Comprehensive Guide To Worldwide Meditation Techniques

Posted on November 20, 2010 by nisarga

There are as many types of meditation techniques as there are wonderful flavors of ice cream. This allow each person to find a flavor that is delicious to them. In this article series I will provide an overview of many of the different meditation techniques that exist and hopefully this will help you find the style that is sweetest to you.

Some meditation styles suit those of an intellectual disposition, while others are more attractive to those who prefer the path of love and surrender. Still others, with an active approach to life, may like the meditation techniques involving movement, while those with a strong mind would enjoy the approach of visualization and concentration. Overall, there are several broad categories under which we can capture most of these various meditation practices and in Part 1 I will explore Insight Meditation Techniques and Sound (Mantra) and Intention Meditation Techniques.

1. Insight Meditation Techniques: These are the meditations of choice for the Gyan Yogis or those drawn to the intellectual path. It incorporates the advanced meditation techniques from the Zen school of Buddhism, the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism, certain schools of Western Religions among others.

A. WHO AM I Meditation Technique: This techniques comes from the school of Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism / End of Knowledge). The meditation was popularized by Shri Ramana Maharishi and is based on negation of the false self in order to realize one’s True Nature. Here is an example of my experience with WHO AM I Meditation Practice.

B. Koan Meditation Technique: These meditations come from the Zen school of Buddhism and are designed to break down the ordinary pattern of conceptual, dualistic thinking. By breaking down the interference created by the thinking mechanism the practitioner is brought to confront the non-dual reality of “what is” directly and thus Awaken.

C. Contemplation Meditation Technique: These meditations utilize introspection, self-study, reflection, self-dialogue and contemplation to cut through the layers of false conditioning and false understanding that deludes the mind. These meditations have their roots in many Western Religions and are also a part of Eastern philosophies.

D. Silent Mind Meditation Technique: This meditation technique is my contribution to this category and it involves directly perceiving the fact of what is by acute observation of the thinking process. This is the flavor that I enjoy best and I have explained it in detail in the The Silent Mind Meditations, which are part of the Silent Mind Meditation Program. These meditations are an extension of the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti.

2. Sound (Mantra) & Intention Meditation Techniques: The meditations that fall under this category use the science of sound and thought vibrations (Naad Yoga), along with rhythm and music (Laya Yoga) to purify the heart and mind. These meditations have a wide range of applications, from bestowing Enlightenment, to improving health, wealth, happiness, peace etc…

A. Mantra Japa Meditation Technique: This meditation method uses the repetition of a mantra (a particular sound, word or phrase) verbally or mentally to create the necessary conditions for purification, refinement or expansion to take place. Mantras are essentially keys which allow one to tune into the individual energy field or tune into the Universal Energy field to produce certain desired results. Here is an example of using OM Mantra to activate the Third Eye Chakra.

B. Rhythm Meditation Technique: This form of meditation uses the combination of rhythm, chanting, music and breath to calibrate and perfect the system. The excellent Three Step Rhythmic Breathing (3srb) meditation technique of Sage Pantanjali and many Kundalini Yoga meditations fall under this category, among others.

C. Meditation via Song: Most of the meditations from the path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and Love, designed to dissolve the ego belong in this category. This is a path most dear to those who are emotional in nature and feel a deep love for the divine. Christianity, Gospel, Sufi Meditations, Hare Krishna Meditations, Kirtans and Bhajans are some examples of techniques in this category.

D. Meditation via Prayer & Intention: All religions have meditations involving prayer and worship. The meditations that also use the power of intention to manifest desires fall under this category.

So you can see from above, these is a rich diversity to the Art of Meditation and certainly something for everybody. If one of the styles above does not catch your fancy, not to worry, I will be serving up more tasty flavors in part 2 of this series.

Anmol Mehta -
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Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi talks about how the Kundalini knows and understands you. Please see www.sahajayogavideo.com for the transcript of this video and to see other videos not found on Youtube.

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Meditation Methods and Techniques

Posted on November 14, 2010 by nisarga

The stressful lives we run at present take their toll on our physical condition. Mental stress and substantial fatigue drain us of our positive energy leaving us washed-out physically, mentally and emotionally. Once considered to be alternative medicine, meditation is definately improving popularity amongst regular medical practitioners. Meditation, which is understood to hold a certain effect along with the allopathic medicines prescribed for quite a few medical conditions.

Meditation is not exactly a challenge, if you put your mind to it. Sometimes, we just have to be aware of how it is done and the benefits it could do to us. We don’t have to be engaged in intense meditation to achieve its effects, all we have to do is have some time for ourselves and focus our mind on something positive. Being positive and repeating affirmations in our life could also help.

Both physical and mental benefits can result from meditation. This can include increased heart health through relaxation, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, and a more youthful feeling. Mental benefits can be an increased sense of well-being, decreased anxiety and depression, and emotional stability. Meditation should not be used as a cure for physical or mental ailments, however, but it can be a powerful supplement.

Yoga and meditation are practices that help your body to renew itself naturally. The yoga helps to do so physically while the meditation helps to do so mentally. The satisfaction that one gets after doing a session of yoga and meditation is unparalleled. Hence people are getting slowly and slowly gravitated towards these forms of natural healing.

The methods used by the Vissuddimargga meditation work by trying to subdue the mind. Sahaja Yoga says that instead of trying to subdue or control the mind, which is almost impossible anyway, why not ignore it and simply go beyond it. The Sahaja Yoga meditation is described as thoughtless awareness. Normally it is virtually impossible to do this but in Sahaja Yoga your kundalini simply takes you straight into thoughtless awareness.

Meditation has been established as having beneficial effects to patients with cardiovascular disease. Patients with high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure have been tested with various meditative methods, and results were promising. Even in the field of respiratory medicine, meditation has aided patients with asthma. All the more has meditation helped in the realm of psychology and behavior.

Meditation techniques are of many types, but they have a common goal. The main objective is to clear the conscious mind, so that we can gain access to the depths of the subconscious mind and be free of all conditionings.

Meditation is an actual healing process that can not hurt you, but it can have a wide range of beneficial results, in exchange. As opposed to medications and other treatments, meditation does not come along with a package of side effects. So, basically, none of the free meditation techniques can do you any wrong. The only thing they can do is to be more or less efficient.

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Yoga, Meditation And Western Horseback Riding

Posted on October 25, 2010 by nisarga

Meditation and Relaxation Add to Western Horseback Riding

New riders are often drawn to western horseback riding for the reason that it appears less rigorous than other riding disciplines. The fact is nothing could be further from the truth. Although western styled riding is more laid back in general it requires every bit as much attention and skill even when compared to the skill of dressage. Controlling a 1200 pound animal is no uncomplicated feat regardless of how competently taught and the unique communication between animal and man based on mutual respect is as essential in western horseback riding as it is in any other style.

As rigorous as western horseback riding is there is some reason for the belief it is relaxed. Though it takes knack there is a mental and physical relaxation involved in western horseback riding that is as much a part of the skill as it is part of the satisfaction. Using relaxation to broaden western riding abilities has become a key to excelling in the competitive world of western style riding events.

Locating Your Core

Just as in meditation and relaxation techniques finding your center is crucial in western horseback riding. Employing many of the same methods used by yoga and meditation experts can help you relax into your seat. In western horseback riding the seat even more than in all other riding disciplines is a major communication center. Sitting deep and comfortably will ensure a direct line of communication. Relaxed reins offer less continuous contact with the mouth and being able to use legs and seat to transform desires helps develop a pivotal relationship between horse and rider.

Getting a Leg Up

With all of the benefits of western horseback riding it is very well suited to helping disabled children and adults alike enjoy the inherent communication between horse and man. The benefits extend even further in that the muscles used to sit a horse are naturally engaged and steadiness is improved along with mental stillness. There have been numerous cases where therapeutic horseback riding has helped bring autistic children out of their shells even for short moments, given physically disabled children and adults more dexterity and confidence, and made important strides in the mental well-being of psychologically distressed individuals.

Past Connecting the Yet to come

While it is less historically known in Europe western horseback riding has a root deep into the western past of America. Those roots connect to the current era of competition, trail riding, open country, combination training, and even most recently Olympic riding endeavors. The future of western horseback riding is ensured by its value in stock control, exciting rodeo events, challenging gaming events, as much as in the relaxing mental setting it provides.

For more equestrian info please visit::Equestrian Blog

Man is never at peace in this fast-paced world and the lifestyle that we lead at present causes more harm than good. Swami Ramdev-ji elucidates on certain ways to live your life so that you get complete relaxation and peace and gives you tips to perform meditation and achieve the most out of it. Click www.rajshri.com to watch more Baba Ramdev Videos

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Sukhanidra

Posted on October 15, 2010 by nisarga

Sukhanidra is a form of Ayurvedic treatment aimed at pacifying mind and to treat such conditions like insomnia (sleep deprivation), anxiety and depression.

Sukhanidra (sukanidra) means calm sleep or sound sleep.

Insomnia or lack of sleep is in fact a serious problem that can cause other disorders like anxiety and depression. A good night’s sleep can reduce anxiety and depression.

Sukha nidra treatment program is aimed at creating a pacifying environment to facilitate sleep. The treatments include body and head massage with medicated oils. Sirovasty, thalam, ksheera dhara, thaila dhara etc are employed.

The person is also given medicines to strengthen immune system and blood circulation. Yoga and meditation further pacifies the soul of the person. He or she will be able to sleep calmly at night, effectively reducing anxiety and stress related problems.

Sukhanidra (also spelt sukanidra, sukha nidra, suka nidra) treatment lasts for 7 to 21 days, during which the person is kept in a pacifying environment. The person receives full body medicated oil massage, head massage with medicated oil and spends time doing yoga and practicing meditation techniques.

A person can expect immediate positive results in the form of reduced stress, increased confidence, better immune system and calm sleep.

Nidra in Malayalam means sleep. This is a treatment aimed at ensuring calm, sound sleep to pacify troubled minds and souls. Though it appears to be a very simple treatment, the benefits are manifold. Seasoned Ayurveda practitioners in Kerala give good treatment for people from parts of Kerala, India and around the world.

Dev Sri provides insider information about Ayurvedic herbal medicine practices and Ayurveda in Kerala. Find more about Ayurvedic medicines at http://www.KeralaAyurvedics.com/.
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Yoga meditation: Yoga Meditation Based On Faith

Posted on October 10, 2010 by nisarga

Human nature is looking for happiness in different things and focuses on people liked and things, and become the enemy of the people and things have not helped. This impurity causes in mind. To clean the impurities in mind that it has caused, the man has used various types of meditation techniques of yoga for centuries.

Meditation is the practice of focusing and turning attention inward to the thoughts of the mind. Yoga is the practice of meditation and development turns the attention inward to the pure consciousness. Yoga Meditation involves mental discipline, relaxation and spirituality.

Yoga meditation is a discipline in which the practitioner seeks to go beyond the reckless state of mind based on self-awareness. To practice meditation / yoga practice faith is not a mandatory component. Faith sows purity of mind and achieves faster in the practice of yoga meditation.

In the early stages of meditation, yoga, rituals such as faith or no faith can be used and leads to even raise the consciousness itself. Real Yoga meditation begins when you become an observer of his thoughts or focus on the breath itself, selfishness, self-consciousness of self. Here, all faith or no faith thoughts itself falls into a deep meditation Yoga.

Yoga meditation based on Buddhist faith.
Buddhist meditation, yoga does not seek another God of faith, but to engage in sober reflection in the mind and teaching him to control all our actions of all agencies in the physical world. Buddhist meditation, yoga aims to live as happy children in the present moment with wisdom within. Buddhist Meditation Yoga aims to develop the ability to attract attention to a single point. Yoga meditation is the Buddhist sense of the emphasis on the rise and fall short of breath, and breath or a candle flame or a body part.

In some schools of meditation, yoga, Buddhism, concentration is cultivated through highly structured ritual faith. In Tibetan Buddhist meditation, yoga, Tantra is also used for advanced practice. In some schools of yoga meditation, Buddhist monks get through the song. In Buddhist belief, the objective of yoga meditation to stay awake the consciousness of self, and through it to the true nature of mind

Yoga meditation based on Hindu religion
Yoga meditation based on the faith of Hinduism is called Dhyana. Yoga meditation is used by the Hindu religion since its inception. For the realization of the soul (Atma), meditation, yoga is offered in the Bhagavad Gita. Hindu deity Lord Shiva is the symbol of yoga meditation. Patanjali Yoga Sutras explains the basic meditation of yoga and metaphysical thought of the mind to enter deeply into yoga (Samadhi).

Faith Hinduism says that the practice of meditation, yoga helps to control the mind and senses while egoism can be overcome and the true self (atman) is known. The different meditation techniques of yoga in Hinduism are designed to respond to different moods to enter the pure consciousness itself.

Yoga meditation based on faith Christen
Repeated meditation yoga reference is in the Psalms of the Bible. Christen have various meditation practices Yoga, based on breathing is common. Recitation of the prayer of Jesus is great meditation Yoga. There are many schools of faith Christen that uses the healing power of meditation to yoga to cure various mental and physical health and spiritual growth..

Yoga meditation based on Islam
Yoga meditation based on Islam is to pray at least five times a day: once before sunrise, noon, afternoon, after sunset, and once at night. During the Muslim prayer focuses on God formless meditation by reciting the Koran and strengthens the bond between the Creator and creation. This meditation Yoga aims to maintain contentment and acceptance in the life of man in the individual life and society today.

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Yoga Nidra and Yoga Nidra Yoga for Health Wealth and Well-Being via Relax-Action

Tag Archives: Meditation Techniques

Yoga, Meditation And Western Horseback Riding

Sukhanidra

Yoga meditation: Yoga Meditation Based On Faith