Archive for category Meditation
A Breathing Meditation Technique
Posted on July 30, 2011 | Meditation.
Are you looking for a simple meditation technique that will help you calm down and focus on the task at hand, particularly an exam or test? Perhaps you might want to try a breathing meditation technique. These are very simple techniques that are easy to learn and take minutes to perform.
When you begin this simple technique, you want to sit in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You can do this in your quiet room inside your house or you can do it in your veranda. You can also do these in your garden if you have a wide and relaxing garden at home. You can perform this method in different positions that you like. For example, while standing up or even lying down. It just all depends what is most comfortable for you. You just have to figure out what place and posture or position you are most comfortable with then begin your breathing meditation techniques so you will find yourself becoming calm and more relax.
Once you figure out your place and posture, you then want to begin focusing on your breathing. To do this, you need to breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Become mindful of how the air moves in and out of your lungs. You might even want to hold your breath for a few seconds and then let it out to get a more intense experience. This process needs to be repeated about a few times.
As you keep breathing in and out, whatever stressed you out throughout the day will soon become just an idea in your head that has no purpose any more. That is really the purpose of a breathing meditation. You will also find yourself becoming more calmer and relaxed. It is so simple to do that it can be done anywhere at any time. In fact, it’s so easy to do that you can teach your kids or the whole family and make breathing meditation a family activity.
Once you finish you might find that whatever worried you or you were thinking about will be fine and that any pressing issues can be resolved. In fact, that is really the purpose of a breathing meditation. Once you learn this great de-stressing technique and you can do it whenever you feel anxious or nervous about those things that are stressing you out or bothering you.
The Art of Visualization in Meditation Practice
Posted on July 12, 2011 | Healing Arts, Meditation.
In Yogic circles, Yantra meditation is a well known technique for using visualization of a geometric painting or diagram. Yantra is a Sanskrit word, which means: “instrument.” The Yantra is an instrument (tool), which is used for restraining the wandering mind (monkey mind). The Sri Yantra is just one example of a visualization tool for capturing the attention of the mind. Experienced Yoga teachers should know the value of Yantras and mandalas as valuable tools for meditation.
For centuries the spiritual practice of meditation has been used to create inner peace and connect to a higher power. Recently a publication by the Association for Psychological Science, said there is reason to believe that meditation will actually improve the ability of the mind to retain visual memories for extended periods of time. If true, this might explain the power of visualization to achieve results through meditation.
Under ordinary circumstances, visual images start to fade within seconds, but there have been reports of Buddhist Monks having enhanced imagery skills. When three groups of Monks were observed during two different types of meditation and non-meditation, one group showed impressive improvement in the mental capacity to visually rotate a 3-D object and in the ability to recall the object visually. Although there were apparently no long-lasting improvements in overall memory, the study did show that it is possible to access higher levels of visuospatial memory during some types of visual meditation.
Based on metaphysical beliefs made popular in books and movies – such as “The Secret” and “Shakti Gawain’s Creative Visualization” – the power to attract whatever one wants in life, lies in being able to use the power of the imagination to create mental images and positive affirmations. This technique has been used successfully for everything from relieving pain to attracting wealth, but it requires ridding the mind of the negative thoughts and worry that undermine success and contribute to health problems and underachievement.
It has been said that, as many as 90% of the complaints that warrant a doctor’s visit, could be partially alleviated by creative visualization. All actions – negative and positive – are processed by the mind, and pleasant thoughts relax the body by causing the brain to release endorphins, or natural tranquilizers. It takes practice, but learning to meditate is one of the oldest ways to change one’s brain and, consequently, one’s life.
Especially for the visually-oriented practitioner, creating a picture in the mind may be easier than repeating a mantra or phrase. Fortunately, this can be done simply to sitting quietly and gazing at a Yantra, imagining a peaceful place, or by listening to one of the many guided meditations that takes the listener on a quiet journey of visualization. Regardless of the modality, the art of visualizing results in meditation increases human potential and well-being.