Meditation is a well known word.The dictionary meaning is "contemplation for a long period of time." Thinking about a single subject matter (with the exclusion of any other), is contemplation. It is a mental process.
What is the familiar thing called MIND? Defining the "mind" is very difficult, since it is not an organ in the body. We have to understand it as an awareness, resulting from unknown processes taking place in the body, most probably in the Brain and the nervous system.Therefore, it's attributed conveniently to the Astral body (which is only a convenient classification. Mind, intellect, and ego are grouped together as the Astral body.The causal body is the subconscious or unconscious part of the mind, where lot of information are coded (in the physical body, stored in the brain).When activated (exact mechanism is not known) the information is felt as thoughts.Nerve firing in the brain is involved.
Roughly we can say that the abstract entity called mind is where we feel the thoughts. This does not enlighten us about the Mind, and is useful only for defining it so that we can proceed further into understanding it.
Thoughts are discrete, so they come to us one by one. Is there a gap in time, in between two thoughts? Yes. Do we recognize the gap between two thoughts? Not usually. This is because thoughts follow each other rapidly in succession, so the gap between two thoughts is easy to miss.
The secret lies in these gaps. So, what's so great about this gap? During the gaps one is fully conscious of existing and being alive! Without any thoughts the Mind is blank.
Since body awareness is a thought about the body, during a gap, we are not conscious of the body. The Mind is still. This state is ideal because it is the state Tranquility. In Sanskrit it is called Ananda.
When you achieve Ananda, the pair of opposites, happiness-unhappiness, are non existent. This is also known as the Blissful state of existence. How can one achieve this coveted state? First we should somehow stop the nerve firing in the brain, which creates thoughts in the mind through Meditation.
While meditating in the proper way, you shouldn't feel any mental stress or worry. This requires practices as the mind wanders at first. Even while working towards reaching this state, helps reduce mental stress. Not only that, while working through this, you might experiences thoughts surfacing from your subconscious level, which carries new knowledge, flashing across your mind. This is how many scientific discoveries happened. Many great philosophers and religious prophets, have Meditated and acquired new wisdom which they have shared with others. While all these rare achievements of great ones are admired by all, can any ordinary person benefit from Meditation ?
A well established knowledge, from experiences around the world over 4000 years ago that meditation in different forms, helps reduce tension and results in a healthier mind and body. But many meditation methods are kept secret, and are to be learned from a competent guru. These religious teachers practiced different types of meditations that they imparted to dedicated disciples over several years, and they were not suitable for everyone.
There is a wide choice in Meditation methods, and can be found in most religious practices. Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Tibet Buddhism ,Chinese Buddhism, Zen Buddhism,and their mystic variation, mystic Christianity, Jewish Kabala system, Islam Sufism,Tibet Tantric system, Hindu Tantric system, Sankhya system, etc. all have their own complex methods of meditation, tailored for the serious practitioner of the specific religion. To follow this path the guidance of a master is very essential.
We are here to examine non specialist Meditation methods which does not require a master for guidance:
Whatever be the thought of Meditation Keeping the Mind fixed on a single thought, for long periods of time, the Mind will be tired and, the intensity of the thought will be diminished gradually,till it becomes feeble and disappears.The state remaining is without any thought,that is the thoughtless state.
While remaining in this state for long time, suddenly a thought can arise,as though from deep subconscious level of the Mind. This is Divination or intuitive perception. How it occurs or when it occurs, is not predictable. Divination always reveals true and useful information. However such moments are rare and usually nothing remarkable may happen or one may even doze off. But this does not matter. When you comes out of it, you experience a calm mind and happiness.
By continuing daily practice, gradually mind stops wandering aimlessly. The ability to focus the mind on a single thought becomes easy and this will help in the profession, and in any decision making. Your Mind will remain calm.This will reduce the tension if not remove it completely,with many health benefits.
What is the familiar thing called MIND? Defining the "mind" is very difficult, since it is not an organ in the body. We have to understand it as an awareness, resulting from unknown processes taking place in the body, most probably in the Brain and the nervous system.Therefore, it's attributed conveniently to the Astral body (which is only a convenient classification. Mind, intellect, and ego are grouped together as the Astral body.The causal body is the subconscious or unconscious part of the mind, where lot of information are coded (in the physical body, stored in the brain).When activated (exact mechanism is not known) the information is felt as thoughts.Nerve firing in the brain is involved.
Roughly we can say that the abstract entity called mind is where we feel the thoughts. This does not enlighten us about the Mind, and is useful only for defining it so that we can proceed further into understanding it.
Thoughts are discrete, so they come to us one by one. Is there a gap in time, in between two thoughts? Yes. Do we recognize the gap between two thoughts? Not usually. This is because thoughts follow each other rapidly in succession, so the gap between two thoughts is easy to miss.
The secret lies in these gaps. So, what's so great about this gap? During the gaps one is fully conscious of existing and being alive! Without any thoughts the Mind is blank.
Since body awareness is a thought about the body, during a gap, we are not conscious of the body. The Mind is still. This state is ideal because it is the state Tranquility. In Sanskrit it is called Ananda.
When you achieve Ananda, the pair of opposites, happiness-unhappiness, are non existent. This is also known as the Blissful state of existence. How can one achieve this coveted state? First we should somehow stop the nerve firing in the brain, which creates thoughts in the mind through Meditation.
While meditating in the proper way, you shouldn't feel any mental stress or worry. This requires practices as the mind wanders at first. Even while working towards reaching this state, helps reduce mental stress. Not only that, while working through this, you might experiences thoughts surfacing from your subconscious level, which carries new knowledge, flashing across your mind. This is how many scientific discoveries happened. Many great philosophers and religious prophets, have Meditated and acquired new wisdom which they have shared with others. While all these rare achievements of great ones are admired by all, can any ordinary person benefit from Meditation ?
A well established knowledge, from experiences around the world over 4000 years ago that meditation in different forms, helps reduce tension and results in a healthier mind and body. But many meditation methods are kept secret, and are to be learned from a competent guru. These religious teachers practiced different types of meditations that they imparted to dedicated disciples over several years, and they were not suitable for everyone.
There is a wide choice in Meditation methods, and can be found in most religious practices. Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Tibet Buddhism ,Chinese Buddhism, Zen Buddhism,and their mystic variation, mystic Christianity, Jewish Kabala system, Islam Sufism,Tibet Tantric system, Hindu Tantric system, Sankhya system, etc. all have their own complex methods of meditation, tailored for the serious practitioner of the specific religion. To follow this path the guidance of a master is very essential.
We are here to examine non specialist Meditation methods which does not require a master for guidance:
Choice of place for meditation
The place for meditation should be easily accessible every day. It should be a safe place, so that mind will not wander about looking for any dangers. Well ventilated,quiet comfortable,and where no disturbance can take place.Posture
Comfortable posture,sitting or lying down on the back,with arms close to the body,comfortably placed is chosen. The reason is, if uncomfortable,then the mind will get thoughts about the discomforts and deep meditation will not be reached.Eyes position
It is essential to keep the eye lids closed because large regions of the brain are reserved for processing optical signals. By closing your eyes the brain gets rest.
- When your eyes are closed, the eye balls roll upwards to focus on the mid-eye brows, or alternately the tip of the nose. No pain should be felt, also no strain on the eye muscles should be felt. If you prefer to keep your eyes open, then place a small light at eye brow level at one foot or two feet away,and keep looking at the light. Alternately, a picture can be placed at eye level and gazed at. mind should be fixed on the thought of this object. A hypnotic state will evolve, over a time. Thus whether eye is closed or open, mind is made to focus ,and fixed on a single thought only.
- Take a few deep breaths,if possible breath through left and right nostrils alternately a few times.
- Then imagine any object, a flower, a letter, or a number. Simpler the object is the better.
- You can play a single sound in low volume and focus your thought on that sound.
- Keep the thought fixed on it,never let another thought enter. If that happens, bring back the first thought back,and hold to it firmly.
Whatever be the thought of Meditation Keeping the Mind fixed on a single thought, for long periods of time, the Mind will be tired and, the intensity of the thought will be diminished gradually,till it becomes feeble and disappears.The state remaining is without any thought,that is the thoughtless state.
While remaining in this state for long time, suddenly a thought can arise,as though from deep subconscious level of the Mind. This is Divination or intuitive perception. How it occurs or when it occurs, is not predictable. Divination always reveals true and useful information. However such moments are rare and usually nothing remarkable may happen or one may even doze off. But this does not matter. When you comes out of it, you experience a calm mind and happiness.
By continuing daily practice, gradually mind stops wandering aimlessly. The ability to focus the mind on a single thought becomes easy and this will help in the profession, and in any decision making. Your Mind will remain calm.This will reduce the tension if not remove it completely,with many health benefits.
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