Archive for category Meditation

Zen Meditation: Techniques to Learn

Zen meditation is also referred to as Zazen. It is a type of meditation that works centrally. It is actually the study of oneself. Most Zen Buddhists are also referred to as “Zen”. When attaining enlightenment, Buddha was seen in seated meditation. Today, Zen meditation has come with the same seated meditating tradition.

This type of meditation was pursued for long 2500 years and passed on from one generation to the other. This has been considered to be the most important thing that has been passed on. It spread its wings from India to China, then Japan to rest of the Asia and finally to the western country.

Zen meditation has evolved as a boon to people across the globe who are really stressed out due to the irregularity, chaos and tensions existing in their daily life. It is a very simple practice. You will find it very easy to describe and more easy to follow.

However, just as other meditation practices, it takes your efforts to enjoy the benefits.

Human beings have a tendency to visualize body, breath and mind separately. When it comes to Zen meditation, all these aspects unite as one big reality.

The most important thing to focus on here is the position of the body. The body follows a specific pattern to communicate to the world and to communicate to itself internally. The manner in which you position your body has a lot to do with what happens to you breath and ultimately to the mind.

The most recommended pose in Zen meditation is the sitting position. The use of Zafu or a small pillow in order to raise the back a little is common. It helps the knees to touch the ground. With your bottom on the pillow and two knees touching the ground, you tend to create a tripod base that provides you three hundred and sixty-degree stability.

Here are some of the most common Zen meditations:

a) Burmese position

There are many varied leg positions, you can follow when seated in this position. The first and the simplest pose possible here is in which you need to cross your legs and both your feet rest flat on the floor. Rest the knees on the floor. Now, the muscles will get loose and your knees begin to drop.

Sit on the third of the Zafu pillow and shift your body forward a little. Imagine that top of your head is pushing towards the ceiling, stretch your body, keep your body straight and let your muscles go soft and relax. With your buttock on the Zafu push your stomach a little and keep your body upright.

b) Half lotus position

This is a position where the left foot should be placed on to the right thigh and the right leg should be touched under.

c) Seize position

Kneel with your buttocks resting on the upturned feet that form an anatomical cushion. You can even use a pillow in order to keep the weight away from the ankles.

Follow the Zen meditation techniques mentioned above and benefit from these.



By: Bertil Hjert

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For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about MEDITATION and YOGA please visit MEDITATION BUZZ and YOGA TIPS



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Using Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Buddhist meditation techniques are some of the oldest practiced forms of meditation in the world. The universally known symbol of meditation has become a picture of Buddha in repose, carried away by the deep meditation in which he is engaged. Attaining the same peace and enlightenment suggested by the pose of Buddha is something that anyone can pursue. One does not have to follow the Buddhist faith or engage in any other Buddhist practices to use Buddhist meditation techniques.

Buddhist meditation techniques are designed so that the practitioner is able to separate their physical bodies from their conscious minds in order to cast their minds to a higher plateau of existence and thus receive enlightenment in their lives. To do so, one must leave behind the toils and worries of everyday life and instead pursue the higher path to achieving peace and understanding with and in the world around.

There are several main types of Buddhist meditation that you can pursue when you are looking to achieve peace, relaxation and understanding in your own life. The first technique is called the Mindfulness of Breathing. During this type of Buddhist meditation, the practitioner must so fully relax their physical body that the only function they concentrate on is their own pattern of breathing. But putting an entire being’s focus just on the repetitions of breathing in and breathing out and breathing in and breathing out, one can successfully move to a higher plane of consciousness where the physical pains of life are not intrusive.

Another main type of Buddhist meditation includes Contemplation of Impermanence. During this type of Buddhist meditation, the practitioner must direct their mind to reflect upon the complete impermanence of life, which cycles through death and living and death and living continuously as a matter of sustaining mankind. By contemplating the mysteries of the impermanence of life, practitioners of Buddhist meditation are able to remove themselves from every day worries and instead exist at a conscious level where they are simply filled with the power of existing.

One of the most commonly used practices of Buddhist meditation includes visualization. During visualization, you will pick an object to picture in your own mind. The object can be nearly anything at all, but it must be something that you can visual in an all-consuming matter. During visualization, you will leave behind all conscious thoughts and all conscious words and simply focus on a mental picture of your chosen object. When you do so, you will be able to move beyond the physical plane and instead to a state where you become at one with the world around you.



By: Justin Stewart

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Using Zen Meditation Techniques

Many individuals successfully use Zen meditation on an everyday or frequent basis to achieve the wonder of separating their conscious minds from their physical bodies in order to achieve a sense of understanding with the world that surrounds them. Zen meditation techniques are really just an extension of Buddhist meditation techniques. In fact, Zen meditation focuses primarily on one type of Buddhist meditation to allow practitioners to cast their minds to such a higher level of contemplation and existence that the full power of relaxation and enlightenment is experienced. Through this experience, individuals can leave behind the common worries and occurrences of every day life and instead focus on higher ideals in order to truly achieve peace and understanding.

Zen is short for zazen, and is the Buddhist practice of just sitting. Zen meditation techniques teach that by simply sitting and going through the process of casting off physical worries and concerns, the enlightened mind can be allowed to achieve greatness. Just sitting is harder than it may sound from those simple words, however. One cannot just sit and allow themselves to be held to earth by the bonds of every day life and worries. If so, their conscious mind will not be able to float free and attain greatness. One can also not allow themselves to be distracted by anything surrounding them while practicing Zen meditation techniques.

By just sitting, the practitioners of Zen meditation techniques must find ways to completely relax their physical beings. Sometimes, patterns of lighting and music can enable this to occur. If someone practicing Zen meditation techniques is left with any awareness of their physical body, they will not be able to attain mental enlightenment. Once they work to achieve total relaxation of the body, then total relaxation of the mind becomes the primary focus. Total relaxation of the mind includes letting go of the every day worries that one may have and letting go of any thought that may bind one’s mind to their body. When the Zen practitioner has learned to think in images and let go of words, they can begin to experience the enlightenment that follows this form of meditation. Eventually, the practitioner will also be able to move beyond the bounds of images and to a place where the only thoughts are of being – no words, no images, no worries, simply a feeling a greatness and connection with the world around.

Zen meditation techniques may not be easily conquered the first time you seek to use them to enhance your own life. Therefore, you must carefully incorporate the practice of meditation into your every day life, because it is only through practice that the full benefits of Zen meditation can be realized.



By: Justin Stewart

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Yoga Meditation Technique – Discover the All-Encompassing Science & Art of Inner Self-Exploration!

The essence of Yoga meditation techniques lies in accepting, viewing, training and understanding the various aspects that form our being. It involves a careful and uninterrupted observation of our senses, breath, body and mind.

By the process of this constant awareness and watchfulness, the meditator becomes aware of the distractions of the mind in various activities such as that of the smell, touch, taste, hearing and sight.

Intricacies of Yoga Meditation Technique

Heightened awareness of the self can be achieved with great ease and effectiveness by the regular practice of yoga postures and performing them with a high degree of concentration and awareness.

While beginning breathing practices as a part of yoga meditation technique, you should spend some time in observation, while the breathing becomes very slow and fine. The unevenness and jerkiness in breathing gradually goes away.

As your breathing becomes slower and deeper, it will be easier to observe the thoughts arising in the mind, sensations arising in the body and emotions arising in the heart. This helps to bring tranquility in the body and great silence in the mind.

Once you get past through the early frustration that is associated with quietening the conscious mind, you realize that the mind is indeed an amazing instrument. You witness the many cross-currents and aspects of the mind.

The meditator gradually realizes his aloofness and separation from the mind and thoughts. The false association of being one with the mind gradually breaks. This gradual and gentle examination of the thoughts, emotions and their patterns gradually leads towards the center of consciousness and self-realization.



By: Vijay Kumar Raisinghani

About the Author:

Vijay Kumar Raisinghani is an avid proponent of the use of easy and simple meditation techniques for a healthier stress-free living. Besides being an Active meditator, his interests include Spirituality, Meditation, Buddhism and Zen.

Visit his website http://www.meditation-techniques-guide.com for in-depth information on the most effective techniques of meditation and their amazing benefits.



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Intuition: Your Powerful Sixth Sense

One of the questions I hear over and over is “what is intuition anyway?” The short answer is that intuition is a natural gift that we are born with. Along with our five senses of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell, we have a sixth sense: intuition.

For most of us our intuition went underground in early childhood. When we sensed things at a subtle energy level we were often told it was “not real.”  It is “just your imagination.”  

You can credit René Decartes, 17th century French philosopher who is famous for the phrase “I think, therefore I am” for giving our sixth sense a bad name. As an early proponent of rationalism he taught that if it can’t be measured and studied, it is not real.

As patriarchy took over, rational thinking became valued and imagination became devalued. Bit-by-bit humans lost touch with their sixth sense.

The positive side of this was it made the space for humanity to develop its intellectual capacity. However, now that we have a fully developed intellect, it is time to “come to our senses.” It is time to get back into balance with all of our capabilities. And this means recognizing, cultivating and using our sixth sense.

Here are 8 steps for developing your sixth sense:

1. Acknowledge that your imagination is real. Imagination is a sensing device and a creative tool. It is a major component of our sixth sense. Can you think of anything that has been created that didn’t first show up in someone’s imagination?

2. Set your intention to develop your intuition. Simply decide it is important to you. When a door opens up that leads to developing your intuition, walk through it.

3. Start paying attention to the little whispers that pop up in the back of your mind. Things like “take an umbrella today” or “call to confirm the appointment before you go.” Usually when we get these little whispers we run it by our logical mind and let it decide. For instance, if you get the “hit” to take an umbrella, it is natural to take a look outside and see if it looks like rain. If not, we usually ignore our intuition and leave our umbrella at home.

4. Keep a journal of the “hits” you get each day and record how many were right on. The main purpose of this is to encourage you to pay attention. Secondarily, it validates how often your “hits” are on target.

5. Hang around other people who are intent on developing their intuition. You will learn faster when you can share your experiences with others.

6. Keep a daily meditation practice. It will make you more alert to the whispers.

7.Take classes in intuition development. The more you know the quicker your progress.

8. And lastly, channeling psychic energy through your body affects your body’s systems. Eating right and exercising will help keep your body in balance.

Keep in mind that your sixth sense is a natural gift. There is nothing unusual or out of the ordinary about it. It is not a talent reserved for a few special people. Anyone can develop their intuition. Begin by following the 8 steps outlined above. Especially gather with others who are interested in developing their intuition. Take classes. Pay attention. Practice, practice, practice.

Having a fully developed sixth sense will help you be in the right place at the right time while you navigate the topsy-turvy world we currently find ourselves in.



By: Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc.

About the Author:

Spiritual growth can be a daunting journey, especially when family and friends are not as interested as you are (or actively oppose your interest). If you’d like some tips on having more Joy and less struggle in your daily life visit www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com and request the free eCourse: 7 Steps of Spiritual Growth to Create a Life that WORKS!

I wish you many blessings on your spiritual journey,
Jennifer T. Grainger, B.Msc.
Spiritual Growth Coach and Mentor
Founder www.SpiritualGrowthCommunity.com



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