Meditation
Techniques
There are numerous
meditation practices to choose from, but common to all practices of
meditation is a technique to focus the mind. This might be an object: a
candle flame, a flower, an image: a mandala (a richly coloured
symmetrical drawing or painting that is considered spiritually symbolic)
or a picture of a spiritual teacher or diety, a mantra: a sound that is
repeated outwardly or inwardly and has a positive vibration such as Om,
the breathe, or observation of the bodies sensations.
Three Aspects Common
To All Meditation Practices
A Quiet Mind
With
every meditation practice there is a technique used to focus your mind.
By focussing, or concentrating the mind, the voice in your head will
eventually begin to calm down, the thoughts will slowly become less.
Eventually your mind will be completely calm, still.
Being Present In The
Now
Most of
our intrusive thoughts are about future events, possibilities, both
pleasant and unpleasant, to come, or else reliving what has already
occurred in the past. Meditation is about right now. Experiencing the
now from moment to moment as it occurs. This takes time to develop
because the mind is so used to thinking about the past or future.
Altered States of
Consciousness
By
training the mind to become quiet and focussed on the now, the mind
enters an altered state of consciousness. It is neither a sleeping
state, and is different from the usual awake state. What is experienced
in this altered state can vary. Meditation changes brainwave activity in
a region in the pre frontal cortex of the brain that corresponds with a
positive state of well being ranging from calm, peaceful, to truly happy
and joyous. With a regular practice of meditation, this becomes a
habituated state of mind of the meditator.
What
Is Meditation
Why
Meditate
The
Benefits Of Meditation
How
Does Meditation Work?
A
Few Guidelines For Meditation
May
All Beings Know: True Love, True Peace, True Happiness
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