MEDITATION

In our search of happiness, we invariably turn to external objects and events for satisfaction. We think, “if I can just have that car”, or “if I were just able to get that job”, or “if only lost some weight”, then I would be HAPPY.” The mind may be stilled and at peace for a short time on attaining the desired objects, but eventually it tries of its new toy and seeks pleasure elsewhere. External objects fail to bring happiness. One may acquire new material possessions, a position with more responsibility, but there always remains the same mind.

Contentment is derived from the approach and attitude toward the external world, not form the objects themselves. Every person passes through easier and more difficult periods in his life.  When the obstacles in life are confronted with serene mind, then one lives more happily

  The challenge, then, is to gain control of the internal world. The mind is constantly conversing with itself- replaying past, future, discussing the pros and cons of this and that.

Our mind is constantly either in an event that happened in the past or fantasying or developing fear of future.  Thinking of the same event over and over again dramatizing it in the mind.

How to stop these thoughts, fear, anxieties and desire to stop popping in the mind.  When we slow down our mind, we can start to control it, we start to control it we master the mind.

As it is said “mind is very bad master however a very good servant”

Mind control happens with practise, just the way a wild horse is to control. Practise and discipline is the key to it.

Guide to meditation

The following are practical points regarding the basic techniques and stages of meditation. They are primarily intended for the beginner, although even the most experienced meditator will find a review of them useful.

1) Regularity of the time, place and practice are most important. Regularity conditions the mind to slow down its activities with a minimum of delay.

2) Most effective times are dawn and dusk. The preferred time is brahmanuhurta, the hours between four and six a.m.

3) Try to have a separate room for meditation. If not possible, screen off a portion of a room.

4) When sitting, face north or east in order to take advantage of the favourable magnetic vibrations.

5) Back strength, hands in chin mudra, shoulders relaxed, try to from a triangle with the body so that the gravity acts less in the body.

6) Consciously, regulate the breath, start with 5min of deep breathing and then into a rhythmic breath

7) Allow the mind to wander at first. It will jump around but will eventually become concentrate, along with the concentration of prana.

 Benefits of mediation:

Physiological benefits:
1- It lowers oxygen consumption.
2- It decreases respiratory rate.
3- It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
4- Increases exercise tolerance.
5- Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation.
6- Good for people with high blood pressure.
7- Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
8- Decreases muscle tension
9- Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.
10- Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.
11- Helps in post-operative healing.
12- Enhances the immune system.
13- Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress
14- Enhances energy, strength and vigour.
15- Helps with weight loss
16- Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage
17- Higher skin resistance
18- Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease.
19- Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing.
20- Decreases the aging process.
21- Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
22- prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases
23- Makes you sweat less
24- Cure headaches & migraines
25- Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning
26- Reduced Need for Medical Care
27- Less energy wasted
28- More inclined to sports, activities
29- Significant relief from asthma
30- improved performance in athletic events
31- Normalizes to your ideal weight
32- harmonizes our endocrine system
33- relaxes our nervous system
34- produce lasting beneficial changes in brain electrical activity
35- Cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).
36- Helps in building sexual energy & desire
Psychological benefits:
36- Builds self-confidence.
37- Increases serotonin level, influences mood and behaviour.
38- Resolve phobias & fears
39- Helps control own thoughts
40- Helps with focus & concentration
41- Increase creativity
42- Increased brain wave coherence.
43- Improved learning ability and memory.
44- Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.
45- Increased emotional stability.
46- improved relationships
47- Mind ages at slower rate
48- Easier to remove bad habits
49- Develops intuition
50- Increased Productivity
51- Improved relations at home & at work
52- Able to see the larger picture in a given situation
53- Helps ignore petty issues
54- Increased ability to solve complex problems
55- Purifies your character
56- Develop will power
57- greater communication between the two brain hemispheres
58- react more quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.
59- increases one’s perceptual ability and motor performance
60- higher intelligence growth rate
61- Increased job satisfaction
62- increase in the capacity for intimate contact with loved ones
63- decrease in potential mental illness
64- Better, more sociable behaviour
65- Less aggressiveness
66- Helps in quitting smoking, alcohol addiction
67- Reduces need and dependency on drugs, pills & pharmaceuticals
68- Need less sleep to recover from sleep deprivation
69- Require less time to fall asleep, helps cure insomnia
70- Increases sense of responsibility
71- Reduces road rage
72- Decrease in restless thinking
73- Decreased tendency to worry
74- Increases listening skills and empathy
75- Helps make more accurate judgements
76- Greater tolerance
77- Gives composure to act in considered & constructive ways
78- Grows a stable, more balanced personality
79- Develops emotional maturity
Spiritual benefits:
80- Helps keep things in perspective
81- Provides peace of mind, happiness
82- Helps you discover your purpose
83- Increased self-actualization.
84- Increased compassion
85- Growing wisdom
86- Deeper understanding of yourself and others
87- Brings body, mind, spirit in harmony
88- Deeper Level of spiritual relaxation
89- Increased acceptance of oneself
90- helps learn forgiveness
91- Changes attitude toward life
92- Creates a deeper relationship with your God
93- Attain enlightenment
94- greater inner-directedness
95- Helps living in the present moment
96- Creates a widening, deepening capacity for love
97- Discovery of the power and consciousness beyond the ego
98- Experience an inner sense of “Assurance or Knowingness”
99- Experience a sense of “Oneness”
100- Increases the synchronicity in your life
Meditation is also completely FREE! It requires no special equipment, and is not complicated to learn. It can be practiced anywhere, at any given moment, and it is not time consuming (15-20 min. per day is good). Best of all, meditation has NO negative side effects. Bottom line, there is nothing but positive to be gained from it! With such a huge list of benefits, the question you should ask yourself is, “why am I not meditating yet?”
Turn inward your intuition always tell you what is correct and what might be dangerous, develop this intuition stronger by mediation.
Happy meditation!!!
Reference: Meditation book by---------- Swami Vishnu-Devananda, benefits from http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/

By:

Renuka Shinde

Faculty

AISSMS College of HMCT, Pune