November 1st, 2010 | 
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During the ancient times until now, people practice meditation because of its provided advantages. Incorporating meditation as part of your daily life can make a big difference regarding your attitude and outlook in life. But because meditation is a procedure, it involves several steps as well as postures when doing it.
1. Cross legged posture. Various spiritual traditions and meditation teachers suggest or prescribe various meditation physical postures. One of the most popular postures is the cross legged position which includes the lotus position. It is taught in most meditative traditions that the spinal cord must be kept straight. So, slouching is not a good idea. This is because, when you sit straight, it encourages good circulation of what they call as spiritual energy, which is the life force and vital breath.
2. Seated posture. A meditator can sit on the chair with his or her bare feet, as what the New Thought is teaching. In Orthodox Christianity, a meditator can sit on the stool. While in Theravada Buddhism, a meditator is walking in mindfulness. In Sukhothai, Thailand, walking meditation of the monks is called bas-relief. The meditator sits up keeping his or her back straight holding the spine and head in alignment without leaning and thighs parallel to the floor. The hands are rested comfortably on the arm’s chair or on the knees.
3. Kneeling posture. The meditator kneels with both knees on the floor keeping his or her buttocks resting on his or her toes and heels which are almost touching. The hands rest on his or his thighs.
4. Lying down posture also known as corpse posture or savasna in yoga. The meditator rests on the carpet keeping his or her legs straight and relaxed. Nevertheless, this is not used more often since it mimics the natural posture of sleeping. The meditator can sometimes fall asleep. This is effective in reducing stress rather than a meditation process.
5. Incorporating mudras or hand gestures. There is a theological meaning behind these gestures. Based on Yogic philosophy, these can affect consciousness. One example is the common hand-position of the Buddhist. The right hand rests on the top of the left hand with touching thumbs similar to the begging bowl of Buddha.
6. Incorporating various repetitive activities in stillness such as humming, chanting, or deep breathing to help in inducing a state of meditation. The Soto Zen practitioners do their meditation in front of a wall with open eyes. However, most mediation schools are assuming that the eyes are half-open or closed.
The duration and frequency of meditation also vary. There are nuns and monks who bow for a lifetime meditation. However, the broadly accepted duration is 20 or 30 minutes. This length may increase as the process goes on as what experienced meditators revealed. To obtain the benefits of meditation, it is advisable to follow the advices and instructions of the spiritual teacher. Most traditions require daily practice. But some may experience frustration or guilt when they failed to do it. Sometimes, meditators may complain about meditators knee especially during long hours of kneeling on one’s knees or sitting on cross legs.
Keep in mind that perseverance and acceptance are needed to become successful. This can help you during prolonged hours of meditation and increase focus on your everyday lives.
Meditation is synonymous to serenity. It’s a process which involves concentration on a sound, your breathing, or an object. The idea of meditation is to concentrate or focus your thoughts on a single relaxing thing over a certain duration of time. Usually, it can last for about fifteen to thirty minutes.
Meditation is also considered as a skill. So, it is necessary to practice regularly to achieve satisfying and positive results. Meditation done for longer periods of time can help you build some good experiences.
Meditation’s ultimate goal is to achieve a constant state of the mind. As you master doing your meditation, your mind can achieve the tranquility of water in a windless place. With a still mind during the meditation process, your inner self will be revealed. Once your mind is distracted, do a couple of breathing techniques to achieve calmness. You will fail the entire process if your mind thinks of other things including internal gossip, mental commentary, or analysis.
Never forget that during your deep meditation state, you can recall some past buried memories like childhood abuse or other traumas. Never be surprised since it is normal. As meditation progresses, it can turn into a dynamic, pleasurable, and blissful experience.
Mostly, meditation is done during worships including communion. This is an event wherein God’s food is consumed. It is advisable to practice meditation rituals as much as possible for security and comfort.
Each church has its own celebration of communion. However the reasons are similar.
There are other lots of practices in sharing the body and blood of Christ. Millions of people around the world are doing it in different ways. Some just stay in their seats and receive the bread while others go in front of the sanctuary. People can meditate wherever they are before receiving communion. They can worship at cathedrals, small weatherboard churches, homes, or even in prisons. Food, usually bread and liquid, usually grape juice or wine are incorporated upon remembering the unfaltering love of God through his son Jesus Christ. It is a commitment to share and respond to the teachings of God.
Most Christian followers cherish and celebrate communion. In fact, Christians can receive communion a lot of times throughout their life. Some are even receiving communion weekly. And every communion is significant. In this event, Christians are commemorating the bloody sacrifice of Christ on the cross. And by partaking the bread in the communion means sharing the unconditional love of God for mankind. That is why it is accepted in great meditation and respect. You cannot receive communion if you are in the state of sin. Children and adults before undergoing their first communion take the sacrament of confession in cleansing one’s self from sins.
In some religious organization, meditation before communion is done by praying, reading the scriptures, or announcing hymns for about forty five minutes. Someone will lead a thanksgiving prayer for the bread. Afterwards, the bread is broken into many pieces and distributed. Usually, most elders are moved into tears because of the Lord’s sacrifice for mankind.
Communion meditation is an art, a symbol, and a story that is more powerful compared to concepts and words for transforming people. God’s message of love was propagated by Jesus to every religious people through a devoted and deep meditation.
Meditation which originates from Vedic Hinduism is adopted by Eastern religion as one of their religious components. In fact, it became the mainstream of Western culture. Although meditation is considered as a simple language, its description varies in two ways. In western culture, meditation is the state wherein the mind is concentrated on one object forgetting about others. While in eastern culture, meditation is the state wherein the mind is switched off. This means nothing is thought about.
Various spiritual practices are adapted to emphasize quiescence or activity. There are several purposes why meditations are done. It includes improving oneself or concentrating one’s mind to God in aspects of improving spirituality. Some practices physical yoga for improving their health and achieve peace.
In Christian traditions, several religious practices are considered as meditations. Lots of these practices are monastic including the Holy Rosary and prayers that focus on Adoration or the Eucharist in Catholic Religion, known as hesychasm in Eastern Orthodoxy. These are similar to Eastern meditation which gives concentration on individual objects.
Meditations in Christians are usually in prayer forms. Some prayers are primarily made using the intellect upon contemplation of the heavenly mysteries. But meditation or Christian prayer by the heart is a Theosis practice as been defined in the Philokalia. It is because attaining an inner stillness is involved while physical senses are ignored.
Meditation is incorporated by Christians during special occasions including Christmas. Advent recollections in preparation of celebrating the birth of Jesus are conducted.
There are two ways in which meditation is used, the unguided and guided meditation. A guided meditation is done with guidance throughout the meditation procedure. You can do this within a small group guided by a meditation practitioner such as priest and lay ministers or use meditation DVDs or CDs.
Unguided meditations can also be done within a group but no one speaks. The session is carried out in silence accompanied with meditation music. Some sessions are done in isolated locations with a quiet, peaceful, and natural surrounding. Still nobody speaks. Meditation music is the sound that can be only heard. You can do unguided meditation well after taking several sessions of a guided meditation.
There are several advantages of meditations. Besides it being an inward adventurous journey, it helps you discover yourself. It can increase your inner awareness to see the right path of life. Your consciousness about everything can bring clarity, serenity, and bliss harnessing and sensitizing your mind power.
If you want real transformation and natural qualities nourishment, then meditation is the best option. The meditation techniques are composed of processes for transforming your thoughts, yourself, and recognizing negative thoughts as well as changing those into peaceful and positive thoughts. Meditation can manage your stress so that your mind can experience a sanctuary of peace and value love in your mind and heart. It neutralizes emotions to achieve bliss and nirvana. It can make you live longer because mediation creates a platform for a healthier lifestyle.
Christians of all ages can meditate. Learning this practice can help you improve your daily lives and cope up with your environment. If obtain inner peace, then it can lead to world peace. And if meditation can heal oneself, therefore it can also heal the world. This is the true spirit of Christmas.
When you hear people say meditation, there is a great chance that you will often think of Buddhist monks humming with their hands on their large beads. You will also imagine bald people in yellow robes reaching enlightenment. You have to consider that meditation isn’t only done by bald monks in yellow robes in order to reach enlightenment and know about Buddha’s words of wisdom, you have to consider that other religions, such as the Christian religion also practices meditation but in a very different way.
The Christian bible tells Christian followers to think about God’s word. You have to consider that what you think about affects the action you take. The mind is a powerful part of your body that can control your mind. So, by thinking about God’s words about the great things you have to do in order to benefit other people and help people who can’t help themselves, you will be making a good thing on society.
Meditation has a very different meaning in the Christian religion. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to shave your head and wear yellow robes, lie down on the floor or squat in order to meditate, meditation in the Christian religion means to think. In Christian meditation, you have to think about the good words that God has commanded people to do. You have to consider that you shouldn’t break the commandments and you have to do good to your fellow human beings in order to go to heaven and have eternal life.
You should consider that meditation isn’t just about thinking about Gods word, but you have to consider that you have to focus on it in order to imprint it in your mind and have a guide to live your life free from sin. Christian meditation is very easy to do and not as complex as you might think. All you need to do is pray with your heart and think of the things God have said. There are three times during a day where you can do Christian meditation in order to guide your everyday life. First is just before you sleep in order to make sure that you think of what God’s words were as you go to sleep, upon waking up in order to have a guide to start your day, and some time in your day so that you won’t forget about God’s word.
You don’t have to lie down in order to do Christian meditation. All you need to do is think about God’s word wholeheartedly and also accept them as your daily guide in your daily life.
As you can see, you will know what your priorities in life are if you do Christian meditation. All you need is a little time to think about what God has said and in order to satisfy your soul’s needs. As you live life like this, you will see that you will be happier and be more satisfied on how you live your life.
The United States of America is considered to have one of the best penal systems in the world where it is enforced by people who work with the law. The US government tries really hard in order to enforce their laws against drugs and make an example of drug dealers and users by putting them away in prison. Perhaps, the US government tries too hard.
Today, there is a great book that you should read that states how people can be wrongfully incarcerated by the US system against drugs. This book is called the I Chong: Meditations from the Joint. Authored by Tommy Chong, a well known comedian who acts as Chong in Cheech & Chong, this book is a must read if you want a little humor on your reading. This book has been reviewed by book critics as entertaining and must be read by everyone who likes a little comedy.
The book is about the life of Tommy Chong where he wrote about everything that has happened throughout his life and was wrongfully jailed by the US government because his son’s company shipped glass water pipes or known in street slang as “bongs” across state lines. Bongs are considered to be a tool to smoke marijuana and are considered as the “pope of pot”. If you have seen Tommy Chong in movies before, you probably noticed that he constantly plays the role of a stereotypical stoner. Because of this, and because of the bongs, he was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Now, he played his roles in the movies in real life and have written and published a book about it, which is what people also considered as a form of revenge to the US government for being wrongfully incarcerated. He also stated that the US government also has its flaws when prosecutors offered him a deal if he pleads guilty on the accusations. He stated that the offer was if he did not plead guilty, the prosecutors would go after his wife and son instead. As you can see, Tommy Chong didn’t have much of a choice. He couldn’t bear his wife and son to be in jail so he took the deal.
He also told his life story as well as his experiences in jail. This book is a must read that many critics have considered to be page turner. Book critics have said that they just seem to close the book and continue reading it next time. Obviously, this book called the I Chong: Meditation from the Joint is very popular and is considered to be a good read.
So, the next time you are looking for a great book that can offer great reading and one that can make you laugh, you should consider reading the I Chong: Meditation from the Joint. You can be sure that you will definitely love reading it to the point that you won’t want to stop reading until you reach the last page.
Your health is one of the most important things that you have to take care of. Because of this, a lot of people are doing everything they can just to get the perfect balance of chemicals in their body in order to obtain perfect health. You also need to consider that a lot of people find it hard to relax and control their emotions. You have to remember that anger can contribute to poor health and this is the emotion that you should minimize bringing at as much as possible. It is important that you should never be angry if you don’t need to be angry in order to balance your spiritual self to promote good health and good healing.
Today, a lot of people are not participating in different kinds of meditation in order to achieve balance in their emotions and also in their spirit. You have to consider that meditating can contribute a lot of great benefits for your body. With meditation, you will be able to relax more and you can effectively control your emotions and never be angry if you don’t need to be angry. By not wasting precious energy on being angry, you can put all these negative energies and turn it into positive energies that can be useful in your everyday life. Always remember that nothing uses up a lot of energy more than anger.
So, if you are having problems controlling your emotions, problems in relaxing, or you simply want to experience oneness with yourself, you have to try chakra meditation.
Chakra meditation is gaining popularity today because of the health benefits it gives. Not only that you will have better health, but you will also live a happier life with chakra meditation. It is very important that you should do the chakra meditation everyday for at least 30 minutes each day in order to achieve spiritual healing as well as emotional stability.
Learning how to do chakra meditation is easy and everyone can do it. All you need is a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed for at least 30 minutes and a little bit of imagination and you’re off.
First of all, you have to consider that there are seven major chakras found in your body. These chakras are considered to be a very important part of your body that needs to be balanced in order to promote good health. The seven chakras are Shasrara (crown), Ajna (between brows), Vishudda (throat), Anahata (heart), Manipura (navel), Svadisthana (sacral), and Muladhara (root). You have to know how to open up your seven chakras in order to promote spiritual balance and good physical health.
To do this, you have to imagine a spinning light associated with each chakra. Start from Muladhara and work your way up to Shasrara. You also need to know what color of light is associated with each chakra.
Shasrara (crown) – Violet
Ajna (brows) – Indigo Blue
Vishudda (throat) – Pale Blue
Anahata (heart) – Emerald Green
Manipura (navel) – Golde