times with the first cause or one divine substance-principle.

Strictly speaking, absolute is a relative term. It is the philosophic One or cosmic originant, but not the mystic zero or infinitude. An absolute or a cosmic freed one is not That (infinity), for infinity has no attributes: it is neither absolute nor nonabsolute, conscious nor unconscious, because all attributes and qualities belong to manifested and therefore noninfinite beings and things (cf FSO 89-90). The boundless or infinite, in which exist innumerable absolutes, includes the cognizer, the cognized, and the cognition, and is both matter and spirit, subject and object; all egos and non-egos are included within it.

From the zero emanate an infinite number of cosmic Ones or monads. Every absolute is not only the hierarch of its own hierarchy, the One from which all subsequent differentiations emanate, but is also a cosmic jivanmukta, a released monad freed from the pull of the lower planes. Every monad at the threshold of paranirvana reassumes its primeval essence and becomes at one with the absolute of its own hierarchy once more. The absolute is thus the goal of evolution as well as the source, the highest divinity or Silent Watcher of the hierarchy of compassion, which forms the light side of a universe or cosmic hierarchy.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Meditation Techniques Dictionary

Understanding a few quick steps of Chair meditation will make Vishvas Meditation even more accessible for you to practice daily at work, school, college, home or even at your kitchen table. A few minutes session in your lunch break will do wonders for your work time.

Meditation in sitting posture may not be feasible in every situation like in school or at work but that does not mean that you deny yourself its benefits. On the contrary, it makes work much more enjoyable and enhances your performance tremendously, if you devote a few minutes to Vishvas Meditation, suitably during work breaks, school breaks, or short breaks. Chair meditation is ideal in these situations.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Chair meditation - sitting meditation

In a situation where you can't do active techniques of meditation, a simple but effective passive method will be useful. Breath-watching is a method that can be done anywhere, at any time, even if you have only a few minutes available.

You can simply watch the rise and fall of your chest or belly as the breath comes in and goes out, or try this version....

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Counting in breaths - Breathing Meditation

This method is from The Book of Secrets , Osho's talks on Vigyan Bhairav Tantra .

This technique is about using breath to calm the mind and for centering the energy. By practicing it regularly, you can find gaps between incoming and outgoing breaths which is the door to witnessing.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Experiencing The Gap Between Two Breaths

Meditation can either be on an object, or otherwise, can be objectless. In the initial stages, it is easier if you start by concentrating your mind on a selected object. Later, if you have brought over karma of spiritual practices from the past, you will yourself quickly be led to another technique that might be more appropriate to you inner nature.

The selected object may be a symbol, a flame, an image of a deity, a saint, or if you initially prefer, even an animal or ordinary individual you really love ... This really is the right approach too, for in each and every thing in Nature is the Light of God. What really is essential is that we inherently feel a great drawing towards the chosen object, symbol, image, person ...

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Meditation on an object

Real strength is not what the physical eyes perceive. Real strength is the inner strength, the true self of the being. And the secret to this is the inner stability or sthirta. Strength is a very deep and subtle concept and is not just about physical appearance.

It is that which is sthir, which is silent, is pure energy. Just by the strength of one's sthirta one develops the capacity to draw any kind of force inside.

We now give you an intense and very effective technique for building the real strength which is all about maintaining inner silence, the technique of "Sound of the Inner Void."

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Sound of the Inner Void

This meditation is created by Osho to transform the energy that gathers at the sex center, and channelize it upwards. In this meditation imagination is used to experience the real.

For better results do it twice a day: early morning and just before going to bed. These are the times when consciousness changes gear, so it is easy to penetrate the inner realm through the gaps.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Golden light meditation

Osho has combined prayer with meditation. For him prayer is not asking, prayer is merging with cosmic energy . Let it pass through you and you remain empty.

It is best to do this meditation at night, in a darkened room, just before going to sleep; one must sleep immediately afterwards. Or it can be done in the morning, but it must be followed by fifteen minutes of rest. This meditation gives best results if done to the tune of music specially designed for it by Osho.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Prayer Meditation

Osho has used dance as a meditation because he says that dance is the only activity in which the ego can disappear easily. But dance can only become meditation if the dance is not contrived. Dance is good in itself - as far as it goes. After it, you will feel fresh, young. But it is not meditation yet. The dancer must go, until only the dance remains.

So what to do? Be totally in the dance, because division can exist only if you are not totally in it. If you are standing aside and looking at your own dance, the division will remain: you are the dancer and you are dancing. Then dancing is just an act, something you are doing; it is not your being. So get involved totally, be merged in it.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Dance Meditation

Much of the world today confuses meditation with a lot many exercises that are geared to relaxing the mind or releasing stress. Meditation is not music therapy and nor is it rhythmical dancing, though these can and do have their own inherent benefits.

Simply put, as Paramahansa Yogananda described it, "meditation really is a scientific technique of concentration on God." And while there are paths and ways that take you into the sublime lake of meditation, once you get into it, meditation really can be the one golden Light that will dissolve the darkness of incarnations.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Understanding Meditation

For those who do not find the sitting posture appealing enough and prefer movement, walking meditation is a very powerful alternative. Walking and sitting meditation can even be practiced alternatively, if desired.

Walking meditation is probably as old as the first time we ever had to walk solely by ourselves, when we were naturally in the 'present'. On growing up too, sometimes we get our best ideas while walking! Vishvas Meditation makes your walking a very beautiful and peaceful experience. Here's how:

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Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Walking Meditation

Everything in the universe is impermanent. Like the waves in the sea that ascend and descend, so to creation is made up of electromagnetic and subtler forces that are seemingly being created and then dissipating. The manifest existence as we know it, finds one level of its source in the molecular structure nourished by God's love where change is not so clearly obvious. However, on the more perceptible plane, humans change, our thoughts change, our desires change, seasons change, our relationships change, as also do the forms of inanimate objects: vehicles that break down, walls that crack, stones that break; not to mention the shapes of the clouds in the sky and the positions of the planets and the stars.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Meditation on Impermanence

Aum is one of the most popular chants in India. From time to time Osho has suggested many ways of doing it; if done properly, it can be a door to silence.

A caution from Osho: A mantra has to be chanted and then dropped. A mantra is complete only when you can drop it. Do not cling to it!

Here we discuss one of the ways of chanting the Aum mantra.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Chanting The Mantra 'Aum'

Mantra meditation involves channeling one's consciousness from a low level to a high level of purer thought. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and God was the word." Word, sound, and mantra, are all integral parts of the manifest cosmos. By constantly meditating on a chosen mantra, one is, in due course, released from the compulsory round of births and deaths.

The word 'mantra' is a mix of the root 'man' meaning 'to think' and 'tra' meaning 'to protect or free'. Repeated regularly, a mantra awakens and expands one's consciousness. Once we comprehend that everything in nature is energy, we realise that a mantra too is pure divine energy encased in the vacuum of sound structure.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Meditation through Mantras - Mantra Meditation

Life is a continuous circle of giving and receiving. Usually we are more focussed on receiving than giving. But the mystery of receiving is: the more you give the more you receive.

Here is one Osho meditation in which he suggests small exercises to make an energy circle with everything around you and feel the magic of it!

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Let the energy flow into you

This meditation is a unique combination of breathing, looking, letting go and witnessing. Looking at the light with soft gaze is so relaxing, your fragmented energies are integrated.

This technique, for the night time, consists of four stages of fifteen minutes each. The first two stages are a preparation for the spontaneous Latihan (Latihan is a name of eastern meditation which means moving the body effortlessly in a "let go " state) of the third stage.

If the breathing is done correctly in the first stage, the carbon dioxide formed in the bloodstream will make you feel as high as the Himalayan peak, Gourishankar.

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Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Osho Gourishankar Meditation

Osho has used every opportunity for meditation, says Amrit Sadhana. According to him, the moments before going to sleep are crucial, as the last thoughts run through the sleeping state like an undercurrent.

This meditation is useful for those who feel a block inside.

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

Read more here: » Meditation Techniques: Meditation before sleep