DharmaDig.com - Stories tagged with Meditation

Osho Meditation

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Osho meditations are not the traditional sitting down and doing nothing meditations but rather the opposite. Osho meditation try to reach a level of peace and harmony through a series of meditation exercises. The basic philosophy is that by using chaotic meditation techniques enables a person to "feel" then to "think". Constant movement and reaction of the body free up emotions in your heart, which the brain has dominated. When chaos is created the brain stops working which enables the body to be free.

Transcendental Meditation Techniques

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:00:01 GMT

Transcendental meditation is a technique used to gain a state of deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote better health, increase mood and intelligence and to ultimately obtain happiness and fulfillment in your life. There aren't any special skills required for this form of meditation. If you can sit still with your eyes shut then you have what it takes to learn the techniques used in transcendental meditation.

How to Practice Vipassana Insight Meditation

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Vipassana is the predominant Buddhist meditation practice in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was an important revival of this early form of meditation practice led bythe Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. Following his death in 1982, Sayadaw U Pandita, who studied extensively with Mahasi Sayadaw, was chosen as his principle preceptor. U Pandita is one of the world's leading teachers of Vipassana meditation and has been an important influence on many Vipassana teachers in the West, including Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein of the Insight Meditation Society. He is the founder and abbot of Panditarama Meditation Centre in Yangon, Myanmar.

Shamatha Meditation: Training the Mind

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"The process of undoing bewilderment is based on stabilizing and strengthen our mind. Shamatha meditation is how we do that." We sometimes forget how the Buddhist teachings came into being. We forget why the Buddha left his father's palace. Dissatisfied with maintaining an illusion, he wanted to understand his life-and life itself. Just like the Buddha, most of us would like to discover some basic truth about our life. But are we really capable of knowing what's going on? This is a question that relates to the most profound truth of the Buddhist teachings. The Buddha's answer is, "Yes, ultimately we are. But we need to go on a journey of meditation to find out, because essentially we are in a state of bewilderment." Why are we bewildered? Because we don't understand how our mind works.

How to do Mindfulness Meditation

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"Mindfulness practice is simple and completely feasible. Just by sitting and doing nothing, we are doing a tremendous amount." In my last column I discussed why mindfulness is essential to spiritual practice, for no matter what spiritual tradition we follow, we must have a mind that is able to stay in the present moment if our understanding and experience is to deepen. Now I would like to talk about some aspects of the actual mindfulness practice. In mindfulness, or shamatha, meditation, we are trying to achieve a mind that is stable and calm. What we begin to discover is that this calmness or harmony is a natural aspect of the mind. Through mindfulness practice we are just developing and strengthening it, and eventually we are able to remain peacefully in our mind without struggling. Our mind naturally feels content.

Going at Our Own Pace on the Path of Meditation

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Our mind is like hard ground that has not seen water for a long time, says Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. As meditation practitioners, we begin to till that ground so that we can grow the mind of enlightenment. The Buddhist teachings are as vast as you can possibly imagine-and beyond that. At some point you might think you understand, but the reality is that the teachings are infinite. Even if you're a bodhisattva on the fifth level, the person on the eighth level knows more. The dharma is like a huge mountain that we climb very slowly, taking little steps. But each step is profound; each step is amazing. Practicing the dharma is traditionally said to be like walking through a heavy mist. It slowly, slowly enters into our bones; it slowly enters into who we are. People think of enlightenment as sudden transformation, like a light bulb that's off one second and on the next: Prince Siddhartha is under the tree, you turn on the light, and he wakes up as the Buddha. But his enlightenment was not a sudden thing; he went through a process. He actually purified and transformed himself.

A Mind Like Sky: Wise Attention Open Awareness

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Meditation comes alive through a growing capacity to release our habitual entanglement in the stories and plans, conflicts and worries that make up the small sense of self, and to rest in awareness. In meditation we do this simply by acknowledging the moment-to-moment changing conditions-the pleasure and pain, the praise and blame, the litany of ideas and expectations that arise. Without identifying with them, we can rest in the awareness itself, beyond conditions, and experience what my teacher Ajahn Chah called jai pongsai, our natural lightness of heart. Developing this capacity to rest in awareness nourishes samadhi (concentration), which stabilizes and clarifies the mind, and prajna (wisdom), that sees things as they are.

freedombeyon

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:42:38 GMT

" once you have penetrated the truth of sensory experience, by suppressing the Hindrances through Jhana, you will see that there is no 'doer'or'knower', behind sensory experience.You will not be because of thinking, nor because of seeing or hearing... -Ajahn Brahm "Everyone who wants to practice the Higher Path must first get rid of Movement and Desire. When you are not moving and have no wants, you do not seek and do not act. When you do not seek or act, you can be PURE and STILL. As you become pure and still, you will gain insight, and when the insight becomes omniscient and omnipresent you will experience PEACE and Joy. "You need only pacify your minds and live quietly (like the ocean and forest). Then in practicing these teachings, you will not have to seek Peace and Joy, they will simply be there (like the fish and birds). This is how nothing gives rise to something."-Jesus " Shouldn't be concerned with Nirvana, if you are then that in itself will prevent you from entering Nirvana. Just Let go .(of both the desires for Samsara or Nirvana)Be mindful and just let things take its natural course. When your mind will become still like a still forest pool, all kinds or rare animal will come to drink at the pool,you will see many things come and go, but you will be still,problems will arise but you will see through them immediately. This, is the happiness of the Buddha. " Ajahn Chah "Bliss is like a breeze. As long as you have your hands open, you can feel it flow. Once you try to possess it, it moves away from you!" -Nithyananda "The first law is no desire. Your heart seeks one thing after another, creating a multitude of problems. No Action. You have to cast aside vain endeavors and avoid shallow experiences. No Virtue. You are at one with Peace and Joy when you practice the laws and save living creatures. But do it without acclaim . No Truth. Be like a mirror. It reflects everything as it is , without judging. -Jesus. " in the seen will be merely what is seen; in the heard will be merely what is heard; in the sensed will be merely what is sensed; in the cognized will be merely what is cognized" -Buddha. "Those who have awakened to the Way, who have attained the mind of Peace and Joy, who can see all karmic conditions and who share their enlightenment with others, reflect the world like a mirror, leaving no trace of themselves." Jesus Letting go of inner restless thoughts: " Our thoughts are mere bubbles that rise and fall at rando

Contemplation

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:57:55 GMT

One of the aids to meditation is Contemplation. Osho Rajneesh in one of his books tells the story of contemplation regarding the Buddha. It is a famous story and very meaningful. The Buddha was born a prince and he was so brought up that he had no conception of the suffering that exists in this world. His father arranged it so that he should not know that in life people fall sick, that they grow and old and that they die. The father wanted the Buddha to never meet anybody old or sick, to never be informed of suffering. But when he was 29 the Buddha toured the kingdom around his palace and saw one after the other, a sick man, an old man and a dead man. He asked his charioteer what these men were suffering from and for the first time in his life learned that there exists death in the world and that even he was not exempt and would die one day.

Meditation - Staying Awake

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:41:45 GMT

Why is staying awake while meditating important? Falling asleep is certainly relaxing, and can be good for you, but to get the full range of benefits from your meditation you need to have your brainwaves in the alpha and theta ranges. When you are asleep, your brainwaves range from theta to delta. Meditation should be a state of relaxed alertness (primarily alpha brainwaves).

God is Our Refuge --- Psalm 46 - A Meditation

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:56:42 GMT

Remember a time in your life when you felt really bad. You were scared, depressed, and hopeless. You felt like you had nobody to help you. You felt like you wanted to end this meaningless life. Try to remember: What happened? What caused it? and How you overcame it? Today we are going to read a poem about such a situation. The poet felt very bad some time in his life. He felt scared, depressed and hopeless. Let us read the poem, and find out how he overcame the situation.

Experience The Fruit of Gayatri Meditation

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:09:05 GMT

The Gayatri Mantra, (Rig Veda (III, 62, 10) an ancient Hindu sacred book said to be more than 5000 years old), does not belong to any particular sect of worship, or it is not restricted to any certain community. It is universal, for the whole world. It contains in it the culture not of any particular society, but the culture of humanity. The Gayatri Mantra is a treasure and heritage that belongs to the whole of humanity without exclusion. Oh Creator of the Universe! We meditate upon thy supreme splendor. May thy radiant power illuminate our intellects, destroy our sins, and guide us in the right direction!

The Easy Chair method for Prayer and Meditation

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:52:14 GMT

Prayer meditation does not require an extensive command of technique, or any religious training whatsoever. It is so easy that anyone with an open mind can tap into the vast power of Pure Love. It can be as simple as reading the 10 prayer meditations of The Partners Within or reflecting on any of their words. All it takes is a few minutes a day. The tools are within you. If done on a regular basis, the inevitable result is a new thought or feeling that helps you improve your life. At the very least, it is a simple relaxation technique that opens your mind to new and better solutions. Multiply these results times 7 days a week, 12 months a year and you can see how daily prayer meditation works. Be advised, however, that results typically start slowly and in little ways. Your dreams may change in an instant but your reality will change more slowly over time. But with commitment, the use of prayer meditation will help you choose what is best for the dual powers of your left and right brain and transform your life.

A Nature Meditation

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:51:23 GMT

You are sitting by a quietly flowing stream in the countryside. It is spring and life is green and moist? Sitting on a rock, the sights and sounds of the flowing water begin to work their mysterious way into your nervous system. Gradually, with the simple repetition of the water's song and the harmonious beauty of the natural surroundings, the thousands of electronic impulses of your brain begin to discharge into the tension-absorbing air. All of the concerns, problems and projects, which had filled your mind to bursting capacity begin to disappear. There is nothing to try to figure out now, nothing to decide. The flowers silently console you with their perfect peace and harmony. The fresh air tingles in your lungs and your head becomes clear.

Balance: Are you moving towards or away from it?

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50:47 GMT

The Chinese word for 'busy' consists of two symbols: one is the human heart - the other, death. I take this to mean that when one is excessively busy, the heart is insensible, frozen. In a world where busyness is held up almost as a virtue, especially in business, I'd like to take a look at coming back into balance. It's a big topic, and one I'll return to over time. We hear a lot nowadays about work/lifestyle balance; today I'm asking, what does a balanced life look like to you? Balance: there are various definitions in dictionaries depending on context, but one that I particularly like describes it as "harmony and proportion". Perhaps these words resonate particularly with me given my original training as a musician, but with their overtones of unity and spaciousness I feel that these are virtues that most of us could do with more of in our lives. Balance is about feeling connected to ourselves and others, and a sense of rhythm and flow between mind, body and spirit. It's about being flexible - having awareness about what's going on for you at any given time, and equally important, having the ability to respond to the messages that you're receiving, bringing you back into harmony.

Quelling the Tsunami's wake: Meditation and Chant

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50:03 GMT

We send blessings and energies from the deepest heavens to you at this time. The dramatic events that have transpired are shaking the hearts of humanity and the womb of this dear earth. The tsunami that occurred in the Indonesian area has opened a great chasm in the earth. It has sped up time and wobbled the planet in her axis. It has also taken the lives of many thousands of people and altered the lives of hundreds of thousands more. There is great pain and sorrow. There is great longing and loss. There is also the searching for those whose fate is yet to be discovered. To say that blessings and healing are being sent, seems to be a distant echo in the upheaval, shock and sadness. Yes indeed there is spiritual significance to all of this, but it is not the time to bring forward teachings in the midst of the chaos and deep sadness of this event. You are showered with blessing at this time, and as you can, please dip into these blessings and vibrations to help with this event.

The Tao of Breathing

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:48:56 GMT

One of the impressions I have gained recently in speaking to Zen friends about practice is a certain attitude towards breathing in zazen. For the sake of brevity, and just for fun, I wish to refer to it as "samurai breathing". I think it has its origins in the martial arts. The "samurai breath' goes like this: one must push down hard on the outgoing breath, concentrating on the hara (solar plexus) and in doing so, push aside any thoughts, feelings, sensations, that get in the way, smashing through them like a karate expert would smash their hand through a brick. If you practice like this, it will give you a considerable feeling of power, like winning a contest (with yourself), and also give you a sense of purpose in a goal-seeking way (like paying off the mortgage). This type of straining zazen creates a heroic struggle out of zazen and a sense that you are trying very hard, but it is ultimately self-defeating. Perhaps it is part of the process of learning that we have to go through this struggle before we realize it is not productive.

One Minute Meditations for a Happier Life

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:44:21 GMT

Meditation has been used for centuries to train the mind, and the list for its uses are extensive. Not only does meditation increase wellness in general, it reduces stress, anxieties and cultivates positive emotions. In addition, with consistent use, it reshapes the cortex of the brain resulting in an increase in attention span, sharpening of focus and improved memory. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered you say? But practically, how does one fit this into a busy schedule? Meditation using mindfulness is the most practical way to meditate. In the simple act of training ourselves to become more aware by slowing down our sense of time passing, we can learn to monitor our moods and thoughts before they spiral downward. We can, in other words, make ourselves happier. Simply being mindful (paying attention) during your daily activities is a kind of mediation.

STAGES OF EMPTINESS IN MEDITATION

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:33:11 GMT

Emptiness starts from existence. The reason why it is difficult for so many people to get into the practice is because they can't find their way from existence to emptiness. Now when we first entered the center fo rthe retreat, I told you to wrap up all your regular thoughts and habits-everything connected to the outside world-in a bundle and leave it outside the door. This amounts to 'voiding' our regular preoccupations. Now I will talk about a deeper level of emptiness, or voiding. On the first day I mentioned that this center was a very noisy environment for practice (cars, radios, kids, etc.,) and asked if the noises outside would bother you.

Shih-fu's Parting Words on his way to Taiwan

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:30:48 GMT

On January 29, Shih-fu left for Taiwan. These were his parting words: It makes no difference whether I am in Taiwan or New York. We are close when you meditate; but, if you forget your practice, then even if I were to embrace you it would be useless. My physical presence is unimportant; the essential thing is that our minds be in correspondence. However, as much as a Master would like all his students' minds to be in correspondence with his, it is not always possible for every student to maintain this. My guidance is always with you, as well as my expectations. Here are some thoughts I'd like to leave with you: You should always keep in mind the purpose and proper attitude of your practice. In this respect it is actually good for you that I leave every now and then. If I'm around you can bring your problems and questions to me anytime - I am always available. It is only when I am away that you realize how rare this opportunity is. You must learn to treasure this opportunity.

Meditation, Mysticism and Ch'an

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:13:45 GMT

I would like at this point to speak about Ch'an and mysticism. Ch'an is something which started in China not in India. Many people have the misunderstanding that Ch'an and meditation are the same thing, Ch'an is meditation and meditation is Ch'an. This is not the case. Ch'an is actually the stage at which one has already gone through the various levels of meditation experience, but finally transcends these stages. Only this can be said to be Ch'an. If one only practices meditation, and does not transcend the meditation state, then one can at most remain at a stage in which the mind is unified and unchanging. If a person at this stage were to enter the dynamic, changing world then he would very likely lose this meditation state and enter the deluded state of mind. If one wishes to enter into and also maintain such a meditation state then it is necessary to continuously practice, and it is best to remove oneself from the world of everyday affairs and go into the mountains to practice. Otherwise, in his involvement with daily human interactions he will easily lose touch with this meditation state. However, even after having lost the ability to uninterruptedly maintain this state he will already be a different person by virtue of having once experienced it. He would tend to be more stable than others and would have a better understanding of the world than those who have never experienced this meditation state. Most people would call this person a man of wisdom.

Life in a Chan Monastery

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:06:55 GMT

In ancient Chinese monasteries a practitioner's time was divided between meditation, attending Dharma talks and daily work. Morning and evening was spent in meditation, daytime was for working. We are somewhat ignorant of the daily schedule in early Chan monasteries before Master Pai-chang (720-814). But from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) onward, we know that there was chanting and reading of the sutras as well as meditation in the morning. Likewise in the evening there would be some chanting or reading before meditation.

The Magical Power of Focus

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:40:01 GMT

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality." - Qui-Gon to Anakin, Star Wars Episode I

Free Relaxing Music and Nature Sounds Tool - Very Cool!

Sat, 31 May 2008 03:13:16 GMT

The free relaxing music and nature sounds on this website have been carefully chosen for their ability to aid sleep, reduce stress, and provide a relaxing atmosphere for activities such as yoga, tai-chi, and meditation.

How-to-do-it : LUCID DREAMING

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:56:31 GMT

Lucid dreaming is a method that allows the sleeper to become alert and conscious while he or she is dreaming. This imagery is reported to be more vivid than in normal dreaming, and is a powerful method of meditation, which is reported to speed up the process of enlightenment. This technique helps allow dreamers control over their dreams