Friday, March 31, 2017

WHAT IS YOGIC MEDITATION? HOW TO PRACTICE YOGA MEDITATION


Yoga Meditations
 


Yoga means “union”.
There is not one type of meditation which is “Yogic Meditation”, so here it is meant the several meditation types taught in the yoga tradition.

Tradition of yoga goes back as far as 1700 B.C, and has as its highest goal spiritual purification and Self-Knowledge.

The Yoga Sutras are built on a foundation of Samkhya philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali prescribes adherence to eight "limbs" or steps (the sum of which constitute
The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga.The eight "limbs" or steps are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.





Classical Yoga divides the practice into rules of conduct (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and contemplative practices of meditation (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi).

The Yoga tradition is the oldest meditation tradition on earth, and also the one with the widest variety of practices
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How to do Yoga Meditation

Here are most common types of meditation practiced in Yoga.

The first yoga meditation third eye meditation, other popular ones involve concentrating on a chakra, repeating a mantra, visualization of light, or gazing meditations. 

How To Do Third Eye Meditation 


Continuous focusing the attention on the “spot between the eyebrows” (called by some “the third eye” or “ajna chakra”). Mind will try to distract , will wander here and there. When ever mind wander ,the attention is constantly redirected to third eye point, as a means to silence the mind. By time the “silent gaps” between thoughts get wider and deeper. Sometimes this is accompanied by physically “looking”, with eyes closed, towards that spot.




Chakra Meditation 

In Chakra Meditation the practitioner focuses on one of the seven chakras of the body (“centers of energy”), typically doing some visualizations and chanting a specific mantra for each chakra like (lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, om). Most commonly it is done on the heart chackra, third eye, and crown chackra.


Gazing Meditation (Trataka)

Trataka means to gaze steadily. In Tratak meditation one continusouly gaze at certain object or tip of burning candle or image or a symbol (yantras),  so that our mind is focused and steady. This Tratak Meditation has been followed by most religious systems including Christianity and Sufism.  Trataka Meditation is very much used as Yoga Meditation as a yoga cleansing technique.
It is done with eyes open, and then with eyes closed, to train both the concentration and visualization powers of the mind. After closing the eyes, you should still keep the image of the object in your “mind’s eye”.

Kundalini Meditation



Kundalini is a Sanskrit word that literally means "snake." Kundalini is also called "serpent power" because this sleeping spiritual force in every human being lies coiled at the base of the spine.

Kundalini this is a very complex system of practice. The goal is the awakening of the “kundalini energy” which lies dormant on the base of the spine, the development of several energy centers in the body, and, finally get enlightenment. There are several dangers associated with this practice, and it should not be attempted without the guidance of a qualified Teacher.


Kriya Yoga Meditation


Kriya Yoga Meditation is a set of special exercises,  breathing techniques , and meditation exercises taught by Paramahamsa Yogananda.
Kriya Yoga is spiritual path that was brought to the West by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Kriya also refers to the specific technique that is part of the spiritual path taught by Yogananda. The path of Kriya Yoga involves several steps. This is for  those who have a devotional temperament, and are seeking the spiritual aspects of meditation.


Sound Meditation (Nada Yoga)


Sound Meditation is all about focusing on sound. Starts with meditation on “external sounds”, such as sound of flute, or sound of Om.  During sound meditation the student focuses all his attention on just listening , as a help to quieten the mind  and focus  the mind. This Meditation start with listening outside sound to listening  the “internal sounds” of the body and mind. The ultimate goal of the sound meditation is to listen “Ultimate Sound” (para nada), which is a sound without vibration, and that manifests as “OM”. Om also is Sound of universe.

To get a fast glimpse of the meditation try this

Plug the ears with the thumbs and concentrate on the internal body sounds. At first the sounds will be faint and will progressively become louder. By listening to this sound mind becomes internally focused. It is Very beneficial meditative practice for calming the mind.


Tantra  Meditation


Tantra Meditation unlike the popular view in the West, most Tantra practices have nothing to do with ritualized sex . Tantra  Meditation was practiced by a minority of lineages. Tantra is a very rich tradition, with great meditation technique. The Tantra book called  Vijnanabhairava Tantra, for instance, lists 108 “meditations”, most of them are very advanced. They required a certain degree of stillness and mind control.

Here are some brief examples of meditation techniques from the book of Vijnanabhairava Tantra.

Merge the mind and the senses in the interior space in the spiritual heart.
When one object is perceived, all other objects become empty. Concentrate on that emptiness.
Concentrate on the space which occurs between two thoughts.
Fix attention on the inside of the skull. Close eyes.
Meditate on the occasion of any great delight.
Meditate on the feeling of pain.
Dwell on the reality which exists between pain and pleasure.
Meditate on the void in one’s body extending in all directions simultaneously.
Concentrate on a bottomless well or as standing in a very high place.
Listen to the Anahata [heart chakra] sound.
Listen to the sound of a musical instrument as it dies away.
Contemplate on the universe or one’s own body as being filled with bliss.
Concentrate intensely on the idea that the universe is completely void.
Contemplate that the same consciousness exists in all bodies.


Pranayama Meditation


Pranayama Meditation is all about  breathing regulation. It is not exactly meditation, but an excellent practice to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. There are several different types of Pranayama, but the simplest and most commonly taught one is the 4-4-4-4. This means breathing in counting up to 4, holding for 4 seconds, breathing out for 4 seconds, and holding empty for 4 seconds. Breathe through your nose, and let the abdomen (and not the chest) be the one that moves. Go through a few cycles like this. This regulation of breathing balances the moods and pacifies the body, and can be done anywhere.

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Raj Yoga Meditation: 




Raja yoga meditation fills the yogi with super-sensuous joy or bliss which is the highest and the most ennobling experience. The bliss elevates the mind and raises the yogi vibration with pure love, joy and ecstasy.

A Raja yogi establishes a relationship with God . He withdraws from all his senses from the superfluous and  worldly activities. He spends minimum time and resources on his personal comforts and devotes maximum energy for noble cause i.e. spiritual awakening of his felloe-beings.




Which Yoga Meditation Is For Me ?


Yoga is a very rich tradition, with different lineages, so there are many other techniques. But the ones above are the most well-known; the others are more specific or complex.


With all these types of meditation in Yoga, you are likely to find one that you like. If you are a musician, perhaps nada yoga is something that will attract you. If you are a devotional person, kriya yoga is a good option. Kundalini and Chakra meditation should only be attempted with a teacher.

Probably the simplest one to try is the “third eye meditation”, which is simple and yields results fairly quickly. For the other types you would probably need more instruction, either of a teacher or a good book (see references below). Besides, Pranayama is definitely something anyone can benefit from.

Reference Books


Meditations from the Tantras
Chakra Meditation: Discovery Energy, Creativity, Focus, Love, Communication, Wisdom, and Spirit
Meditation and Mantras
Raja Yoga
The Practice of Nada Yoga: Meditation on the Inner Sacred Sound
The Science Of Pranayama
Tantra: Path of Ecstasy
Tratak (Meditation)

Thursday, March 30, 2017

DIFFICULTIES DURING MEDITATIONS, WHAT MEDITATION METHOD BEST SUITED FOR ME?

DIFFICULTIES DURING MEDITATIONS


There are many reasons that people find it hard to meditate.
Many people sit down to meditate , but find it difficult to do so, because either they don't prepare themselves enough, or they don't really know what's it all about.

Some difficulties during meditation are

Mind goes chattering

This is probably the most common challenge people have with meditation. Their mind keep on chattering while they do meditation
The key is to stop resisting thoughts and trying to make them go away. Thoughts are a part of meditation. They are a natural activity in the mind. Thoughts will come, our effort is not to eliminate them but to become aware of silence that present in the mind along with the thoughts. When we stop resisting what is naturally happening, we experience calmness and peace.

The mind in meditation can be compared to a jar of muddy water, the more we leave the water without interfering or stirring it, the more the particles will sink to the bottom, letting the natural clarity of the mind shine through. So take care not to impose anything on the mind. When you meditate there should be no effort to control, and to resistance.

Body becomes restless and back becomes sore -

In our daily life we are busy with our work and life routine. When we are busy we realize that we have less thoughts, but when we try to meditate and sit silently we find out that our mind is more busy then before. It is because in daily life our attention is on doing our work, and we feel there are lesser thoughts, but when we sit and meditate we find out there are more thoughts are coming then before. It is natural process. If we are not bothered by thoughts, still continue our meditation we will find out that they will soon settle down and you can experience silence and peace within yourself.

Our restlessness is like, when we sit to meditate, it's as if we've spent the day in a moving car, Once we stop and rest, it feels as if our body is still moving. It takes time for the body to settle down and feel at rest.

Lack of preparation

For a beginner sometime it is difficult to sit for long time this is due to lack of preparation of the body and mind. In order to sit for long duration of time is  advisable to try dynamic kind of meditation rather then trying to do passive kind of meditation. Dynamic meditation are design in such a way after practicing for a while , it is very easy to enter in to passive kind of meditation and experience peace and joy.



Expectations are too much

If you think mediation is like "instant noodles" means "instant peace" then you are wrong. If you think if you meditate and clear all the chattering  of the mind in one time, then you are wrong . It takes time go achieve state of inner peace. It takes practice and patience to meditate. If you expectation are too high then you may feel frustration or disappointment. So in order to have no disappointment it is advisable to have less expectation.

Meditation will cure all diseases

The state of meditation does not mean you will be full of loving thoughts in one or two times of meditation, then you are wrong. If you hope meditation will cure incurable diseases in weeks to come, again you are wrong. The first thing about meditation is that you should not have any expectations. Every person comes with a different mind set when starting meditation. Every persons background is different. One person may achieve peace more easily then other, it all depends on each person level of  awareness. If a person is more aware he or she more easily enter in to meditation.   Each person is unique and have his or  her own growth process. There shall be doubts and confusions, all of which will be solved by practice and dedication in time.




Which method is best suited to me ?

There are plenty of methods some for beginners, some for experienced, some for intellectual, some for devotional or mystical kind of person. So the only way to find out the best method suited to you, is to try a method which is easy to learn, easy to do, easy to practice without any effort.
you may choose meditation  depending on your lifestyle, your ability and your need. If one method suite you, continue practice till you find that you are no longer enjoying doing it. At that moment you can find another method to suit your need and desire. The trial and error method of choosing meditation has done no harm and you can go ahead and find out for yourself what suits you best.

Intense restlessness in mind

Meditating is like shifting gears in a car -- when you meditate you shift gear into neutral and the engine takes a while to slow down and come to idle. So continue meditating, allowing yourself to be aware of the sensation of restlessness in the body. You can continue with the meditation practice, such as watching the breath,  or if the restlessness is extremely intense you can give your attention fully to the sensation of restlessness. Notice exactly how it feels in your body -- where you feel it, and what the sensation is like. As you allow yourself to experience the restlessness, it will eventually settle down.






Being uncomfortable with our feelings

Sometimes during meditation, we may be uncomfortable with some of the intense feelings that arise. This may take the form of a strong emotions or a physical sensation in the body. When the mind is not wandering outside , then mind focused on our feelings, we can become aware of feelings that have been under the surface. You may feel tempted to stop meditating, or start to resist these feelings, making meditation a struggle. Key to this particular point is to learn to stop resisting certain feelings and be present to "what is". Thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations come and go continuously in the natural flow of life. Left to flow by themselves, they will pass through. Simply allow these feelings to be present, not trying to push them out, but also not interfere, and do not caught up following the mind's stories about them.



If an emotion is so strong that it's overpowering

If an emotion is so strong that it's overpowering, allow the awareness to be easily with that emotion. Notice its location in the body, and let the awareness be with the physical sensations associated with the emotion, until the emotion diminishes. Let go of the meaning the mind gives to the emotion.

Sometime in meditation, it happens that  some repressed memory from the past come on surface , it only remind us to realize that particular emotion and want to teach us something to change in our life. It may want us to notice this intense emotion. It is advisable to continue meditation without break, if still you can not bear in that case, it may be helpful to get some support, such as counseling to help deal with the issues that arise.


Disappointment that "good experiences" aren't always there


Every time we meditate our experiences will be different, depending on our ever-changing physical and emotional states, as well as life circumstances. It is important to understand that our experiences will change, as we will tend to form expectations based on our previous experience. But everytime you meditate your experience will be different. So it is advisable not to expect same experience all the time. We like some meditative experiences better than others, and may feel disappointed if we meditate and don't have those experiences.

Meditation is about "letting go"

There are no good or bad experiences in meditation. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Meditation is about "letting go" and trusting the natural flow of life. It is important to remember that the goal of these meditations is not to have special experiences, but to become more at ease with whatever arises. By meditating regularly and following these guidelines, ease in meditation will grow and this will translate into greater ease in living -- the ability to flow with whatever life brings.





FURTHER HELP IN MEDITATION
RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Meditation: The First and Last Freedom

Meditation for Busy People: Stress-Beating Strategies for People with No Time to Meditate

The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within

Meditation for Beginners

Intimacy: Trusting Oneself and the Other

The Path of Yoga: Discovering the Essence and Origin of Yoga (OSHO Classics)

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

WHAT IS MEDITATION AND HOW MANY TYPES OF MEDITATION ARE THERE?

WHAT IS MEDITATION ?




Meditation means state of no thought. When there is no thoughts in your mind, just pure awareness and watchfulness. It is state of pure joy and bliss. It is a state of pure consciousness, when the mind  is empty , free of scattered thoughts and various pattern.The Meditator become observer of all activity of the mind. Thoughts may come and go but the observer or a meditator realize that he or she totally detached of the thoughts. 



HOW MANY TYPES OF MEDITATION ARE THERE?



There are hundred of meditations, but broadly it can divided in to two types of meditation - Active and Passive.

Active Meditation

Active meditation is a style that advocates active movement of the body followed by silence. There are lots of active meditations.Many of the active meditation is created by Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as Osho. He advocated around 100 meditation techniques. He believed that a meditation style that involved physical activity was more practical for the modern world.
Active meditation is practiced in stages and it can help to calm the mind and create better awareness of the world.

Some of the famous Active Meditation Technique by Osho is

The most Famous Active Meditation By Osho Are
OSHO Dynamic Meditation
OSHO Kundalini Meditation
OSHO Nataraj Meditation
OSHO Mandala Meditation

OSHO Whirling Meditation
OSHO No-Dimensions Meditation
OSHO Chakra Sounds Meditation

OSHO Chakra Breathing Meditation

Besides these Osho Active Meditations any activities of everyday life such as walking, working, eating, swimming, dancing, etc can be of active meditation.

The main aim of all active meditation is, to experience a meditative state, to experience no thought state. When a person is in meditative state, he or she increase in energy, full of  enthusiasm , his or her  performance increase manifold.

Why Active Meditations?




Active meditation is so much needed because in this fast and forward age, everybody is in so much hurry and tension, no body has time to relax, everybody is running so fast, they almost forget what is peace, what is silence.

In order to experience silence and inner peace strong activity is needed, so that one can very easily let go his or her tension and come to experience silence and beauty of this moment.


This is called passive as it involves withdrawing ourselves in calm, sitting postures to achieve a meditative state that can help us in our active life.

Passive meditation

Passive meditation are those which are not involve active movement of your body, just use our imagination, intention, watchfulness of breath and chanting etc.


The aim of all passive meditation techniques is to still the mind from wavering and distracting thoughts to gradually make pure stillness and emptiness of the mind. There are lots of passive meditation techniques which include













Osho Dynamic Meditation

WHAT IS MEDITATION ? MEDITATION IS NOT A TECHNIQUE BUT WAY OF LIFE

WHAT IS MEDITATION?





An ordinary person may think meditation as a prayer or worship. But it is not just prayer and worship. Some people think meditation as concentration, it is also not. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. Watching your breath is meditation, listening to the birds can be meditation if it is done with awareness. listening to sound of running water, feeling the cool breeze can be meditation if it is done with awareness.As long as all these activities are free from any other distraction of the mind, it is meditation.


MEDITATION IS NOT A TECHNIQUE BUT WAY OF LIFE





 Meditation means state of no thought. When there is no thoughts in your mind, just pure awareness and watchfulness. It is state of pure joy and bliss. It is a state of pure consciousness, when the mind  is empty , free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The Meditator become observer of all activity of the mind. Thoughts may come and go but the observer or a meditator realize that he or she totally detached of the thoughts. 


ANYTHING CAN BE MEDITATION, If IT IS DONE WITH AWARENESS

Now meditation is not limited to sitting in a budha posture for long hours, with long face and with no pleasure of doing it. when we mention about meditation it is ,it is commonly understood that it may be some kind spiritual practice where one sits down with eyes closed , or doing some kind of prayer, and empties the mind to attain inner peace. Now meditation is more simple and more enjoyable, walking on the beach can be meditation, seeing sun rise or sun set is meditation, any thing what you do with your total heart can be meditation. Meditation is not seriousness it is playfulness. Any thing that make you more loving, more kind, more compassionate, more alive is meditation. Now some gardener feel so joy in gardening for him gardening is meditation , A musician a playing his music so much feeling joy and bliss in doing it ,it is his meditation and prayer. An artist while creating his art totally forget his mind, very much in to art, as if mind stops , this is his meditation.





Meditation And Our Relationship

From childhood , we have been trained by our school and society how to be good, behave good, to do things, to do things in the external world. No school no society teach us how to look within, how to watch within, how to watch and observe our breath, how to watch our thought within. So when we grow up, we know everything about the outside world, but don't know anything about our self.  we remain strangers to ourselves, while trying to get to know others. We know all the world, but we don't know our inner world. When our relationship don't work , we blame other, we tease other, we angry at other, but we never come to realize, that who we are, why I am angry, why I am disappointed, why my relationship does not work, because we have no connection with our self. we have no relationship with our self. we have relationship with all the world, except our self. This is pain and suffering when we don't understand our self, and we are trying to find out all the pleasure in the outer world, not finding the true treasure within our self.


The goal of meditation is to go beyond the mind and experience our essential nature—which is described as peace, happiness, and bliss.
When we learn to do meditation, we attain the highest of all joys that can ever be experienced by a human being. All the other joys in the world are momentary, but the joy of meditation is immense and everlasting.