Friday, April 22, 2011

Meditation Tips

10 Easy Tips For Meditation To Make Your Life Easier, Happier & More Blissful!

What is the need of meditation tips? Meditation involves working with the mind and understanding it. It might lead to discomfort and frustration initially as we are not accustomed to meditation.

Meditation instructions and tips help to overcome these hurdles and make the journey of meditation as smooth and fruitful as possible.

10 Easy Meditation Tips

Meditation instructions can be very beneficial to make the most of the time spent for meditation and gain the maximum benefits of meditation techniques we practice.

Here are 10 easy meditation tips that are highly beneficial for beginners and advanced meditators alike -

1) Place for meditation. It is helpful to meditate daily at a special place that is especially meant for meditation. Putting a picture of your guru, deity or idol and surrounding the meditation room with inspirational and sacred objects is quite beneficial in creating a positive vibration and the right environment for meditation.

2) Be mindful during the day. Even when you're not in an active meditation session, try to remain mindful and aware of your thoughts and routine actions at other times during the day. This shall help to sharpen your awareness and take your meditation to deeper levels. This is one of the meditation tips that can provide a quantum leap to your awareness levels.

3) Posture for meditation. Sitting in a cross-legged posture is how traditionally meditation is practiced. But, this might cause some numbness and pain in your feet and joints and can be distracting. You should sit in a meditation posture that does not lead to pain and aches in a short duration of practice.

One of the other very helpful meditation tips is to stretch after a reasonable duration of meditation and then re-enter the seated posture of meditation. In fact, this is how the yoga postures were conceived and came into existence.

4) Using cushions for meditation. A comfortable and erect posture of meditation is essential to meditate free of all physical distractions and reap the full benefits of meditation. You can make use of special seats or cushions to sit comfortably in the right posture and be free of pains and aches that might occur during meditation due to sitting in the wrong posture.

5) Avoid chasing results. The benefits of meditation can be felt and experienced right from the very first session. It does not require the practitioner to be very focused and free of all thoughts for the gains to be felt.

The practice of meditation itself is enough; its success lies in the practice itself. You will find that you are being less disturbed by incessant thoughts, negative emotions, anxiety, etc. after you start meditating. So, avoid being result-oriented.

6) Environment for meditation. Although advanced meditators can be in a meditative state any time and anywhere, for beginners it is advisable to meditate in the quietest environment possible which is free from any type of distractions.

7) How much meditation? A meditation session of 20-30 minutes is sufficient initially. You can add more sessions later in the day rather than trying to overdo or elongate one session of meditation.

Find out your comfort level and meditate for that long only in each session. With practice and passage of time, meditation becomes natural. Then the length of practice can be gradually increased without going through any strain. Meditating at a specific time every day is also very beneficial.

8) To lie down or not? Meditating in the "lying down" posture has its own advantages and disadvantages. The threat of falling asleep is present throughout the time we meditate while lying down. While it may be beneficial for those suffering from insomnia, for others it might turn a meditation session into a "sleep session".

While it is important that you feel comfortable while you meditate, be careful that you are not so comfortable that you fall asleep!

9) Using Timer in meditation. Meditation takes us to a state of timelessness and formlessness. Losing track of time is quite common in meditation. In order to keep track of the duration of meditation, it is helpful to set a timer and be free of the worry of how long to meditate. But make sure that the timer has a gentle sound, and not a very loud and an unpleasant tone.

Looking at the clock or watch to keep track of the time during meditation can be quite distracting for many people.

10) Being here and now. It is important to keep the right mindset while meditating and not being goal oriented. Meditation is not about achieving Nirvana or enlightenment, neither is it about being anything or getting anywhere. In fact, it is not an act of quieting the mind, but paying attention and listening to it.

Meditation is not an attempt to improve your personality. You are perfect as you are. Meditation is the art of being in the present and accepting yourself totally right here and right now.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Spiritual Benefits of Meditation

Spiritual Benefits of Meditation

1) Meditation helps us to find the inner source of happiness. It results from a total peace of mind. We come to know that happiness is not something that is found outside, but in fact it is within us at all times.

Meditation techniques help us to easily draw that happiness and bliss when we want to. It gives us the source of happiness that is not dependent on outer events and circumstances.

2) Meditation benefits us by improving the human qualities like compassion, self-actualization and gratitude.

3) Meditation improves our wisdom and provides a deeper understanding of our self and other people.

4) Meditation helps in a greater acceptance of our self and brings a more positive attitude towards life.

5) Meditation is the alchemy to attain enlightenment. It helps us to be totally rooted in the present moment and helps to overcome the habit of the mind to wander here and there.

6) In our general state of mind, we consider ourselves separate from the rest of the universe and are aware of only our ego and our body. Meditation benefits us by making us realize that we are a part of the universe and are united. This is the realization of cosmic consciousness. The first-hand experience of this reality gives us a glimpse of our true eternal nature.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Psychological Benefits of Meditation

Physiological Benefits of Meditation

1) Meditation reduces the heart rate, as well as the respiratory and metabolic rate. This helps to reduce the workload on the heart. It is highly beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure.

2) Cortisol is often called the stress hormone and is related to a wide variety of health related problems - especially when it is in high levels in our body. Meditation lowers cortisol levels and provides relief from the adverse effects of cortisol on our health.

Meditation helps to reduce stress in this way. It also reduces muscle tension and enhances the quality of living.

3) Regular practice of meditation reduces the creation of free radicals that are responsible for tissue damage and premature aging.

4) Meditation improves the breathing process. This helps to increase airflow to the lungs and has a revitalizing effect on our overall health. It enhances the level of strength, vigor and energy.

5) Meditation boosts the immune system and slows down the process of aging.

6) Meditation helps in reducing the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

7) Meditation enhances the functioning of the brain. It is helpful in curing migraines, headaches, etc. and other neurological and nervous system problems.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Physiological Benefits of Meditation

Physiological Benefits of Meditation

1) Meditation reduces the heart rate, as well as the respiratory and metabolic rate. This helps to reduce the workload on the heart. It is highly beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure.

2) Cortisol is often called the stress hormone and is related to a wide variety of health related problems - especially when it is in high levels in our body. Meditation lowers cortisol levels and provides relief from the adverse effects of cortisol on our health.

Meditation helps to reduce stress in this way. It also reduces muscle tension and enhances the quality of living.

3) Regular practice of meditation reduces the creation of free radicals that are responsible for tissue damage and premature aging.

4) Meditation improves the breathing process. This helps to increase airflow to the lungs and has a revitalizing effect on our overall health. It enhances the level of strength, vigor and energy.

5) Meditation boosts the immune system and slows down the process of aging.

6) Meditation helps in reducing the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

7) Meditation enhances the functioning of the brain. It is helpful in curing migraines, headaches, etc. and other neurological and nervous system problems.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Benefits of Meditation

Why should I meditate? What are the benefits of meditation? Is meditation helpful? These are the common questions that we face while seeking for the solution to the stress and tensions of our day to day life. 

In spite of having great success and achievements in life, we all feel an acute need for inner peace, silence and a moment of inner reflection. Meditation is the missing key to unlock the treasure of happiness and bliss that we are carrying within us.

The benefits of Meditation are numerous. A few moments of deep meditation have the potential of fulfilling all desires and longings. It gives us the ability of deep introspection.

Meditation has many far-reaching and profound benefits. While some changes are seen immediately, others take a little time to be visible.

Meditation improves our physiological and psychological well-being. It has a healing effect and raises our level of consciousness.  

Although there are numerous benefits of meditation, we can divide them into 3 categories :
  1. Physiological Benefits of Meditation
  2. Psychological Benefits of Meditation
  3. Spiritual Benefits of Meditation 
Meditation is free of any kinds of side effects. There is nothing to lose by practicing meditation, but there is a lot to gain. It is very easy to learn and can be practiced at any time of the day.

Meditation gives such a joy and bliss, that one easily transcends all desires very naturally. Given the long list of benefits of meditation, you might be wondering -- "why haven't I started meditating yet?"

    Tuesday, February 08, 2011

    How to meditate?

    If you are one who wants to learn mediation then, you are at place.I know that what is meditation and now question arises how to meditate. So following are the step by step directions on how to do it. 

    1. Prepare for Meditation
     
    There is no right or wrong way to prepare for Meditation, but there are many things we can do that will make our journey easier.
    • Doing some form of Exercise for 5 minutes before Meditation.
    • Splash water on face or to take a shower.
    • To prepare for Morning Meditation, we can start the night before by having a light dinner and by going to bed early.
    2. Time

    Any time is a good time to start our meditation. If we wait for conditions to be ideal, we might never sit for meditation.
    • The best time to meditate is the time we find best.
    3. Place
    • We may sit on a floor or on a chair where we feel comfortable. Any Place will do.
    • It will be helpful to sit in the same place, because our mind concentrates easier when an association is made.
    • It is desirable that the place is quiet and that we practice alone. 
    4. Posture
    • When sitting for meditation, it is important to sit in a relaxed position with the spine and neck straight.
    • The head should not be tilted backwards or forward. Both positions induce us to fall asleep.
    • The eyes should be closed.
    • The attention held in the middle of the elbows at the spiritual eye centre.
    • The hands can face upwards or downwards and can rest naturally on the knees or thighs. 
    Our whole body should be at ease. The mind cannot become calm and still if the body is consistently moving, just as water cannot be still in a glass that is moved.

    5. Concentration

    Concentration means trying to hold our attention at the eye centre and not let it come down to senses. Concentration is similar to setting alight a piece of paper with a magnifying glass. To enhance your concentration and power of focus use the following technique that is so simple yet so effective.
    • count your steps when you walk. 
    6. Process
    • Sit in the right posture.
    • Close your eyes.
    • Take a long breath, deep inhale. Just hold there for a moment and then let it go.
    • Allow breath to settle into natural flow, don’t force.
    • Concentrate on your eye centre.
    • Just sit for 5-10 minutes at the beginning and later on you can go on to do this for longer periods.


    Friday, January 21, 2011

    Need for Meditation

    Why meditation is required? What is the need for meditation ? Is it as necessary as food to keep life going ? 

    A human being is always looking for peace all around. He always wants a care-free life. But the present scenario is such that in this hectic environment, he is not able to achieve this goal. That's when the role of meditation comes into play. Because of so much benefits of meditation, it has become necessity of life.

    Now you understood that what is Meditation and why is there need for meditation. So let's move ahead and see how to do it.