Meditation Tips » History of meditation

Background of Meditation

chenno — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:29:36 +0000

Meditation broadly refers to the state of concentrated focus on an object of thought or awareness. The background of meditation comes from the intention to assume a greater state of awareness.

It’s normally established from ancient beliefs that comprise the component of Eastern faiths. It has been practised for over 5,000 years.

Many different faiths hold contrasting spiritual and psychological practices in order to acquire or accomplish a greater level of mental cognizance and awareness.

Numerous faiths have built up their own methods and techniques of meditation that permits their disciples to attain a greater state of awareness.

The deviations of the methods employed could be categorised according to their focus. There are certain techniques that centre on a certain perception or experience while there are others that centre on a particular physical object to accomplish a higher consciousness.

There are in addition many varieties of meditation that blend open focus and the employment of an object for focus.

One of the popular religions recognised to practise meditation is Hinduism. It is believed to be the earliest faith that centres on meditation as a spiritual and religious practice.

There are various forms of meditation practised in the different Hinduism factions. Primary of them is the Yoga, one of the half dozen schools of Hindu philosophy. It provides several sorts of meditation that Hindu worshipers and even some Western disciples have learned to practise.

One of the several variants of Yoga is the Raja Yoga which states the eight limbs of spiritual practices, with half of them classed as meditation.

Then there is the Vedanta which is a class of Jnana Yoga.

The Surat Shabd Yoga employs a type of meditation that utilises sound and light to accomplish a greater degree of awareness.

There is, in addition, the Bhakti Yoga which practises a class of meditation which centres on an object of love or devotion.

Also the Japa Yoga which exercises a form of meditation where a mantra is repeated out loud or silently.

Finally there is Hatha Yoga where assorted poses and positions are applied in meditation in order to raise one’s spiritual energy.

In Hinduism, the objective of meditation is to attain a tranquil state of mind.

In the Yoga Sutras, there are five dissimilar states of mind being identified.

There is the Ksipta which identifies an excited state of mind that is not able to cogitate hear or stay quiet.

Then there is the Mudha, a state of mind where no information appears to reach into the brain.

The Viksipta is counted as a greater state of mind where information might arrive at the mind but it’s not capable of processing it. In this state, the mind goes from one thought to another with a confused inner speech.

The Ekagra is another higher state of the mind defined by composure but not being asleep. This state permits an individual to stay centralised and pay attention.

In all probability the greatest state that a mind can attain is in Nurodha where the mind is no longer agitated by erratic thoughts and is entirely focused and totally centered in what a person is doing.

This is the basic background of meditation that will allow you to understand better how it is being practised

The History of Meditation Meditation is considered to be one of the oldest forms...

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The Rise In Popularity Of Meditation

chenno — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:15:42 +0000

In the past twenty years or so, meditation has acquired an progressive acceptance and practice in the West. Whilst still far from comprising an significant part of Western society, the practice of meditation has made substantial inroads in the remedial and medical communities and is gaining more and more broad acceptance in business organizations, educational, and political arenas.

It is possible that in United States and Europe, meditation has survived its infancy and is well on its way through childhood. Some of the reasons for this expanding acceptance is that meditation has proved to be both a practical and competent tool for increasing health in addition to happiness.
The past twenty years have supplied consistent clinical and scientific experience that permits us to draw some solid conclusions about the practice of meditation. In general, we can posit with great assurance, that based on the evidence, that the consistent practice of meditation contributes to a healthier and more efficient individual.

More precisely, those who practice some form of meditation have one or more of the following characteristics:
·         they have lower triglyceride levels;
·         attain a lower, more stable heart rate;
·         they have lower blood pressure;
·         they have a slower and less changeable respiratory rate;
·         they have a more stable galvanic skin response;
·         report less psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches, colds, gastric disturbances;
·         take less prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs;
·         report lower degrees of anxiety and fear;
·         score higher on self-actualization inventories;
·         and have expanded capacity for loving relationships.

The preceding depicts only a couple of of the numerous benefits of meditation.

Briefly, when likened to others who do not practice meditation, or to their state prior to when they began to meditate, those who systematically practice meditation are healthier, more cheerful, and more effective human beings.

Clinical experience, scientific enquiry, and the experience of an ordinary individual all point to one and the same conclusion: the consistent practice of meditation is, in all probability, the most important and effective self-help tool available nowadays for individual health and effectiveness.

It is likewise clear that under the direction of a qualified teacher, meditation can be safely and successfully practiced by just about anyone without any fear of adverse side-effects.

The real question isn’t whether meditation is helpful, but instead how and why it works. What is it that happens during and as a consequence of meditation that brings about such particular physical and psychological benefits and results in improvement in numerous aspects of one’s life?

The key to answering these questions lies in understanding the relationship between meditation and the emotions. The physical, mental, and behavioural changes named above all reflect a more balanced and harmonious emotional state.

The History of Meditation Meditation is considered to be one of the oldest forms...

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The History of Meditation

chenno — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:46:04 +0000

Meditation is considered to be one of the oldest forms of mental and spiritual practices that there is. Although nobody can truly say what the exact history of meditation is, there are some speculations about this ancient practice.

Most scholars say that the history of meditation can be traced to some 5,000 years ago when the effects of the practice was discovered by ancient men by staring into the flames of fire. From then on, several meditation techniques were developed and began to spread across its continent of origin, Asia.

It was only in the 1960s and 1970s that meditation became a hit in the United States. After that, there have been many variations which have spread across the globe.

The ABCs of meditation

A state wherein a person is in deep concentration on a specific object of thought or awareness, meditation is considered as one of the oldest yet most effective means of relaxing the mind, the emotions, as well as the soul. This practice usually involves a person’s attention, allowing it to turn into a single point of reference.

Because of its effectiveness in leading a person’s consciousness to a higher level than that of an ordinary person, meditation is now being practiced by millions of people all over the world.

The history of meditation dates back during the time when it was a very important constituent of various religions in the Eastern part of the world. Deriving its roots from the Latin word “meditatio,” which means “all types mental or physical exercise,” the meaning of meditation has also evolved through the years. Today, the practice is commonly known as “inward reflection” or “contemplation.”

As years went by, people who practiced meditation were able to come up
with various disciplines. These involve a very wide range of
psychophysical and spiritual aspects — or a combination of both—that
can lead to that total enhancement of a person’s higher level of mental concentration as well as spirituality.

People who are planning to get into meditation or just interested in its seemingly limitless possibilities must understand the basics of the ancient spiritual practice and familiarize themselves with the various forms of meditation today that include “Bodhidharma,” “Hinduism,” “Bahá’í Faith,” “Buddhism,” “Christian meditation,” “Islam Meditation,” “Jainism,” “Judaism,” “Sikhism,” and “Taoism.”

Because they are derived from different cultures, individual forms have their own understanding of meditation and also have different sets of practices that come with it. In meditation, it is also very significant to note that these include physical requirements through different physical postures so the practice can be carried out very efficiently.

The most popular postures ever since the history of meditation started includes: sitting, supine, and standing and walking. These postures will vary depending on the origin of meditation you wish to follow. It is also important to note that the elements involved in a basic traditional meditation have been a large part of the history of meditation. These four elements should include a quiet place, a comfortable posture, a visible object where the person can turn his or her attention to as well as a passive attitude to make the practice truly effective.

Ever since, the history of meditation has inspired a lot of people to increase their level of spirituality as well as enhance the power of their minds. Although there is no definite proof that will trace the history of meditation, people of today as well as of those future generations will continue to practice it because of the benefits it brings.

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