MEDITATION

MEDITATION
Meditation is a specific technique for resting mind & attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from normal waking state. In meditation, mind is clear, relaxed & inwardly focused.
The root of word meditation is similar to that for medical or medicate. The root of all these words implies "attending to" or "paying attention to" something in meditation, you pay attention to dimensions of yourself which are seldom known to us-your own deepest, innermost levels. Meditation involves a type of inner attention that is quiet, concentrated, & at the same time relaxed.
Since our childhood, we have only been educated to examine & verify things in the outside world & that no one has taught us how to look within, We remain strangers to ourselves, write trying to get to know others, This further develop complications in our day to day life.
Very little of mind is cultivated by one formal education system. We are taught now to move & behave in the world, but we are never taught how to be still & examine what is within ourselves. The mind does not really know how to be in present & now. Only meditation teaches us to fully experience now, when, with help of meditative techniques, mind is made one-pointed & inward, it attains power of penetrating into deeper levels of our being. Then mind does not create any distractions or deviations, & fully achieves power of concentration, which is a pre requisite for meditation.
Our mind has a deep impact on our body. When mind is disturbed or conditioned to think in a negative way it an cause an imbalance in body which we call disease.
What meditation is not??
Many misconceptions regarding meditations that prevails are
1) Meditation is not contemplation or thinking during contemplation or thinking, we engage our mind to think about any concept. But during meditation, initially, our mind is trained to be watchful of the thoughts coming & later it is allowed to go beyond any level of mental activity.
2) Meditation is not hypnosis or autosuggestions. In hynosis a suggestion is made to mind. There is an attempt to program a manipulate' mind. But on other hand, In meditation, we simply observe mind & let it become quiet & calms.
3) Meditation is not Religion :
Meditation is a practical, scientific & systematic technique for knowing yourself on all levels. It does not belong to any culture or religion of world.
Many valid techniques exist, but as long as they have goal of helping you attain inner shallness & focus, each method is helpful.
But a few things has to be taken are of before you sit to meditate –
1) The Right place –
- A place which enhances meditation should be chosen
- The place should be close to nature, south absence of pollution
2) Making time to mediate
- For, beginner, - a certain amount of self discipline has to be cultivated for a habit to be completely established for & this a particular time has to be allotted.
3) Learning to Relax
Another that that one need to nurture – is ability to relax – For this – a posture should be such that one should be comfortable.
Various traditions have developed different techniques
- The Buddhist Religion
- The Jain Buddhism
- The Hindu Religion
According to Osho – 'Watching is meditation". According to him, "quality of observation," quality of being aware & alert – that's what meditation is being aware is important. The 4 steps in awareness prescribed by Osho for awareness.
1) Being aware of the body is 1st step. Being aware & watchful of body has a relaxative effect. It makes us aware of our each movement – breathing
2) Paying need to whirl pool of thoughts – Calmness & stillness are not natural properties of mind which is always in motion to have the maximum benefit out of meditation – the one should start becoming aware of your thought – which decide course of our life majority. Paying attention to ones thought process gradually synchronizes it & chaos is replaced with peace.
When body & mind are at peace they work in a coordinated manner
3) Reflecting your moods & emotions & feelings with a little more awareness helps in co-ordinated functioning of these three.
4) The 4th is ultimate awareness that makes one awakened. That enjoys bliss upon person.
For thousands of years, science of meditation has been studied & practiced by aspirants who sought to make their lives more serene, creative & fulfilling meditation gives capacity to improve health, your relationships, skillfulness with which you perform your activities. All this is possible, because meditation makes you aware of your inner strengths and potentials which earlier remained unrealised & un-cultivated.
Affects :
1) Meditation is therapeutic from beginning. It helps relax muscular tension
2) Relax nervous system
3) Mental Health
i) Calmness of mind -
Meditation calms mind, prevent its wavering & makes it steady. This is the greatest benefit because the constantly chattering mind is an obstacle in the self growth but once we overcome it, it imparts great happiness.
ii) Concentration
Focusing the constantly wavering wandering mind on a particular thing or topic is a hard thing to achieve. But with constant & prolong practice, it can be achieved which further makes mind more productive & creative.
iii) Memory
Meditation facilitates improvement of memory.
4) It is a systematic way of enhancing our innate talents in daily life.
5) It decrease our need to sleep & also fatigue \ energies body & mind.
6) Health Aspects
- Balances right & left hemisphere of brain which relate to emotional & intellectual processes, respectively
- Regulates BP
- Stimulates blood circulation
- Minor ailments eg. migraine, anxiety attacks, sinus problems, asthma can be helped by regular deep breathing exercises which improve circulation of air in body.
7) personality/ self development
- Induces self discipline
- Improves performance in respective fields.
- Builds self confidence
- increase energy & efficiency
- create the attitude to life
- helps becoming self awareness which helps us to realise our inner potentials & capabilities.
through practice of meditation, at 1st may notice simple changes, such as increase calmness & resistance to stress, but as we practice more intensely, more significant developments arises within overselves meditation helps mind to slow down on its rapid series of thoughts & feelings & to replaces that mental activity with inner awareness & thoughts.
Conclusion : Meditation is an unbroken flow of knowledge of the object on which one medicates. Meditation kills all pain, suffering and sorrow. It is the most powerful mental and nervine tonic.
Meditation is the key to unlock the secrets of life, to open the doors of intuitive knowledge and realms to eternal bliss.