What is Meditation?

I welcome all of you, who love the god most and who hate the god most!

          Here, we going to see what is mediation?, it's benefit and some meditation techniques.

What is Meditation? 

          Meditation is universal. It transcends all divides like religion, country and culture. It is a gift given to mankind to access the infinite sprit not limited by any identity. It is the only tool that can aid a person to return to innocence.

           Modern life style has high exposure to anger, hate, fear and other negative emotions. These human emotions have a high tendency to duplicate and spread. For example, when a person gets cheated, he starts to suspect everything around him. This also has an impact on people around him. These emotions form strong impressions and opinions on an individual and social level. The result of which is an insecure individual and an unstable society.

           Meditation helps an individual overcome these emotions to facilitate a calm peaceful mind and a healthy and stress free body.Upon daily practice an individual will blossom into an unshakable personality. With increase in the number of people who are calm, peaceful and healthy will facilitate a social transformation, enabling a society that is trusting, happy and content.

Benefits of Meditation:

           Though meditation is usually recognized as a largely spiritual practice, it also has many health benefits. The yoga and meditation techniques are being implemented in management of life threatening diseases; in transformation of molecular and genetic structure; in reversal of mental illnesses, in accelerated learning programs, in perceptions and communications beyond the physical, in solving problems and atomic and nuclear physics; in gaining better ecological understanding; in management of lifestyle and future world problems. Some benefits of meditation are:

• It lowers oxygen consumption.
• It decreases respiratory rate.
• It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
• Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients.
• Leads to a deeper level of relaxation.
• Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to normal.
• Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
• Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.
• Builds self-confidence.
• It increases serotonin production which influences mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity, insomnia and headaches.
• Helps in chronic diseases like allergies , arthritis etc.
• Reduces Pre- menstrual Syndrome.
• Helps in post-operative healing.
• Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of 'natural-killer cells', which kill bacteria and cancer cells.
• Also reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress.

Meditation Techniques:

Mantra Meditation:

            In Mantra Meditation technique, Mantras may be said silently to yourself, with your own inner voice, whispered, or out loud. While practicing Mantra Meditation, A Mantra is a sound repeated over and over until it integrates into your consciousness - Mantra Meditation frees the mind from its constant DOING, and Mantra Meditation elevates you to an altered state of awareness. In mantra meditation technique, you can connect with your soul at its most profound level, achieving a state of universal consciousness.

Mantra Meditation is probably the most commonly used meditation

Mantra Meditation is also the most effective; Mantra Meditation is used by all the religions.

Mantra Meditation is considered as root of various meditation of Hinduism.

Some common Mantras used in Mantra Meditation are listed below:
OM - the sound of the Universe (vibration of all living things)
Sat Nam - Truth
So Ham - Life/Death, light/shadow, inhalation/exhalation - the yin and yang - the integration of opposites (this is a beautiful and powerful mantra, honoring both the light and the shadow)
Om Namah Shivaya - the phoenix rising, creation born of change, TRANSFORMATION
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - I surrender to/join with the divine will
Aham Brahmasmi - I am the creative force
Tat Tuan Asmi - I am that I am
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti - Peace, peace, peace

Vipassana Meditation

          India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills. Vipassana Meditation technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. Vipassana Meditation Technique not only helps in healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose.

          Vipassana Meditation Technique is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. Vipassana Meditation Technique

           Focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. Vipassana Meditation is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion. The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear by doing Vipassana Meditation. Through direct experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.

God always with us, in us and bless us!

Aravindam