SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 7

Just as blood flows along arteries and veins, so also the vital force flows along the nerves in a constant stream. This vital force is poured upon us from the sun, which is the source of life. He who has abundant vital force is a healthy man. He radiates abundant “Health Aura’’ and brings joy, strength, health and vitality to countless persons with whom he comes in contact. He becomes a centre of energy. The vital force constantly radiates from his body in all directions. A mesmeriser actually transmits his vital force through magnetic “passes” to the subject. It is through the help of this vital force that he practices various sorts of healing. He who is endowed with abundant “Health Aura” and vital force cannot succumb easily to any disease. The “Health Aura” and the vital force act as powerful germicides. They prevent the entry of germs into the body. Even if he succumbs to any kind of disease, he will tide over the crisis very easily in a short time on account of his high standard of health and vitality. He will convalesce very quickly. On the contrary a weak man who is deficient in vital force or Prana absorbs the vitality or Prana of a strong man with whom he happens to come in contact. If you feel weak, uncomfortable and weary after an interview with any weak person, remember that the weak man has depleted your energy to some extent. He has acted the part of a vampire. You might have all experienced this in your daily life. It is quite possible by an effort of the will to put a check to the radiation of vitality from one’s body by building a shell around the body. This will prevent the entry of disease-causing germs into the body. Further the body will also be impervious to any kind of astral elemental influence from without. You may render yourself immune from any form of vampirism. There will not be any leakage of life-force from your body. The depressing influence of the base thoughts of low-minded people will be obviated. You can live quite comfortably with them in the same room.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 6

If you have a pure mind, if you are free from prejudice, intolerance, dislike, hatred and greed, if you possess love, sympathy, mercy and unbiased neutral state of consciousness, you will be able to find out at once what sort of vibrations people around you radiate. You will develop a new spiritual sense or Yogic faculty. Do not be carried away by bubbling emotions. Bring them under your control. Use your reason. Keep a balance between reason and feeling. Develop both the head and the heart. Then only there will be harmonious vibrations inside. Regular meditation will pave a long way in the attainment of the balanced state.If you live in the company of a developed saint, you will be immensely benefited by his wonderfully powerful spiritual vibrations and aura. Even a rank materialist and a confirmed atheist will feel the presence of God in his company.
Man draws his Prana from the air he breathes, from the food he eats, and from the beverage
he drinks. You can imbibe the energy from the solar energy also, if you know the Yogic technique. Deficiency of Prana induces weakness, low vitality, languor and inertia. A sufficient supply of Prana makes a man nimble, active and energetic. He has full life in every limb. He jumps and dances in joy. The aura is in fact an emanation or radiation of life-force from the vehicles or sheaths of man. The aura can be seen only by the Yogi who has inner Yogic sight or clairvoyant vision. Each sheath radiates its own particular aura with a particular rate of vibration. So there is no interference. The auras of the different sheaths interpenetrate each other. The aura that emanates from the physical body is gross. This is known as the “Health Aura.” Its colour is faintly brilliant violet-grey or bluish-white mist. It is almost colourless. It is ovoid in shape. It extends from the body to distance of 2 or 3 feet. The “Health Aura” is striated by countless fine lines which project from the body evenly like stiff bristles. In perfect health these lines are separate and parallel. They are in an orderly manner. In poor health or diseased condition they droop down like the soft hair of an animal or the stems of faded flowers. The lines lie about in all directions in a state of confusion. When a sick person recovers from his illness, the radiation of the magnetic form of vital energy slowly begins and the lines of the “Health Aura” are brought back into order. They again become straight and parallel.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 5

Why do the places of pilgrimage attract people? Because Saints, Mahatmas, Yogins and
Sannyasins had done their Tapas and meditation in these places. In other words, these places have been saturated with pure vibrations. That is the reason why the pilgrims feel inexpressible joy, peace and strength in these places. The powerful spiritual thoughts of those spiritual giants are still floating in the atmosphere. They exercise a benign and soothing influence on their minds. Places like Gangotri, Uttarkasi, Badrinarayan, Manasasarovar, Mount Kailas, Rishikesh, Amarnath, and Kedarnath in India are filled with holy vibrations of sages and Rishis of yore who did severe Tapas there, and are therefore best suited and highly beneficial to aspirants for the practice of meditation. Aspirants can enter into the meditative mood in these places without any effort. Even some places in the plains have their own good vibrations. So some people feel happy
in some localities but not in others. Happy surroundings with harmonious vibrations help a man to turn out good, substantial work, whereas unpleasant surroundings with morbid vibrations retard the work of man. The elements differ, not in substance, but only in the rate of vibrations. The substance in ice, water, steam and vapour is the same. Each contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, but the rate of vibration differs in ice, water and steam.
If you are not powerful to protect yourself, vicious thoughts of others will affect you, when
you live with them in the same room. Create a protective magnetic aura around you. Feel and
imagine that a protective shell has been actually formed around your body. Practise Pranayama and meditation regularly. No wrong vibrations from without can affect you. Your body and mind will be proof against undesirable vibrations.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 4

The five sheaths36 should vibrate harmoniously. Then only you will have good health and a
sound mind. Disease is nothing but disharmony in the vibrations of the human body. Asanas,
Pranayama, recitation of the Names of the Lord, singing hymns and prayer, study of philosophical books will produce harmonious vibrations in the physical, vital, mental, intellectual and blissful sheaths respectively. Then only you can practice meditation nicely.
Colours have vibrations. Some colours are soothing and pleasing, while others are very
annoying and irritating. Green colour is very pleasing. Colours that irritate clash in vibrations with those of the receptive subject. The vibrations set up by the pronunciation of the monosyllable OM are so powerful that they would bring the strongest building to the ground, if the pronunciation is persistently repeated in the right way.A note on the violin, if sounded repeatedly in rhythm, will generate vibrations which will in time destroy a bridge. The vibrations caused by the rhythmic movements of the soldiers on a bridge may bring down the bridge. A Yogi practices rhythmic breathing to absorb Prana and develop will. His whole system vibrates harmoniously. There is perfect harmony in the vibrations of his mind. Through rhythmic breathing he transmits an increased current of Prana or nerve-force to any part of the body for stimulating and invigorating it. He renovates and vivifies the whole system and heals any diseased part by supplying an increased quantity of Prana. He transmits powerful thoughts to others to heal them of their disease and attracts countless persons like a powerful magnet. He
becomes a mighty centre of spiritual force.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 3

Some vibrations can be felt or detected by ordinary physical and sensory means. When you shake hands with another man, a distinct vibration can be felt passing from one hand to the other. A man who is both blind and deaf can easily know one individual from another because no two persons have the same vibrations. You will observe a definite rhythm in all vibrations. The law of rhythm operates in the working of this human machine. There is rhythm in every movement in this universe. Inhalation and exhalation, the systole and diastole of the heart, the ebb tide and the flood tide in the sea, the movements of the stars and the planets in the firmament, days and nights, seasons and monsoons—all follow definite rhythmic laws. Everything has a different rate of vibration. Various sorts of waves are passing about in this universe. Some waves oppose each other and bring about discord, disharmony and rupture. Some other waves move harmoniously side by side. Then there is peace and harmony. You must know how to harmonise your physical and mental vibrations with those without. Then only you can be really happy. If you can place yourself in tune with the vibrations of another man, you can really understand him. If you have immense liking for another man, it means your vibrations are in tune with the vibrations of that man. People of similar vibrations are united by friendship. If the vibrations of one man strike against those of another, they cannot be united. Hatred, prejudice, dislike and jealousy will result.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 2

Every thought, every word and every physical action produces a molecular vibration in the atmosphere which affect every object. Any evil thought, evil word or evil action immediately creates a bad vibration in the atmosphere and does harm to many persons. Conversely any good thought, good word or good action immediately produces a good vibration and does good to many persons. Telepathy is thought-vibration. The mind is constantly vibrating. The mind is acted upon by the psychic Prana or subtle energy and various thoughtforms are produced. Thought vibrates. The trained Yogi can send a thought in the ether to any distance he likes. Thoughts are separated from each other by different rates of vibration. Wherever and whenever any work is done, a motion or vibration is caused; wherever and whenever a motion or vibration is produced a sound is produced. The sound of the first motion of the equipoised Nature in the act of creation of Pranava or OM. The Lord willed at the end of the dissolution (Maha-Pralaya): “May I become many.” There arose a motion or vibration in the unmanifested Nature (Prakriti). It is Omkara or Pranava-Nada. There must be harmony or concord in vibration. Then there is peace. There must be rhythm in vibration. Then there is order. There is rhythm in the systolic and diastolic movements of the heart during contraction and dilation. So there is order in internal harmony in the circulation of blood. Man enjoys good health. There is rhythm in the vibration or the movement of the lungs. So man is hale and hearty. If there is a disturbance of the rhythm in the motion of either the heart or the lungs, then man gets incurable diseases of the heart and the lungs and passes away soon.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS AND AURA - Part 1

Vibration means motion. The Lord willed and there was a vibration. The world was projected. The sound OM emanated. The three qualities viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas differentiated themselves from the unmanifested. There was a vibration in the ether and the other four elements came forth. Through the process of quintuplication or mixing up of the elements the phenomenal world came into being. The whole universe is full of molecular vibrations. Any word or Mantra uttered silently or forcibly produces molecular waves, gross, subtle, or more subtle. These waves spread throughout the universe. It is said that the radiowaves move round the world seven times a second. Everything in this world, both visible and invisible, constantly vibrates. All particles of matter are in a state of vibration. From the tiniest atom to the mightiest planet all things are in a state of vibration. The atoms of the human body are in constant vibration. Different rates of vibration balanced in the cosmic rhythm produce, before us the magnanimous world. Matter is being acted upon by energy and innumerable forms are produced. Forms break down incessantly and new forms come into being. There is nothing in absolute rest in nature. The air is ever vibrating. Rivers are ever flowing. The earth is ever revolving. The stars are ever moving. Forms come and go but the reality that lies behind these forms is unchangeable.
Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, thunder, lightning and so forth, are the
outcome of vibration. Electricity and magnetism are vibrations only. Music is vibration. If various kinds of musical instruments are kept in a room, properly tuned, and if one instrument is kept in vibration, all other instruments also will vibrate themselves. Music produces harmonious vibrations in the mind and soothes the nerves and the mind
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

CONCENTRATION - Part 4

When you study one book, do not think of any other book. Fix the mind there steadily like the
arrow-maker24 who had no consciousness of his surroundings. Eminent scientists are so busy and attentive in their experiments and researches in their laboratories that they forget to take food even for days together. Once a scientist was very busy at his work. His wife who was living in another district had a serious calamity. She came running up to him to the laboratory with profuse tears in her eyes. Strange to say, the scientist was not a bit agitated. He was so very attentive in his work that he even forgot that she was his own wife. He replied: “Madam!Weep for some more time. Let me make chemical analysis of your tears.”
Once some gentleman invited Sir Isaac Newton for dinner. Newton repaired to his host’s
bungalow and took his seat in the drawing room. The gentleman forgot all about Newton, took his dinner and proceeded to his office. Newton was amusing within himself very absorbedly on some important point of science. He did not stir from his seat. He forgot all about his dinner and remained in the same chair like a statue for over thirty-six hours! The next morning the host saw Newton in the drawing room and then only remembered of having invited him for dinner. He really felt sorry
for his forgetfulness and apologised to Sir Isaac in a meek voice. What a wonderful power of
attention Sir Isaac Newton had! All geniuses possess this power to an infinite degree.
According to Prof. James we attend to things because they are very interesting. But Prof.
Pillsbury is of the opinion that things are interesting because we attend to them, or because we are likely to attend to them. We do not attend to them because they are interesting.
By the constant practice and ever-renewed effort of attention, a subject that in the beginning
was dry and uninteresting may become full of interest when you master it and learn its meaning and its issues. The power of concentrating your attention on the subject may become stronger.
When a great misfortune has befallen you, or when you pass in review a certain course of
conduct in order to find out the cause of failure, it may take possession of your mind to such a
degree that no effort of the will can make you cease from thinking over it. An article has to be
written, a book is in the process of preparation; the work is carried on to the loss of sleep and you are unable to tear yourself away from it; the attention which began voluntarily has taken entire hold of the field of consciousness.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

CONCENTRATION - Part 3

If you closely watch, you will note that you observe different objects at different times. This perception of now one object and now another when the physical conditions are constant, is known as fluctuation of attention. Attention is changing. The objects themselves change or fluctuate but there is no fluctuation in the observing individual himself. The mind has not been trained to bear prolonged voluntary attention. It gets disgusted through monotony and wants to run towards some other pleasing object. You may say: “I am going to attend to one thing only,” but you will soon find that even though you attend very hard, you suddenly perceive something else. The attention wavers. Interest develops attention. It is difficult to fix the mind on an uninteresting object. When a professor is lecturing, when the subject is abstract and metaphysical, many people leave the hall quietly because they cannot attend to a subject which is not interesting. But if the same professor sings and tells some interesting and thrilling stories, all people hear him with rapt attention. There is pindrop silence. Lecturers should know the art of attracting the minds of the hearers. They will have to change the tone to talk with force and emphasis. They will have to watch the audience and see whether they are attentive or not. They will have to change the subject-matter for a short while and bring in some nice stories and suitable illustrations. They will have to look at the hearers directly in their eyes. So many things are necessary if one wants to become a successful lecturer, if one wants to make the hearers attentive. Napoleon, Gladstone, Arjuna and Jnanadeva had all wonderful powers of attention. They could fix their minds on any object. All scientists and occultists possess attention to a remarkable degree. They cultivate it by patience, regular and systematic practice. A judge and a surgeon can get positive success in their respective professions only if they are endowed with the power of attention to a high degree.When you do any work, plunge yourself in it. Forget yourself. Lose the self. Concentrate upon the work. Shut out all other thoughts. When you do one thing, do not think of any other thing.

CONCENTRATION - Part 2

If you analyse carefully the mental functions or operations, no one process can be singled out and called attention to. It is not possible to separate attention as a distinct function. You observe something; therefore you are attentive. Attention belongs to every state of consciousness and is present in every field of consciousness. An attentive student in the spiritual path can do hearing (Sravana) of the Srutis22 in an efficient manner. The military officer says: “ATTENTION” and the soldier is ready with his gun to carry out his behests. An attentive soldier alone can hit the mark. No one can get success either in temporal or spiritual pursuits without attention. There are Yogins who can do eight or ten or even hundred things at a time.23 This is not strange. The whole secret lies in the fact that they have developed their attention to a remarkable degree. All the great men of the world do possess this faculty in varying degrees.
Attention is of two kinds viz., external attention and internal attention. When the attention is
directed towards external objects, it is called external attention. When it is directed internally within the mind upon mental objects and ideas, it is known as internal attention.
There are again two other kinds of attention viz, voluntary attention and involuntary
attention. When the attention is directed towards some external object by an effort, of the will, it is called voluntary attention. When you have an express volition to attend to this or that, it is called CONCENTRATION
22 Hindu Scriptures such as the Upanishads Brahma-Sutras etc.
23 Read my book “Mind, Its Mysteries and Control.”involuntary attention. The man understands why he perceives. Some deliberate intention, incentive,
goal or purpose is definitely involved. Voluntary attention needs effort, will, determination and
some mental training. This is cultivated by practice and perseverance. The benefits derived by the practice of attention are incalculable. Involuntary attention is quite common. This does not demand any practice. There is no effort of the will. The attention is induced by the beauty and attractive nature of the object. Individuals perceive without knowing why and without observed instruction. Young children possess this power of involuntary attention to a greater degree than grown-up people. If a man is not observant, he is not attentive. If he observes something, he is said to be attentive. Intention, purpose, hope, expectation, desire, belief, wish, knowledge, aim, goal and needs serve to determine attention. You will have to note carefully the degree, duration, range, forms, fluctuations and conflicts of attention. There is great attention, if the object is very pleasing. You will have to create interest. Then there will be attention. If the attention gets diminished, change your attention to another pleasant object. By patient training you can direct the mind to attend to an unpleasant object also by creating interest. Then your will will grow strong

From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

CONCENTRATION - Part 1

Hari Om! My speech is rooted in my mind,
My mind is rooted in my speech;
Brahman, reveal Thyself to me;
Ye mind and speech enable me
To grasp the truth the scriptures teach.
Let what I have heard slip not from me;
I join day with night in study,
I think the truth, I speak the truth;
May That protect me,
May That protect the teacher,
Protect me, protect the teacher, protect the teacher.
Om Peace! Om Peace! Om Peace!
Desa-bandhas-chittasya dharana—Concentration is fixing the mind on an external objector an internal point. Once a Sanskrit scholar approached Kabir21 and asked him: “O Kabir! What are you doing now?” Kabir replied: “O Pandit! I am detaching the mind from worldly objects and attaching it to the Lotus Feet of the Lord.” This is concentration. Right conduct, posture, Pranayama and abstraction from sensual objects will pave a long way in achieving rapid success in 51 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN YOGA
20 For further details refer to my book “Science of Pranayama.”
21 Kabir, a weaver saint of the holy city of Kasi is said to have lived during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi and died in the year 1519 A.D. He was a distinguished disciple of the great religious reformer, Ramananda, and had marvellous psychic powers. concentration. There can be no concentration without something upon which the mind may rest. Concentration is the sixth step in the Yogic ladder. You must evince good interest in the practice of concentration. Then only your whole attention will be directed towards the object upon which you wish to concentrate. There can be really no concentration without a remarkable degree of interest and attention shown by the practitioner. You must therefore, know what these two words mean.
Attention is steady application of the mind. It is focussing of consciousness on some chosen
object. Through attention you can develop your mental faculties and capacities. Where there is
attention, there is also concentration. Attention should be cultivated gradually. It is not a special
process. It is the whole mental process in one of its aspects.
Perception always involves attention. To perceive is to attend. Through attention you get a
clear and distinct knowledge of objects. The entire energy is focussed on the object towards which attention is directed. Full and complete information is gained. During attention all the dissipated rays of the mind are collected. There is effort or struggle in attention. Through attention a deeper impression of anything is made in the mind. If you have good attention, you can attend to the matter in hand exclusively. An attentive man has very good memory. He is very vigilant and circumspect. He is nimble and alert.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

THE WAY OF ATTAINMENT OF GENIUS - Part 2

It is certainly not to be found in dogma. Even so simple an idea as that of a supreme and eternal being is denied by a third of the human race. Legends of miracle are perhaps universal, but these, in the absence of demonstrative proof, are repugnant to common sense. But what of the origin of religions? How is it that unproved assertion has so frequently compelled the assent of all classes of mankind? Is not this a miracle? There is, however, one form of miracle which certainly happens, the influence of the genius. There is no known analogy in Nature. One cannot even think of a "super-dog" transforming the {7} world of dogs, whereas in the history of mankind this happens with regularity and frequency. Now here are three "super-men," all at loggerheads. What is there in common between Christ, Buddha, and Mohammed? Is there any one point upon which all three are in accord? No point of doctrine, no point of ethics, no theory of a "hereafter" do they share, and yet in the history of their lives we find one identity amid many diversities. Buddha was born a Prince, and died a beggar. Mohammed was born a beggar, and died a Prince. Christ remained obscure until many years after his death. Elaborate lives of each have been written by devotees, and there is one thing common to all three -- an omission. We hear nothing of Christ between the ages of twelve and thirty. Mohammed disappeared into a cave. Buddha left his palace, and went for a long while into the desert. Each of them, perfectly silent up to the time of the disappearance, came back and immediately began to preach a new law. This is so curious that it leaves us to inquire whether the histories of other great teachers contradict or confirm. Moses led a quiet life until his slaying of the Egyptian. He then flees into the land of Midian, and we hear nothing of what he did there, yet immediately on his return he turns the whole place upside down. Later on, too, he absents himself on Mount Sinai for a few days, and comes back with the Tables of the Law in his hand. St. Paul (again), after his adventure on the road to Damascus, goes into the desert of Arabia for many years, and on his return overturns the Roman Empire. Even in the legends of savages we find the same thing universal; somebody who is nobody in particular goes away for a longer or shorter period, and comes back as the "great medicine man"; but nobody ever knows exactly what happened to him. Making every possible deduction for fable and myth, we get this one coincidence. A nobody goes away, and comes back a somebody. This is not to be explained in any of the ordinary ways. There is not the smallest ground for the contention that these were from the start exceptional men. Mohammed would hardly have driven a camel until he was thirty-five years old if he had possessed any talent or ambition. St. Paul had much original talent; but he is the least of the five. Nor do they seem to have possessed any of the usual materials of power, such as rank, fortune, or influence. Moses was rather a big man in Egypt when he left; he came back as a mere stranger. {8} Christ had not been to China and married the Emperor's daughter. Mohammed had not been acquiring wealth and drilling soldiers. Buddha had not been consolidating any religious organizations. St. Paul had not been intriguing with an ambitious general. Each came back poor; each came back alone. What was the nature of their power? What happened to them in their absence? History will not help us to solve the problem, for history is silent. We have only the accounts given by the men themselves. It would be very remarkable should we find that these accounts agree.
Of the great teachers we have mentioned Christ is silent; the other four tell us something; some more, some less. Buddha goes into details too elaborate to enter upon in this place; but the gist of it is that in one way or another he got hold of the secret force of the World and mastered it. Of St. Paul's experiences, we have nothing but a casual illusion to his having been "caught up into Heaven, and seen and heard things of which it was not lawful to speak." Mohammed speaks crudely of his having been "visited by the Angel Gabriel," who communicated things from "God." Moses says that he "beheld God." Diverse as these statements are at first sight, all agree in announcing an experience of the class which fifty years ago would have been called supernatural, to-day may be called spiritual, and fifty years hence will have a proper name based on an understanding of the phenomenon which occurred. Theorists have not been at a loss to explain; but they differ. The Mohammedan insists that God is, and did really send Gabriel with messages for Mohammed: but all others contradict him. And from the nature of the case proof is impossible.
From -THE WAY OF ATTAINMENT OF GENIUS

How Greed Arises

When you come into contact with objects the mind conceptualises and says to you: ‘is is good , useful, harmless, you can’t do without it, just this once’. Gives you all the positive qualities.at’s when lobha arises. at’s the cause of lobha. If we just observe the ‘seeing’ process then lobha will not arise.Lobha (greed) can not differentiate between want and need. Dosa (anger) cannot differentiate between right and wrong. ese mind states are already in moha (delusion) and cannot know what is appropriate or not and cannot see causes and effects.Kilesa is not mature. But if you can see your mind feeling lobha, dosa, comparing itself to this or that, then this mind that is aware is more mature, it has sati, it is knowing, it is not blind.Defilements are not simple, and they don’t let you be simple. ey confuse you (they are of a confusing, deluding nature) they delay you on the path, distract you and push you out of the right way.In ActionWhen you start practising, it takes U Tejaniya a very short timeto find where you are in your own practice, whatever that practice might be, and guide you very skilfully to start watching your mind (consciousness).So assuming that you can look into your mind, Cittanupassana starts with observing the characteristics of the consciousness; if you recognise the work they do, that is their characteristic.You are aware of some object and the mind that is aware of that object. You know this mind as the noting mind or consciousness or citta.en another consciousness-citta arises which is aware-watches over the first one which is aware of object and arises with the object and because of the object. It knows what this first one is doing, knows its ‘whereabouts’ object and behaviour.is consciousness is called watching mind, or one step up mind.Once an object hits the field of awareness the noting mind is automatically there. e watching mind is watching-knowing what the noting mind is doing-experiencing.Don’t try to make your meditation experience better but be with whatever is happening completely.at’s the most important aspect of meditationVery important: to live in the present moment.Every moment is a moment of meditation.When sitting, look at the defilement that tells you to move. It’s like a demanding child underestimating your wisdom. Look at it. Ask: Why?Look at all these perfect reasons that it gives you. Don’t take it for real, just keep looking at it. en if you have to move, move. ere’s no rule that says not to move.Try to see the ending of the noting mind. It happens very suddenly; like a snap of the fingers.Don’t get attached to happiness, to peace, to comfort, in sitting meditation. Keep your mind balanced all the time. Fly free.You don’t think, do I like this or do I not like this, but think should I do this or should I not do this.Watch out for that liking mind!Don’t try to stop others disturbing you, it is impossible!Personality is more like an idea in the mind, a thought. Which way are you going to go concept or reality?e frowning face shows the state which the mind is into (especially in sitting).Judging and “‘I’-ness” go together. When you find you are self-judging you are caught in identification.‘Blank’ Options— Stay with the consciousness that knows of the consciousness which is aware of that blankness.— Be aware of that neutrality as feeling.— Don’t stay with the blankness, go back to rising and falling.When there is ‘blank’ as you watch your mind, don’t take it as ‘practice gone wrong’. Blankness is object.Also your reaction to it, the mental state that arises because of it: ‘No object, what do I do now’? It is a very obvious object, don’t miss it.
from - Contemplation of the Mind

Shwe Oo Min Dhamma Sukha Tawya

Shwe Oo Min Dhamma Sukha Tawya — Vassa there should always be the greatest effort possible without forcing, without creating tension.’‘Insight comes from the realisation that observation is going on without the observer. Witnessing is going on without the witness.’‘An ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of theory.’From Shwe Oo Min SayadawPut your mind at the solar plexus. Don’t label. Just be aware of what is happening. If you hear something, just know there is hearing. If you know what sound it is you are hearing, this is not meditation.It’s only meditation when there are two minds:Knowing-noting mind and observing mind.If there is only one mind, ‘I’ is always there.e object is not the dhamma,e dhamma is the mindat is being aware.You don’t need to follow the objects or identify or know them. Awareness will do it’s own work.Even when the person sleeps the Dhamma does not sleep, even when you are near death and you are overcome by exhaustion, the feeling of being overcome is just the feeling of being overcome, knowing it, is separate from the sensation.
from - Contemplation of the Mind

THE WAY OF ATTAINMENT OF GENIUS - part 1

EXISTENCE, as we know it, is full of sorrow. To mention only one minor point: every man is a condemned criminal, only he does not know the date of his execution. This is unpleasant for every man. Consequently every man does everything possible to postpone the date, and would sacrifice anything that he has if he could reverse the sentence. Practically all religions and all philosophies have started thus crudely, by promising their adherents some such reward as immortality. No religion has failed hitherto by not promising enough; the present breaking up of all religions is due to the fact that people have asked to see the securities. Men have even renounced the important material advantages which a well-organized religion may confer upon a State, rather than acquiesce in fraud or falsehood, or even in any system which, if not proved guilty, is at least unable to demonstrate its innocence. Being more or less bankrupt, the best thing that we can do is to attack the problem afresh without preconceived ideas. Let us begin by doubting every statement. Let us find a way of subjecting every statement to the test of experiment. Is there any truth at all in the claims of various religions? Let us examine the question. Our original difficulty will be due to the enormous wealth of our material. To enter into a critical examination of all systems would be an unending task; the cloud of witnesses is too great. Now each religion is equally positive; and each demands faith. This we refuse in the absence of positive proof. But we may usefully inquire whether there is not any one thing upon which all religions have agreed: for, if so, it seems possible that it may be worthy of really thorough consideration.
from -THE WAY OF ATTAINMENT OF GENIUS

SAYADAW U JOTIKA

[ SAYADAW U JOTIKA ]

In all human activities, this meditation practice is the most important. (But note that when we say ‘without thinking about it’ we don’t mean absent minded.)
Let’s see why we don’t even use noting:
For example when we hear something and try to label: This is a ‘dog bark.’ To come to this conclusion we need a very complicated process in the mind.
First you hear the sound and recall from the past similar sounds that you heard, you put the two together, then the mind works very fast like a computer.
Recognises: This is the same as that, and then you recall what it was called in the past, and you remember that, that was a dog barking in the past and you bring that past to the present: This sound is a ‘dog barking’.
You go through four different processes, four steps, in order to get to that.
In this meditation you stop at the first step, no more.
Even to name something you go through many-many steps like when we hear one word, if the sound is one syllable you go four full steps, if it has two syllables we go though more than four, maybe six or eight sometimes and if the sound has three or four syllables we have to go through many-many steps to get to the conclusion. The mind works very fast very hard. In this meditation practice we stop all that process we stay with the first step. That simple.
But it’s not easy to do that because we have a habit of going through the whole process.
But as I said before if you practise it, you don’t find it very difficult either.
It is just the act of being, when you see there is just ‘seeing’ when you hear there is just ‘hearing’ when you have any sensations in the body, there is just sensations, when you taste there is just ‘tasting’ when you smell there is just ‘smelling’, when you think there is just ‘thinking.’
Not even ‘I’ experiencing that. Because that ‘I’ can make things become very complicated. Of all human activity, body and mind, this is the simplest.
The act of just ‘being’ in all it’s simplicity and naturalness with nothing added at all.
That is the most important point: nothing added at all.
It’s just the experience of simple ‘being’, experience of simple process. So in practicing this meditation do not expect anything to happen.
That is also another important thing.
Especially for those of you who have been meditating for quite a while, a long time and who have had good experiences before; whenever they meditate again they always want to get to that state as quickly as possible. They expect that.
‘I have been into that peaceful state before. Now I am going to sit and get there as quickly as possible’. The harder we try the harder it becomes. So don’t try, don’t expect. This is another paradox.
If you really don’t try anything at all you will find that you are there.
To be as simple as possible — nothing added — sit as comfortable as possible, without overlapping anything.
The most important thing is to be balanced and to be at ease. If you can sit full lotus it’s ok. I used to sit like that before but I don’t try it any more. It’s not necessary.
From - Buddhist Meditation - Contemplation of the Mind

Meditation - Relaxation and Spiritual Exploration

Meditation originated from Buddhism. But we too have the chance of relaxation and spiritual exploration. Yoga and Meditation techniques have been adopted by new age spirituality. Many methods are taught in retreats. The idea is to be around like minded people, which will aid the renewal of the spirit, body and mind.

The benefits of "meditation" are not short of amazing. Yoga ensures this beneficial health and spiritual care. Meditative benefit's offer insurance and treatment to those wishing to heal without medication or direct touch being the cure. Buddhism religion is focused around meditation, and their long lives just goes to show how beneficial meditations and yoga's can be.

When I first became interested in meditation, I had no idea where to start. I felt lost. I needed some form of spiritual guidance, however, I was not prepared to pay out hundreds of dollars in the hopes of finding what I was looking for. I didn't know the difference between New Age techniques and Buddhist zen yoga. What I was looking for was a means of escape from the stresses of my hectic life into deep relaxation. Luckily, I found a great place to get hold of free meditation audios, which of course suited my purposes.

I found that starting out with a free audios made it easy to get straight into deep meditation. The audio acts on our brain frequencies. Our consciousness shifts in to alpha, which gives us deep, deep, pleasure.

We experience almost instant relaxation and the lovely emotions of joy, bliss and love.

We can now all achieve deep meditation...
Free Meditation Audio

Discovering Meditation Secrets

Meditation helps us free our minds, alleviate stress, and create an understanding between man and universe.

There are many different ways to meditate. Some people sit down on the floor, some stand up, while others sit in a chair and close their eyes. All of us need to find what works for us in order to get the most out of our meditation sessions. Here we will explore some meditation secrets that will help us achieve a better understanding of the concept of meditation and how to get the most out of every session.

Meditation Secrets

• Realize the true reason for meditation - Don’t get lured into all the hype surrounding meditation. It is easy to become fascinated with the mystic visions we commonly associate with meditation. People often see themselves being able to see things, resulting in higher psychological functioning. Although some of this is true, the real purpose for meditation is to have us come in contact with our higher consciousness so we can feel more in touch with ourselves and our environment.

• Being Distracted - There is a myth surrounding meditation. Many think becoming distracted during a session, meaning your mind wanders off the focus of the object at hand, results in a failed session. This is not true. Meditation secrets reveal that if you become lost or confused during your session, then just accept these thoughts and turn your attention back onto the object of focus. Don’t resist outside thoughts. This will only hinder the meditation process.

• Let Go - Find a style that suits you. Once you have chosen a style, try to let go of negative thoughts. Do not focus on the ‘hows’ of being able to get everything you want from this life. Let it come naturally by investing some trust into your unconscious mind. These meditation secrets are the key to success during every session.

Find out more meditation secrets and discover how meditation can help you relax and de-stress in today's hectic world by visiting learn how to meditate.

The Many Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is a wonderful healing practice

Meditation is a very valuable art form. Its healing powers are vast and long-lasting. When you engage in meditation, you can give yourself a wonderful lift by relaxing the mind and body at the same time. Enlightenment can be yours if you master meditation techniques.

The origins of meditation

You might be asking yourself, where did mediation originate? While many people think of the Buddhist faith when they think of meditation, they might be a little off. Meditation has always enjoyed a central place within Buddhism, but it really originated with the Hindus. It has since been adopted by many cultures and adapted to fit the needs of almost any individual.

Using meditation in your life

If you are now intrigued, there are some things you should know in order to get started. No one can really tell you how to meditate, because it is such an individual journey, but there are some guidelines to help you find your own style. One of the most important things is to find a spot that works for you. A quiet and serene place will encourage the best meditation. Another important step is to find the best position. An alert, but comfortable one will give you the best experience.

In addition to finding your spot and position, you might be interested in meditation accessories. Items like a zen kneeling mediation bench are wonderful additions to your meditation routine. But whatever place, position and accessories you choose, remember that meditation comes from within.

Yoga is a great way to strengthen your mind and body and get in shape as well as a great way to unwind after a long day. Whatever your meditation equipment and equipment needs, we have the information and resources to point you in the right direction. We have yoga music, mats, clothes, pants, videos and journals as well as information on the different yoga positions, postures and the history of yoga. If you are interested in becoming a yoga instructor learn more about yoga workshops in your city or state.


By Sarah Freeland



Exactly How To Meditate

Have you been feeling stressed and asking yourself the question lately ‘How do I meditate?” Meditation is easy to learn and takes only a few minutes to do. You can do it anytime and anywhere that is convenient to you; either in the morning or in the night, in the park or at home.

Meditation is simple and easy and does not necessarily take up a lot of your time. It can be done anywhere, any time and for any duration. If you are on a train and have a few minutes to spare, doing a few minutes of meditation can leave you feeling refreshed, recharged and calm when you reach your destination.

There are a few things you need to know about how do I meditate when you wake up in the morning. Find a quiet place where you know nobody will disturb you – it could be in the bedroom on your bed, on the floor or even out in the garden. You can choose to meditate either with or without some calm, soothing background music.

The next step in how do I meditate involves focusing on every part of your body from your feet upwards till you reach the top of your head. Slow down your breathing and focus on every breath. Try to hear your heartbeat and match your breathing with your heartbeats. When you are new to how do I meditate you may find it difficult to stay focused but in time and with a lot of practice it will get easier. Once you’ve finished your meditation, you can slowly bring your mind back to reality and start breathing normally again.

How do I meditate takes time and practice to master the art. But you will notice positive changes if you keep at it and you will notice that you are more peaceful and are calmer when faced with any problems.

To find out more about how to meditate and discover the different ways of meditating, visit learn how to meditate

Meditation And Its Potential Health Benefits

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in the eastern cultures and many of their healers believe that it has significant benefits to your health and wellbeing. There are many different types and forms of meditation and it can get quite complicated. Perhaps it is best at the start to stick with a simple approach as there are many very easy exercises you can do almost anywhere and anytime.

So what is meditation and what is its ultimate purpose? Well, the simplest definition may be that it is the pursuit of a quiet mind. Many people believe that a silent mind is also the least stressful and also may have great health benefits. Each day more people discover meditation and report great health benefits as far as a greater sense of wellbeing however there are few official scientific studies done to verify the effectiveness of meditation.

In fact, many scientists are just beginning to research the correlation between meditation and improved health. There are however many peer reviewed articles that have been published on the relationship between meditation and reducing stress or decreased symptoms of disease.

So it does require some faith on your part to at least try some meditative practices and experience the benefits for yourself before you decide that it does not work just because there are not many 'official' scientific studies done on it yet. The Chinese and other eastern cultures have been quietly reaping the potentially huge benefits of meditation for thousands of years and the west is only just beginning to catch up.

A simple meditation exercise involves concentration on your breathing. Simply turn your mental focus to your breath as you inhale and then exhale normally. The key is to only think about the breath and nothing else. The idea is to develop a silent mind that is focused on something neutral like the breath. If you like you can instead focus on the tip of a pen or anything that is neutral and does not incur great emotions. You can do this for around ten minutes or so each day or whenever you feel you need to get rid of some stress.

You will find that at the start there will be many other distracting thoughts entering your mind. When this happens just return your focus back on the breath or whatever neutral item you chose. The more you do this the easier it becomes to get that state of a silent mind. You will find that this state of a quiet mind is very relaxing. It is a fantastic way to reduce stress and as we all know, stress can have significant negative effects on your health so this is perhaps one the greatest benefits of meditation.

A few studies have been done at several universities on the effects that transcendental meditation can have on your physiology, psychology and sociology. It is actually one of the most studied forms of meditation. Some of their findings show that this kind of meditation can improve your mental abilities such as increasing intelligence, creativity and learning ability.

Other documented benefits of transcendental meditation include reduced stress, less incidence of disease, improved cardiovascular health and increased longevity. Some sociological benefits include better self confidence, less anxiety and improved job performance.

There are many books written on this type of meditation and how to perform it so it could be a good idea to learn more about this type of meditation as it seems to offer many health benefits. Other kinds of meditation include zen meditation and chakra meditation. Practice meditation regularly as part of an overall program that includes proper diet and exercise habits so you can be and stay healthy.

Meditation: A Gateway Outside Reality

Life always creates different images and different issues in the mind of a human. Inside the mind everything may happen. Fantasies, dreams, problems and many others, they always consume a large space in the cradle of the mind: the thoughts. Many self-improvement books teach that success is first conceived in the mind. There are many testimonies of excellent and successful persons that prove this testimony. This is why people must understand the fabulous power thinking can bring. This power of the mind can be harnessed through the practice of meditation.

Meditation can be defined as setting all your thoughts into the neutral realm and letting it roam. But there is another meaning of meditation, and that is putting your focus into something. The secret of a triumphant meditative session is pouring your best effort to reflect on something. The good news is that something can be any image, sound, smell, idea, or object that motivates you. Inside our meditation arena, no one can dictate what someone wants to create or who he wants to see. These include the things we hope for and the life we dream of. In this effect, meditation paves a way outside the reality created by the outside world. What occurs in the external environment of the mind may be drastically altered in well-focused thoughts. During the meditation, we eagerly conceive and perceive the things that we want to focus on. This is the secret of meditation, which gives way to the secrets of success.

This is why many people reach their goals despite the trials and problems the world brings to them. It is because they already meditate beyond what the reality dictates. Meditation which serves as a gateway outside reality preserves the self-esteem, the self-image and the dreams a person has. The deepest desires are brought forth and are given the opportunity to be actualized through the powers of meditation.

In conclusion, meditation indeed serves as a portal outside the real world, but still we should not forget that the success after our meditation depends on the genuine and diligent practice of meditation for the right purpose. Meditation should not be the only means to achieve success. It is a tool that should be used with the best of intentions. Meditation provides benefits of physical and mental health that further help you attain what you want in life.

Keep in mind, the state of meditation is only a temporary escape from reality. As one removes himself from the meditative state, he becomes more capable of facing the challenges offered by the external world. Always remember how powerful the human mind is, and how more powerful it can become if given the right motivation to work. Think of all the other physical benefits and spiritual gifts that meditation opens up for your life. These can all be achieved if you are willing to receive them. You can gain the most from meditation and the power of the mind. All you need to do is to make the decision.

By:Ace Smith

Explore the Benefits of Meditation

If you practice meditation regularly, then you are probably aware of its benefits to your spiritual well-being. Mediation can help people stay calm, focused and relaxed. Relaxation is one of the most outstanding and well known benefits of meditation. It has been proven through studies that health problems are often a result of stress and anxiety. An individual can relieve his or her body from stress and anxiety through regular practice of meditation.

Lowering the levels of blood lactate is one of the lesser known benefits of meditation. This benefit can reduce of the number of panic attacks that an individual can suffer. If you suffer from frequent panic attacks, then you can reap the benefits of meditation. Meditation allows you to maintain chemical balances that help regulate the nervous system and reduce stress.

Meditative practices can also help people cope with their distress when they are experiencing great periods of stress. The negative effects of life changing episodes like the loss of a loved one or a divorce can be reduced through meditation. This may be attributed to one of the benefits of meditation that involves an increase of serotonin production in the brain. Studies indicate that elevated serotonin levels can help improve a person’s moods. A person who has too little serotonin can suffer from conditions like depression, insomnia and obesity.

There is also evidence suggesting that meditative practices can slow a person’s heart rate while increasing blood flow. A person can bring his blood pressure rate back to normal with repeated practice of meditation. The increase in blood flow along with the slower heart rate serves to lower a person’s blood pressure. This means that the benefits of meditation can also help people who suffer from high blood pressure.

Some studies reveal that increasing an individual’s ability to fend off illnesses including cancer is also one of the many benefits of meditation. Researchers have observed that the meditative process can increase the production of cells that the body uses to kill bacteria, viruses and even cancer cells. These benefits of mediation are very important, even if they often go unnoticed by the general public.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Benefits of Meditation. Visit our site for more helpful information about Benefits of Meditation and other similar

A One Minute Meditation

Maybe learning to meditate intimidates you, and in any case it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. The solution to both problems is an easy meditation you can learn right now, that will only take a minute to do each day.

An Easy Meditation Technique

Breathing through your mouth expands your chest, but if you breath through your nose you'll notice how your abdomen extends. You see, nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain. It also tends to relax you.

Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it's the basis of this one-minute meditation. You simply close your eyes, let the tension go out of your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and take four slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your breathing.

Is Meditation This Easy?

You're not likey to get you into a deep meditative state with this simple exercise. You will get benefits, though. These will almost certainly include a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.

Try to develop a "trigger" for your meditation. You can do your four breaths when you get into the car, for example, or right after lunch each day. A trigger is a place or time that reminds you, so your meditation becomes a habit.

Some may say this isn't "real" meditation, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying the relaxation you'll get from this technique. You can always pursue deeper meditation later, if you wish. In the meantime, remember that not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not do an easy one-minute meditation right now?

Steve Gillman writes on many self help topics including boosting brainpower, losing weight, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, learning gratitude, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

Stress Relief Without Drugs - Walking Meditation

Walking meditation can be done in many ways and for many purposes, but I have found this technique to be outstanding in relieving stress. It's easy to do, and you should feel a distinct benefit from the first fifteen minutes of trying it.

This technique is particularly effective for those who have difficulty sitting still in meditation for long periods of time, or want to break up their sitting with a little walking meditation. This technique can be used exclusively, and can be as effective as sitting meditation for many meditators.

A path about twenty paces, or about fifty feet long is ideal. Any length will work however, even walking across a small room. The purpose of this meditation is to relax and slow the mind down, so follow the instructions as closely as you can. Also, since you will be repeating a mantra of sorts, don't let thoughts interfere with your mantra, or your concentration on walking. Just walk; and pay no attention to anything else except your mantra and your walking.

The walking will be very slow, about four seconds per step, slowly picking up one foot, moving it forward, sitting it down, and then picking up the other. You should be aware of when you are going to walk, when you are walking, when you intend to stop at the end of the path, when you are standing, when you anticipate turning, when you are actually turning, when you anticipate walking again, and when you are actually walking.

All of these movements are helped by your mantras, which state exactly what you are doing at the time. For example, when you are walking, with each step you will say audibly, softly, slowly, "I am walking." This should be said in a light, almost singing voice where the second word will be higher pitched than the other words. That is, the word, "am" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "walking." It will be almost as if you are singing your mantra to a child in a very soft, lullaby voice. The mantra and the way you repeat it are extremely important in relieving your stress. It must be said in kindness to yourself.

Step 1. To begin, while standing at the end of the path, say, "I want to walk." Then wait four seconds and again, "I want to walk." Wait four more seconds and then one more, "I want to walk." The words, "want to" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "walk."

Step 2. Now begin walking, slowly picking up your left foot, moving it forward, and setting it down while saying, "I am walking." Then your right foot, and again, "I am walking." Maintain a step about every four seconds. The word "am" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "walking."

Step 4. Continue this down the path until you are about three paces from the end of the path. Then with each of the three remaining steps before you reach the end of the path, say, "I want to stop." The words, "want to" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "stop."

Step 5. Stop at the end of the path and while you are standing still, say, "I am standing." Then wait four seconds and again, "I am standing." Wait four more seconds and then one more, "I am standing." The word "am" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "standing."

Step 6. Then after about four seconds, say, "I want to turn." Then wait four seconds and again, "I want to turn." Wait four more seconds and then one more, "I want to turn." The words "want to" will be higher pitched than either "I" or "turn."

Step 6. Then begin turning while saying, "I am turning." Then again slowly, "I am turning." And once more as you complete your turn, I am turning." The "am" will be higher pitched as before.

After you complete your turn, go back to Step 1.

You will find that if you concentrate on only your walking, and concentrate on the mantras, worries and cares will melt away for awhile, usually enough to give your busy mind a break from all the stress.

Try to do this as much as you have time for, either indoors or outdoors. Not only will it relieve stress, but if you can get concentrated enough doing this, the mind can actually make a shift in consciousness that could change your life for the better. As always, contact me if you have any questions.

E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com

Five Roadblocks to Meditation and How They Apply to Westerners

The first hindrance to meditation is desire for sense stimulation. This can range from obsessive sexual lust, to compulsive socializing, to addictive intellectual pursuits. In the West, we tend toward the addictive intellectual pursuits because we have usually disciplined ourselves regarding lustful sex and compulsive socializing before becoming interested in meditation.

There are, however, always subtle, lingering desires for sense stimulation regarding sex and socializing, and they manifest when we choose the group with which to belong. If we hope to meet that certain someone, or if we want to socialize and make friends, we will join a group where we can pursue those goals.

Then, meditation many times become secondary, no more than a ritual to promote the hidden goals, which might not be to release us from the bondage of worldly illusion. Instead of a goal of emptiness, the goal becomes activity. One goal abandons the worldly life and its illusions, the other abandons any hope of true freedom.

Even if we see the fallacy of sex and socializing when it comes to serious practice, we Westerners many times fall prey to the main sense desire, which is our love of mind, or intellectual stimulation. The mind loves to solve problems, and even though the problem of enlightenment is far beyond the mind's capability to solve, Westerners try to figure it out, and inadvertently escape from the stillness, that holds the key to enlightenment, and into their books.

Attempting to solve the problem of humanity through books stimulates our sense of mind. It's pleasurable, and offers an escape not much different from sex or socializing. We justify it, incorrectly, because we believe that we are pursuing truth, even though truth can never be found secondarily through books or lectures. If one's practice is sincere and dedicated, then a lecture or a phrase from a book can trigger insight. However, if the tendency is to rely primarily on books rather than meditation, then true insight is prohibited and delusion is fostered. When we read too much, then even the important things we run across become so watered down that no progress will be made, which inhibits insight and only promotes delusion.

Not reading or listening at all to meaningful lectures is incorrect as well, because essential reading and discussion ease us back onto the correct path in case we have strayed. A good guideline for Westerners is that only distilled reading should be done. For every hour of reading or listening to lectures, one should meditate at least 10 hours. Then, the reading becomes balanced, and less of an entertainment and stimulation of the mind. It then becomes more of a guide to one's meditation practice, and the reading will automatically become serious, distilled, and relevant to one's practice because frivolous reading wastes that precious one hour that the mind has to escape!

The second hindrance is anger or ill will. This one is particularly relevant to Westerners because our culture is so angry. If you have driven anywhere lately, you know what I mean; it's as if everyone is a hidden explosive device such as those found under the sea that has long spikes protruding from its body, just waiting to go off, and if anything or anyone even slightly touches one of the spikes . . . boom!

It is not possible to calm the mind when in the presence of such anger and ill will. We will just sit there and simmer. Pretending to be peaceful with an angry mind is just lying to ourselves, which we become pretty good at, but still, we are only faking ourselves out. Only a loving mind can go deeply into meditation, therefore, how does one become loving? One can only become loving when the one who hates disappears, and only when the one who hates disappears can true progress be made in the spiritual life.

This all begins when the focus on one's breath becomes more important than ones opinions and ideals, one's thoughts and emotions; and one's attachments and aversions. It all starts and ends with concentration on the breath, and an acknowledgment that whatever opinions and thoughts we might have; they are irrelevant for the short time that we have decided to meditate. Of course, the more we meditate, the longer we can forgo our anger and aversion. In the meantime, we get so used to being peaceful during meditation where the angry thoughts and emotions are replaced by the breath, that we carry a little of that peacefulness out into our lives.

By overcoming our anger and aversion, our meditation not only begins to deepen but we protect ourselves when out in the world. Instead of a situation looping into violence where two inflated egos fight for control, we can sit back and relax, knowing that such a thing as ego is merely a construct of mind with no substantial reality. Just through the simple process of meditation, we begin to get to know ourselves as we have never known ourselves before.

The third hindrance; sloth and torpor, is the less troublesome one for Westerners, in the beginning at least, because we tend to go at things at breakneck speeds. We are usually keen to practice and rarely become disinterested because we are tired or lazy. What does happen, however, is that many times we become sleepy in meditation because when our minds calm down, the natural response is to go to sleep if we are sleep deprived, and most of us are because we keep ourselves so busy.

Sloth and torpor can be solved quite easily, however, and it doesn't involve getting more sleep; it involves passion. If you are involved in something that you love, for example establishing a new business, or beginning a new relationship, the energy levels become so high that sleep is almost unnecessary; or eating for that matter. This kind of passion develops in th spiritual life once one begins to get some results from their meditation, and begins to understand the depth of the practice. The best advice here is to concentrate with all of your might so that a shift in consciousness can occur, remembering that shifts in consciousness are the only things that will matter when a last breath is taken. Seldom does one become sleepy when a bear is outside of their tent. And what's worse than a bear outside your tent - rounds and rounds of rebirth into the physical realm.

Restlessness, the fourth hindrance, ranks right up there with intellectualism when it comes to Westerners. We have little patience for anything, and less tolerance for things that don't agree with the views and opinions that we accumulate, many times, by second hand information. We are very gullible when we read anything, and tend to accept it as truth. Since more often than not it isn't truth, just a smattering of truth disguised as wisdom, we eventually see through it and go on to our next adventure. Hence, spiritual window shopping becomes a way of life where we never stop long enough to practice seriously.

This restlessness is very much tied into sensual desires, where if we are not entertained and stimulated physically and mentally every moment, we are not happy campers. We never stop long enough for the mind to begin clarifying, and as a result, we seek our pleasure from externals. We think that it is good that externals always provide instant gratification (or almost always, until one gets older), and bad that internal observation and investigation provides nothing, as far as our deluded minds are concerned.

It's only after hitting that wall of emptiness, the one we have been running from for so long, that we begin to see what an untainted mind can be like, and this is where the restlessness stops. In the meantime, however, when the mind decides to settle down and stop its restless ramblings, there will be mental pain no different from an addiction that is suddenly stopped. The withdrawal can be quite severe. However, if the mind does not withdraw from its addictions, such as attachment and aversion, love and hate, then when the opportunity to bounce from one thing to another is no longer available, the mind will not only no longer have an escape through external channels, but since it has not invested any effort in internal understanding, it will be cornered with no escape. Now the pain can become unbearable, catapulting one into lifetime after lifetime of unknown consequences.

And the fifth and last common hindrance is doubt. As Westerners, we are bombarded constantly by half truths and untruths, and are thus, perhaps justifiably, cynical. We don't believe anyone, even ourselves at times, and doubt, misgivings, uncertainty, and suspicion make life, and finding a spiritual practice, downright miserable.

We can doubt many things when we decide to look for a path, such as whether or not the practice we have decided to embrace really gets results, if the practice doesn't require much from us. Or we can doubt our own capacity to successfully follow and apply the practice, especially if the practice requires everything from us. We just can never find that perfect practice, or that perfect teacher.

We can doubt that the teacher of the religion or philosophy is telling us the truth, as well as doubting the modern day validity of the practice. The list goes on almost indefinitely regarding the things that the mind can come up with to get out of meditation.

Not all doubt is bad, however. We must always use discernment, and not only faith, when choosing between the world, and the promise of transcending this world. First, we must be experienced enough in the world to see how in the world we cannot really count on anything. If we doubt that this is true, then we must become more open minded so that we can really see what is going on in our lives, and in the lives of those around us.

When we see life as it is, and not how we perceive life to be, then we are seldom blindsided by disaster, for there are no disasters. Disasters are only perceived as such because of unrealistic expectations, for example; that we are going to live forever in happiness just as soon as this or that happens, and that our friends and relatives will fare the same, without ever having to suffer old age, disease and eventual death. And that we will never suffer an accident, or a streak of bad luck.

If we do see enough about life that we feel that in fact we can't trust life, then we must be very careful where we go to escape from life's uncertainties, because if we go the wrong way, we could end up more entangled in life than ever, and thus more uncertain than ever.

Therefore, the best antidote for doubt is understanding and wisdom, approached with an open and stable mind. Meditation can provide these when we use our own clear discernment to clear out the delusions that we have built up in our own minds. This then enables us to ferret out truth from fiction, and to remove all of our doubts.

So these are the roadblocks we all face as Westerners, and as human beings, not only in meditation, but in life as well। Our life always reflects our meditation practice, and our meditation practice reflects our life. But these hindrances and roadblocks are not insurmountable. Just knowing about them, understanding them, and not underestimating their power to distract us can be a beginning for us to conquer them.

Written By:- E. Raymond Rock

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=E._Raymond_Rock

Meditation - What is It Good for Anyway?

Meditation is an age old healing and stress relieving modality practiced throughout the world, in virtually all cultures and all religions, although it may go by different names - prayer, visualization, relaxation techniques, and hypnosis; they are all forms of the same practice.

Meditation refers to "taking a break" from real life. Its goal is to bring about a sense of relaxation to the mind, body and spirit. For some, it helps to connect them to their higher self, others connect to the Universal life force and still others use meditation to get away from reality for a few minutes.

In fact, it's been found that meditation is not just merely a "taking break"; there are a multitude of physiological changes that take place when a person meditates. As a sampling, and by no means all inclusive, the following conditions can benefit from regular use of meditation:

Addictions, stress relief, pain management, hypertension, PMS, fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines and insomnia.

Other more serious and life threatening diseases such as heart disease, AIDS, autoimmune conditions and cancer may also benefit from the regular practice of meditation.

Research shows that when a person meditates there is an increase in immune function, a decrease in heart rate, a lowering of cholesterol levels and a decrease in levels of stress hormones.

Among its psychological benefits, meditation is helpful in patients with depression and panic attacks. Some have found it useful in repressed memories and past life regression therapy as well.

Once an individual learns how to meditate and experiences the benefits associated with slowing down, taking time out for oneself, and the healing potential, it's easy to use this modality anywhere and anytime. Meditation takes deep concentration and focus when first learning but the ease at which a person can transition into a meditative state increases as they improve and continue to practice.

Rachel Dayer runs and operates http://www.mustask.com, a health related portal.

Meditation Benefits – Reduce Stress & Improve Your Overall Wellbeing

Meditation can be done by anyone. It’s easy to do and for something that takes up so little time and effort the health benefits are enormous.

Here we will look at the benefits in more detail how it can reduce stress and also improve your psychological state and overall sense of wellbeing.

Meditation has been proved scientifically to combat stress and the reason is that it simply counteracts it.

What happens during stress?

During stress, the heart beats faster and blood pressure rises. The blood flow is diverted from the internal organs to the muscles as well as the areas of the brain that control muscle coordination as the body is in a state of fight or flight.

All this leads us to the feeling exhausted, anxious and stressed.

Stress is induced by stimulation of the hypothalamus of the brain relaxation can achieved by countering this stimulation by countering it with meditation.

Clinical studies have shown that Meditation can contribute to an individual's psychological and physiological well-being as meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an alpha state.

It is this alpha state which is the level of consciousness that promotes the healing state.

Meditation and stress relief

1. Decreases the metabolic rate, lowers heart rate and lowers blood pressure

2. Lowers levels of cortisol and lactate-two. Both these chemicals are a buy product of stress.

3. Reduces free radicals damage to the body

4. Improves skin resistance which lowers with higher stress and anxiety l

5. Helps reduce high cholesterol levels which some with stress and lead to cardiovascular disease.

Our lives are overloaded

Today, it seems that our lives are more stressed than ever and meditation also allows us to step back from the rat race and achieve time out.

Meditation is therefore not just there to counter stress it also helps us enrich our lives and our wellbeing.

• Increases brain wave coherence.

• Encourages creativity.

• Relives anxiety.

• Decreases irritability and improves mood

• Improves memory and concentration.

• Gives a feeling of happiness.

• Increases emotional stability.

Today, it is estimated that around 5% of all Americans practice some form of meditation and this number will increase as the health benefits of meditation are realized by more people.

Meditation is easy to do and we will look at this in further articles in this series as well as the different forms of meditation you can practice.

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