Learning How to Meditate To Fulfill Some Societal Fad or Fashion?
Learning How to Meditate To Fulfill Some Societal Fad or Fashion? |
- Learning How to Meditate To Fulfill Some Societal Fad or Fashion?
- The Subconscious Mind is Always Awake
- Clutterfree Inspiration: Two Beautiful Transformations
- Buddhist meditation books
- Older Athletes Have Highest Risk of Shoulder Injury
- Gratitude: Mindfulness Practice Tips from a Life Coach for Women
- Simple meditation helps students concentrate: researcher
- mind power control
- Meditation helps kids pay attention, leading researcher says
- Lower Your Stress and Slow Down Premature Aging
- SEO Company India - iSearch Solution
- Christian Meditation is Like a Shower of the Mind
- Early Morning Spiritual Consciousness Inspiration - 2/17/2012
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| Learning How to Meditate To Fulfill Some Societal Fad or Fashion? Posted: 17 Feb 2012 01:00 PM PST Article by Lily Candice Before you begin to explore for ways and means of how to meditate, you need to ask yourself certain pertinent questions first: What has led me to this need to want to meditate? What do I seek to achieve by practicing the art of meditation? Do I truly believe that meditation will help me achieve my aims? For some, the decision to learn how to meditate comes from a frustration with their current state of being, with suggestions to adopt the practice of meditation coming from close friends and associates who might have benefited from the practice of meditation. Whatever the source of the prompting, the answer to the next question should clarify matters a little. Will you be learning how to meditate to fulfill some societal fad or fashion? Or are you seeking to live in a state of being characterized by feelings of love, peace and happiness? The primary purpose of learning how to meditate and making it a daily practice is to achieve a state of peace, love and happiness. This is an achi evable state of being which many of us consider to be utopian and a mere dream.On the contrary, it is those who cannot still their minds through meditation that are actually living in a dream state! We day dream of the things we want and how to get them, we dream of perceived enemies and how to get even with them, we dream about unpleasant events of the past which haunt us all the time. We also dream about an uncertain future composed of our hopes and fears for that future. When you learn how to meditate you will develop skills which will enable you free yourself from this dream state occasioned by social, parental and other conditionings. Z Meditation is a center where the art and skills of how to meditate are being imparted on those truly willing to be free of the shackles of the mind. The Z Meditation approach of how to meditate is based on Deep Deconditioning Inquiry, which seeks to help us disabuse our minds of wrong and false beliefs that have been gathered over many years; and Radiant Mantras which enable us to m! aintain a calmness of the mind through any situation or circumstances.There are several ways available to anyone who is sincerely desirous of learning how to meditate. The Z Meditation center for instance offers Spiritual and Meditation retreats at their meditation center in Dharamsala, a small town in the Himalayas of India, where the basics of the art and practice of meditation may be learnt through practical teaching from established and experienced meditation teachers. For those unable to make the trip to India, there are online courses available which need to be followed with dedication for a period of not more than two weeks, by which time the student is well acquainted with the rudiments of meditation. Z Meditation also makes meditation books available to discerning individuals who have recognized the benefit accruable from learning how to meditate.Learning how to meditate is not an expensive venture by any means. The paltry amount of money you will spend learning how to meditate is by no measure comparable to the lasting peace and happiness you will gain. About the AuthorLily Candice is regular article writer for Meditation in India at Z Meditation in India Over the Hedge - Verne Explains It All For You and Meditation 
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| The Subconscious Mind is Always Awake Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST Article by Alexis Aileen The subconscious mind is a half of our consciousness that seems to have been highly accessed by ancient mankind however now is considered deeply mysterious. Reason and logic probably emerged a minimum of partly to defend ourselves against being hypnotized by ideas that were false, by enemies, etc. For the subconscious mind will not reason, it will not argue, it will not parse, it will not resist (unless it's been previously programmed either by one's own imagination or reason or an outside hypnotic force to resist a particular plan; and then, it will be re-programmed to just accept that terribly same plan).Thus, it's among the subconscious mind that each one of our "magical" power lies. And that is why hypnosis taps the subconscious mind. Hypnosis puts individuals into one level or another of trance (though hypnotists never place folks to sleep, although the Greek root word does mean sleep), thus that they subconscious mind becomes highly accessible.The subconscious mind is usually awake, and it's not just located within the brain. The subconscious mind is not some lower strata of the physical brain. It's the nervous system, it's the emotions, and some say that it is also "non-local", too, like an energy field that extends outward such as when folks do astral projection, or the usually spoken-of "aura". When we visit sleep, we have a tendency to enable the subconscious mind to integrate new info or ideas that are figured out or absorbed by the acutely aware, waking brain. We tend to fully would like to try to to this, and that's why lack of sleep soon comes to have horrible health consequences mentally, emotionally, and physically.When programming is done via hypnosis--whether through a hypnotist or hypnotherapist, or through self-hypnosis (either accidentally or on purpose)--the aware mind creates images, feelings, concepts for the subconsciousness. Again, this part of the mind will not reason, use logic, or argue. It does whatever it is commanded to do--whether this is often good or bad for the! person. It is up to the acutely aware mind, the logic and the intuition, to see what is good or unhealthy for oneself; and this is often terribly usually not the second nature factor that we assume it's or should be.So, for example, if individuals have a drawback with self-image or self-confidence, this means the subconsciousness includes a "river of negativity" running through it. The subconscious facet of our minds creates our habitual behaviors, our developed skills, our consistent emotional reactions, and our habitual attitudes. Some folks even say the subconscious mind ultimately creates our each experience and our terribly environment; that it "magnetizes" into our lives whatever we have a tendency to choose to habitually, consistently imagine for ourselves with our acutely aware mind, in a "magical" way.Hypnotism, so, uses suggestions made to someone when they are in a trance in order to plant the seeds of new (presumably healthier and a lot of productive) pictures, new experiences, inside the subconscious mind in order to form a person's life better. About the AuthorAlexis Aileen has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in NLP Hypnosis, you can also check out his latest website about:Natural Home Cures Which reviews and lists the bestLose Weight With Acai Berry 
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| Clutterfree Inspiration: Two Beautiful Transformations Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST Post written by Leo Babauta.Today I'm going to share the stories (and photos) of two people who tackled their clutter and lived to tell the tale. Not only did they survive, they can serve as inspiration for anyone else who feels hopeless and helpless in the face of mountains of clutter. It's possible, and we have the proof. What follows are stories from Sarah and Rick, two amazing students in the Clutterfree Course. Read about two more transformations on Be More With Less by Courtney Carver, my partner in the Clutterfree Course. Sarah
In Sarah's words:
Decluttering is tightly linked to reduce shopping and save money: I actually started with decluttering because I thought that this is the most fun way of saving money and I was very right. The more I declutter, the more I diminish my desire to buy stuff and realise that it is very satisfying and freeing to own less. Decluttering makes you more creative – I chosen so many gifts for friends from my de-cluttered items that made people very happy. I like this. So rather then going shopping I look into my shelves I have reserved for de-cluttered items that are nice presents to give away. Similarly, if I feel that I need something I first look around my flat if I can repurpose sth I already have to serve the need I have. I was quiet surprised what I came up with. ;-) De-cluttering makes cleaning so much easier and fun and I feel so much more in control now and do not have this underlying feeling of the weighing down of stuff and I spent less and less time with household chores! I did not belief before that visual clutter is such a stressor. Tips Having an idea of what to do with the won space – so my motivation to get rid of the chest of drawer was to be able to put a nice reading chair there instead. Or for the shed – I want to put the bikes there. That helps so much to get rid of a lot of things and knowing why I am doing it. Colour coding the wardrobe – I heard this tip from Peter Walsh and arranged my wardrobe that way. Also have same type of hangers now and it looks so neat indeed. Remaining issues:
Clutterfat challenge – what worked best?
Clutterfat challenge – how does it feel? Rick
In Rick's words: Thoughts on the Process
What Worked Best The course materials Courtney & Leo provided each week were great! I particularly enjoyed the audio interviews, video lessons, and the weekly webinars & live chats. The ideas that worked best for me:
How it Feels How does it feel? It feels great! Being in these rooms is so much nicer now. They feel much more calm, much more inviting. They are now places I actually want to spend my time. I find that I am much more content to spend time at home. One night we were sitting in the living room and Amy turned to me and said, "Just look at this place! It looks like grown-ups live here." We shared a good laugh at that! Not that we are "done" – or that we will ever be "done." We still have lots to do as we work to finish this first big de-clutter. It is also a challenge to keep the rooms we have cleared from backsliding. It is easy to let things accumulate. Especially as we move everything out of a new area to de-clutter that. But we are making progress. We've started saying things like, "I know this thing doesn't live here. But I just need to leave it here until ___." We're not perfect. (Whatever that means.) But we are making more conscious decisions about our stuff and about how we live. From Leo: Thanks for the inspiration, Sarah and Rick! Courtney and I wrote the Clutterfree book to help you understand the emotion behind holding onto clutter and to give you the motivation and momentum to let it go and live without it forever. Read the book and share your challenges and success in the Clutterfree Forum. Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:00 AM PST Article by Rasmus Lindgren When seeking the perfect Buddhist meditation books to suit your needs, you may want to check out Buddhist Meditation for Beginners, Rasmus Lindgren's comprehensive primer for those just beginning their meditative journey.This easy to read, informational text uses humor, wisdom, and a conversational style to detail the journey of the beginning meditator; taking you from that uncertain initial stage, where you're not altogether sure if meditation is right for you, all the way through the entire course and duration of your first meditative session.Essentially, Buddhist Meditation for Beginners takes the reader step by step through the time-honored practice and process of Buddhist meditation. The book goes into exactly why you should meditate; just how meditation cleanses the body and soul; why you should choose Buddhist meditation over other forms of the art; and how you can prepare to meditate.The book considers different positions and varieties of meditation, and probes in to the factor that emotional surrender plays in the meditative process. It tells how to get the most out of meditation, and addresses the role of Buddhism in the meditative process. Ever wonder how and why to meditate if you're not remotely Buddhist? Buddhist Meditation for Beginners will tell you. It may, in fact, even inspire you to some day become a Buddhist, or at least to immerse yourself in the divine intricacies of Buddhist belief. And it will explain why, when it comes to meditation, the Buddhist way is the best way.This informative text will tell you the right times of day in which to meditate, and how to 'tune in and tune out' while you're doing it. It defines common meditative terms such as Chih-Kuan, offers a helpful checklist for the beginning meditator, and details the many and varied benefits of this time-honored practice. The book even features informative interviews with noted practitioners of this timeless art; smart and helpful experts who will guide your way to the ultimate meditative experience. These invalu! able, we ll-versed instructors and practitioners will inspire you with their infinite wisdom and timeless knowledge.In essence, Buddhist Meditation for Beginners by Rasmus Lindgren serves to demystify the timeless art of Buddhist meditation. The book could serve as a trusted friend on your meditative journey, explaining complicated concepts in a way that is simple, straightforward and even fun. Imagine that! If you are considering making Buddhist meditation a part of your life, and are in need of some top quality Buddhist meditation books, then Buddhist Meditation for Beginners by Rasmus Lindgren just may be the key to your meditative success. Learn about this wonderful, thought-provoking work by visiting Beginning Buddhist Meditation today. About the AuthorRasmus Lindgren has practiced meditation for several years and has created a free course in Buddhist meditation books targeted at beginners. He is also author of the ebook Buddhist Meditation targetted at beginners. Meditation & Blissitations 
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| Older Athletes Have Highest Risk of Shoulder Injury Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:00 AM PST
Question: You can settle a bet for me. Who gets shoulder problems more often, athletes or seniors? Answer: Athletes such as pitchers, tennis players and swimmers are especially susceptible to shoulder problems because of their repetitive overhead motions. However, shoulder problems are most likely to victimize people older than 60. You can deduce that, as a group, old athletes are at the highest risk of shoulder injury. [Shoulder problems are so common among seniors that I am doing a two-parter on the subject. This is the first column.] Let's start with some anatomy. The shoulder is the body's most movable joint. It is also unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. In contrast to the hip joint, a conventional ball-and-socket, the shoulder joint is like a tee with a golf ball on it. The unstable shoulder is held in place by soft tissue: muscles, tendons and ligaments. Tendons are cords that hold the shoulder muscles to bones. Ligaments hold the three shoulder bones to each other. The three shoulder bones are the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the upper arm bone (humerus). Many shoulder injuries are caused by tissue breakdown. Common shoulder problems include dislocation, separation, torn rotator-cuff, frozen shoulder, fracture, arthritis, tendinitis and bursitis. The rotator cuff is defined as the set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits the arm to rotate. More than 7 million Americans go to a doctor with a shoulder problem each year. More than 4 million of these visits are for rotator-cuff injuries.
[In the next column, we'll discuss diagnosis and treatment of shoulder injuries.] If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of "How to be a Healthy Geezer" at www.healthygeezer.com All rights reserved © 2012 by Fred Cicetti More from the Healthy Geezer:  Read More @ Source 
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| Gratitude: Mindfulness Practice Tips from a Life Coach for Women Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST Article by Brook Montagna The Gratitude holiday, Thanksgiving, is upon us. Time for giving thanks. But just in case you are feeling a little low on appreciation, let's make sure we are filled to the brim with gratitude before giving thanks. Don't you just love the feeling of appreciation and gratitude? It really is an attitude, or state of being that feels warm and loving. So why do we need to be reminded with a holiday? I'm proposing that we live every day as a day of Thanksgiving as a mindfulness practice. As a life coach for women, I truly recognize the duty and service that women offer to the world. They give endlessly to everyone - their children, spouses, parents, extended families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and organizations, too. Women are Divinely designed to give. And we are also designed to give thanks. But sometimes, because of all the giving, we can become so worn out, it's can be hard to feel that warm, loving sense of gratitude. Instead, we may be feeling worried about someone or a situation, and not sure how to help. If you are having trouble feeling grateful in the midst of all the cooking, cleaning, planning, and caring for others, here are some mindfulness practices to reconnect you with your grateful heart, your divine right to an attitude of gratitude, no matter what is happening around you. First, we want to give ourselves permission to BE grateful for no reason whatsoever. That's right, just be grateful because you choose to be. Whenever we try to attach the feeling of appreciation and gratitude to an event, it loses it's spaciousness and expansiveness. The real sense of gratitude is a warm feeling in the heart, an acceptance and love for all that is - regardless of what you perceive as good or bad in the outside world. So for example, we may have many problems or none at all, but we can recognize the experience of appreciation for a cold drink of water or a breath of fresh air. It's the practice of BEING that we are grateful for. The moments when we can feel truly alive an! d presen t, without judgment or concerns. So at any moment you can give this to yourself. At any moment you can enter the state of being by just appreciating a single breath or noticing the freedom of a movement, feeling the energy within your body. Usually, we are prone to feel grateful when we are out in nature. We see the beauty and it transports us into a state of just being and appreciating. Give this to yourself every day. Revel in the sunrise or sunset, feel the sun on your back, or the breeze in your hair, whatever is present is a reason to feel appreciation. When I engaged as a life coach for women I often suggest a visit to a beautiful spot in nature, which can bring you back to the grateful state effortlessly. So many times, we feel anything but grateful because of some challenge we face. An illness, financial worries, relationship problems. By switching your focus to the mindfulness practice of being grateful for the very simplest of experiences, you can cultivate and reconnect with a grateful heart. Being here and now, take a long slow breath in and out, simply noticing the air movement and the relaxation that comes with a relaxing breath. Focus your attention on your heart and begin to breath in and out of the heart area. Allow yourself to feel the aliveness in your heart and imagine great warmth and light there. As you do, bring to mind something that you feel true appreciation and gratitude for. It could be someone you love, or something natural like your favorite place in the mountains or beach. When you experience that feeling of appreciation, keep expanding it and nurturing it until it is full and rich and wonderful in the heart area. This is an attitude of gratitude - no matter what is going on in the world. Give this to yourself. Revel in the feeling. You will begin to feel so full and blessed, that you will know you have much to give and much to give thanks for. Blessings for a Thanksgiving of Mindfulness Practices for Gratitude! About the AuthorBrook Montagna, Life Coach for Women in Transition, helps you live a more mindful and successful life. Learn more about mindfulness practice for stress reduction, and more about Life Coach for Women with Brook Montagna at http://MindfulLifeCoach.com 
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| Simple meditation helps students concentrate: researcher Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, we concentrated on our breathing and listened to the fading tone of a bell sounded by Gelson. It brought a few moments of blissful calm in an otherwise bouncy room of little kids. This breathing exercise is a regular event at Seymour, one of several B.C. schools that practices the MindUP program created several years ago by Goldie Hawn. Seymour teacher Janice Parry, a Mind Up trainer with … Read the original article » Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:00 AM PST Article by F Space when it comes to changing your life for the better, it all starts with the control of the power of ones mind. now for most people that wants change, their first inkling is to start looking outside of them selves and start looking for the answers, and the right actions to take in order to make the change that they are looking for a part of thier reality. that step will cause them to fail, and not see that change taking place any time soon. the first step one should take to make change happen, is to realize thier mind power that they are in complete control of. its sometimes hard for some to fathom that every thing starts in the mind, and that they have the power to control it, but once they gain the knowledge, and understanding of just how much control they have when it comes to using their mind power . thats when one can start the process of taking the action that is needed to harness this power of the mind, and start making the necessary changes it requires to use it. the first thing to understand is that if you want your life to change you are going to have to change somethings in your life. like for instance you are going to have to change the way that your mind thinks. you just can't keep on thinking the same old way that you have been, and expect different results. you have to change how the mind thinks, and what the mind thinks in order to get the full benefits of the power of your mind to work for you, and with you in a positive way , if you proceed to keep on thinking the same way, you are just going to keep on getting the same negative results. this is where so many of people have the most trouble when it comes to using thier mind power for lots of reasons to many in fact to get in to with this article, so for now lets just focus on what just might be the main, and most over looked one. with out this one it just may be hard for any one to carry out and to see any kind of results, and that is your will power. one has to be in possession of a strong will, to gain total access to, and have ! complete control of thier full mind power, but don't let this deter you in any way even if you are lacking a strong willat this time. just know that with the right tools, and the proper guidance, you can gain the will that is needed to utilize your mind power. when you know the steps that is needed, and the order they should be taken. the process to having complete control of your mind power will seem less daunting, and a whole lot more exciting. just remember that when change does take place the first place that it happens is inside of us. to more specific it takes place in our minds, and only then will we see the results in our reality. About the Authorto learn more about living the life of your dreams visithttp://www.attractionquest.com/ 
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| Meditation helps kids pay attention, leading researcher says Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:00 AM PST
Davidson — who will speak Friday at the University of British Columbia on his new co-authored book, The Emotional Life of Your Brain — has put his research into practice at elementary schools in Madison, Wis. About 200 students at four elementary schools have used breathing techniques to hard-wire their brains to improve their ability to focus on their work. "It's so widely popular and successful, the district wants … Read the original article » Read More @ Source
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| Lower Your Stress and Slow Down Premature Aging Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:00 AM PST Article by Shann Vander Leek Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Science has proved that stress damage to DNA is the culprit behind wrinkles, gray hair, and diseases that can shorten our lifespan. Think about it like this; Have you ever noticed how quickly our Presidents age after spending a short period of time in office? Have you ever been so stressed out that you notice a change in your complexion, weight, or sleep patterns? Getting control of stress is paramount to living a healthy lifestyle. Cortisol an important hormone in the body is also referred to as "the stress hormone" because it's secreted in much higher levels during the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress, and can be responsible for several stress-related changes in the body including weight gain in the belly and premature aging. If you have a highly stressed lifestyle, you must act now to eliminate as much stress as you can to stay healthy and stop the signs of premature aging. The best way to handle stress is to learn to relax your body with various stress management techniques. Regular exercise, yoga, soothing music, meditation and breathing exercises have been found to be very helpful in relaxing the body and mind, aiding the body in maintaining healthy cortisol levels. Lower stress and maintain healthy cortisol levels by implementing some of these stress busting ideas today. Stress Reduction Action Plan: 1. Create a Happy Journal Observe and record ten things that make you happy every day. 2. Be Quiet Schedule 15 minutes each day to be peaceful. 3. Move your Body Schedule time for some sort of exercise every day. 4. Listen to Music When you are feeling overwhelmed, choose a piece of music to life your spirits. 5. Make Time For Yourself Plan a minimum of 30 minutes EVERY day to do something just for YOU. Slow down the aging! process by first focusing your energy on who you are on the inside. When you start to live a lower stress lifestyle, you will be amazed by how much better you feel. Your friends and colleagues will notice your transformation and you will be taking the first step on the path of a well-balanced life. About the AuthorFor 15 years, Shann Vander Leek has inspired sales professionals and entrepreneurs. Telephone and email consultations make her accessible to clients all over the world. Please visit www.truebalancelifecoaching.com to sign up for the True Balance E-Zine or to schedule your complimentary 30-minute discovery session. Summer Watermelon Vase Arrangement II---Contemporary Style 
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| SEO Company India - iSearch Solution Posted: 17 Feb 2012 07:00 AM PST Article by Aldwyn A Buddhist tour can be a journey of enlightenment, no matter whether you belong to Buddhism or not. There are many places known for Buddhist tours in India where one can have the wonderful experience of lifetime. You can indulge into a number of things and visit a number of attractive structures while being on such a sanctified tour. Here are some suggestions for you to follow to make best out of Buddhist tours. Buddhist Temples and MonasteriesVisiting a Buddhist temple can bring peace to your mind. Most of the Buddhist temples are known for the carving and statues of Lord Buddha that are made up of a number of different materials. Paintings on the walls too are wonderful items that are worth exploring on a Buddha tour. These temples are also popular for being the amazing examples of fine architecture. Visiting Buddhist monasteries is another interesting thing to do while being on a tour to a Buddhist place. Also known as viharas, these structures stand intact even after so many centuries of their construction. One exciting aspect of these monasteries is that most of them are surrounded by mesmerizing natural beauty in the form of mountains and streams. One can attend the prayer sessions inside the monasteries as one of the most amazing parts of a Buddhist pilgrimage tour. These monasteries also act as knowledge centers by accommodating libraries with huge sections of books. A Buddhist tour to these monasteries also provides the opportunity to interact with the monks. Other Buddhist StructuresThere are many other popular structures that one can expect to visit on a Buddha tour. Buddha caves, for example are the perfect places to view the rock-cut carvings related to this popular culture. Gompas are other popular structures that one can get to see on such tours. These structures have halls for meditations and prayers. Stupas are the mound like religious structures that too form a part of Buddhist tours in India. Finally, there are pagodas or towers that attract the attenti! on of to urists on one such tour. A Buddhist tour is also a good opportunity to be a part of the Buddhist festivals organized from time to time at Buddhist places. Being at a Buddhist place on Buddha Purnima or Asalha Day can make you a part of dance and rejoice. Shopping for various cultural and artistic items completes the picture of a wonderful tour to these sacred places. Learn about various Buddhist places and choose one to have a great experience. About the Author Aldwyn Carlin is a professional writer, presently writing for Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour and Buddhist Tour India. How to be rich according to Buddhism Part4 
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| Christian Meditation is Like a Shower of the Mind Posted: 17 Feb 2012 06:00 AM PST Article by Rhonda Jones Each morning, usually before day-break, I tread to my meditation spot, an overstuffed comfy green chair in the corner of my bedroom. Some mornings it's cold and I just want to hide under my covers, but regardless of the conditions, eventually I make my way to my chair, light a candle, wrap myself in a blanket, set my timer, and close my eyes. For the next 30 minutes I become completely absorbed by God's word and his presence. For me, Christian meditation is like a daily shower of my mind. It's where I can dissolve any fears, worries, stresses, or the onset of negative or toxic emotions lingering near by. During meditation, I cast all of my cares upon the Lord and allow them to diminish in his light, Spirit, and love. To forfeit my meditation practice any one day means that my flesh has gotten the victory over my spirit and now sits on the throne. It is said that how we begin our day is how we often finish our day. My meditation practice consists of slowly meditating on passages of scripture or inspirational texts. I call this Scripture Meditation. I meditate on the 23rd Psalms, The Lord's Prayer, The Love Chapter, The Beatitudes and other verses that I have memorized and God puts on my heart. I begin each meditation session with the following prayer that I slightly modified from Psalm 19 of Praying the Psalms by Nan Merrill. It read it as: "But who can discern their own weakness? Cleanse me, O Lord, from all my hidden faults? Keep me from boldly acting in error; let my fears and illusions not have dominion over me! Then shall I become a beneficial presence, Freely and fully surrendered to your Love. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart find favor in your Heart. O my Beloved, my strength and my joy!" During meditation, I slowly graze over the scriptures in my mind, and as I do I sink deeper and deeper into the peace, calm, and presence of God. Each time my mind wanders off in thought, fear, or anxiety, I turn my attention back to my scripture passage,! keeping my mind on the Lord. The Bible says that "you will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." Jesus tells us in the Bible that we become what we think about or meditate on. Through meditation, we hide God's word in our heart and that planted word begins to take root and grow a harvest of godly fruit. Each time we return our wandering mind back to the scripture passage, it's the same as plucking up the weeds that want to invade out mental garden. The benefits of meditation aren't generally realized during the actual practice, though dwelling in God's presence is definitely as added reward. The real benefits of Christian Meditation are realized throughout our day when we find that we are more loving, kind, patient, and compassionate or when we squash thoughts of fear or worry that come to steal our peace and joy. Just like we divert our attention from them in meditation, we do the same as we go about our daily tasks. Through meditation, we learn that we can choose what we allow in our minds. We can choose what we allow to rule over us. Meditation empowers us to "cast down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Paul said that we are a slave to whatever we allow to rule over us. Too many Christians are ruled by the whims of their thoughts. Just like watching a television commercial that tells us we want a Mrs. Smith's Cherry Pie and we run out and buy one, our unregenerated mind rules most us of. It says stay in bed and stay in bed. It says you're depressed and we become depressed. It says sin and we sin. It says don't forgive and we hold grudges. Christian meditation gives us the opportunity to become slaves of righteousness as we continue to hide God's in our heart and crowd out the voices of illusion and deception. Through Christ-centered meditation, we also experience a deeper connection with God. As our meditation practice deepens we gain a greater capacity to know ! God, hea r his voice, and experience him in a new and real way. James 4:8 declares, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." Christian meditation allows us to wash away the mental dirt and debris that we pick up each day. It helps us to break the conditioning, patterns, and falsehoods of the world and start each day clean, purified, and centered in Christ. Some people would never think to miss their morning shower or bath. I know people that spend at least 30 minutes in the shower or until the water turns cold. Then they spend another two hours doing their make up and hair. They wouldn't dare leave the house until their outsides our fully together. But how much more important is it that we clean our insides from worldly contaminates. To miss this time in silence reverence to God means carrying around these mental and emotional weights for another 24 hours or until I decide to meditate again. I'd much rather wash them away, just like the water takes the dirt from my bodies and carries it down the drain. Starting my morning in meditation frees me from any encumbrances lingering in my unconscious mind. Through Christian meditation, my mind is swept clean and polished with the light of God's word. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement that contaminates either flesh or spirit." Through meditation, we become the observer of our thoughts and which gives us the power to eliminate those ideas that are contrary to our faith. Mastery of the mind is the only road to true freedom, for it is in the mind and thoughts that all things are created, "for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he," and "a good man out of the good treasure in his heart creates that which is good." Jesus said, "Come to me all who are weary and of a heavy heart and I will give you rest. Spending time with God in meditation, whether scripture, guided, or mantra, is that place of rest for me, for it is where I lay my b! urdens a t the cross and then cloth myself with the Lord Jesus Christ. Each time I enter meditation I am covering myself in his Word, Presence, and Love. I am dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty. Each time I leave my green comfy chair, I leave cleansed, renewed, and restored and prepared to begin my day. About the AuthorTo learn more about Scripture Meditation, see Free Scripture Meditation Online Course at http://www.thechristianmeditator.com/what-is-scripture-meditation.html or get a copy of the Scripture Meditation Tutorial CD that contains a 75-minutes of detailed instructions and Scripture Meditation recording at http://www.thechristianmeditator.com/scripture-meditation-instructional-cd.html . Activating Your Chakras Through the Light Rays {Guided Meditation} 
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| Early Morning Spiritual Consciousness Inspiration - 2/17/2012 Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:01 AM PST  "Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace." ~The Buddha  Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma      Read More @ Source Heart Sutra Chanting 
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| Do You Live in One of America's Most Stressful Cities Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:00 AM PST Article by Darlene Siddons What makes cities qualify for being a stressful city, first it is the rate of unemployment that it has, second it is the price of gas and transportation and third it is the housing market. With out further a do, they are: Chicago gets 1st place; New York gets 2nd place; Detroit gets 3rd place; Los Angeles gets 4th place and San Francisco gets 5th place. Do you live in and/or near any of these cities and find life to be on the stressful side? Read on and we will discuss some ways to manage the stress you may be encountering. Stress Management is the ability to maintain control when situations, people, and events make excessive demands. This means that you review what is going on in your life and how where you are living is affecting you and what areas you can reduce the stressful things and if some of them can be eliminated all together. Stress management is a collection of skills, tools, and techniques that help you reduce, manage, and even counteract the negative side-effects of stress. The art of stress management is to keep you at a level of stimulation that is healthy and enjoyable and to bring your mind and body back into balance. Sometimes this seems overwhelming and even impossible, however, if you start looking at things in a positive manner and start being grateful for even the smallest things, you can turn this around to a better feeling place. Cognitive-behavioral techniques such as, imagery is a powerful method of stress reduction, when combined with physical relaxation methods such as deep breathing; learn and experience yoga techniques for dealing with crisis situations; self-awareness; meditation; Qi-gong; EFT; ionic detox foot baths and many more. These are all simple, easy and are all very effective. Stress is a word for emotional strain -- the anxiety, sadness, anger and frustration that come with everyday life. If you are under a lot of stress for a prolonged period of time, but do not feel stressed, eventually it may catch up with you and cause more ser! ious sym ptoms, such as; stomach ulcers, heart problems, allergies, skin disorders, migraine. Stress can also cause more serious illnesses such as; arthritis, cancer, diabetes, depression. This is why it is important to be proactive in maintaining a healthy stress level in your life no matter what is going on in and around your life. About the AuthorMy mission is to teach and encourage individuals how to find and maintain their balance in mind, body, spirit connection.They learn how to experience the joy of balanced living. Sign up for the f.ree report, Learn 7 Ways to Manifest Abundance with Crystals Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique YOGA UNCOILED: From East to West (2 of 2) 
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| Early Morning Mindfulness Inspiration - 2/17/2012 Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:00 AM PST "Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace." ~The Buddha Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma Read More @ Source Heart Sutra Chanting
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| How to get started with Yoga Burlington Posted: 17 Feb 2012 04:00 AM PST Article by India Jamisons Do you find yourself a novice in terms of yoga exercises? Do you think you are not able to perform all those positions? Do you think that Yoga Burlington is centered on balancing, posing and nothing else? Well, let us discuss with you quick "how to get started" specifics of yoga. Yoga is known as Hindu theistic beliefs teaching the suppression of all the action of body, mind, and will in order that you might realize its distinction from them and achieve liberation as identified by Merriam Webster. With this self explanatory description, you already have a picture of what you would need to do when you try yoga. It primarily necessitates the individual to become concentrated at all times. When you are driven, that is the moment, when your body could readily move and also carry out the different postures. Yogist is considered the one who practices Yoga Burlington. If you plan to be called one, you have to go through various informative content articles first and know what it entails. You should obtain such resources to further help you of what you can expect and just what it might require you. When it comes to attire, sure you'll find quite a lot in the retail stores. Several might be exposing and some might still opt to wear something that's comfortable for the individual wearing it and for other individual to see. In general, the yoga attire is much like some other exercise normal apparel. It has to be something that you can move easily. Most specifically, this workout necessitates the connection of the mind and the body. Another important thing to consider is always that doing yoga, requires spare time. It's evident that not all of us have some time to spare. Yet you should likewise remember that if you give a few of your precious time, doing the workout would mean a lot of health benefits. You could be physically active. You'll experience contentment as you release the unfavorable vibes. No need to go to the spa since you will always feel energized and revived. Wh! at's so great about yoga is the fact that it's well suited for every age group. That's correct! Also little ones can practice it. Several facilities will offer kids yoga Burlington. It is the place where, you can enroll the kids. And so, at an early age, they would discover how to empower their mind and body. And naturally, this can keep them at good condition as they grow. Where to go to practice yoga? For starters, it is a must for one to enroll to yoga classes Burlington. The reason why is that instructors are well educated regarding the in and out of this exercise. They will be competent to explain to you if your mind and body is suit to do the exercise. Think of yourself blessed if you live in Ontario, since there are quite a few centers giving yoga classes Burlington. You'll sure locate one near your neighborhood. One great yoga studio is the Chrysalis yoga, in Burlington. About the AuthorIndia Jamison just changed her kids yoga burlington location. It is possible to check out their great website here Chrysalis Yoga 
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| Empty mind always carry the blame Posted: 17 Feb 2012 03:00 AM PST Article by Dr S Ranganathan Is there anything called 'mind'? Why most of us talk a lot about the mind very often? Where does mind exist if we were to believe its very existence? Why the 'mind' is full of vagarious & worries and fury & funeral? Mind is nothing but an empty space. Mind is like time or space. It never holds anything nor does it free anything. It cannot store or stock anything. Can any one say that the time is holding them? If someone says that they have to board the plane at 10.00 AM means, are they holding on to the time of 10.00 AM to board the flight or the time is holding them? But definitely, all events like they have to get ready, reach the airport, board the flight etc., are happening only in the space of time. Nothing on earth can happen outside the space of time. But still the fact is that time is very 'empty', it comes empty and goes away empty. That is how the mind is. Everything happens in the 'mind' but still mind is 'empty'. Thought and memory are only cuddling and churning in the mind. Thoughts create its waves. Memory stores and restores some thoughts forever. We need to relate the mind, thought and memory discussion to ocean, sea water and waves. The memories are like winds that make the waves of constant thoughts to occur or vice versa. The space where the entire process happens is only mind. All the sense organs effectively participate and contribute to formation of 'thoughts and 'memories'. In the same ocean only, the beauty and vibrancy of diverse fauna and flora exist. In the same ocean only tempest and tsunami also occur. It is all but the game of thoughts and memory only. Can we say an empty land mass as sea. Sea must have water. The water definitely moves up and down due to wind. We cannot see windless space, so is mind devoid of memory or mind without thoughts. When one travels deep inside the sea, only memory remains there but with fewer thoughts. When the interference or influence of thought is less, the memory does no harm and remains calm ! & si lent. The thoughts created by memory always refer to the past and usually it manifests as pain, regrets, feeling of loss etc. On the contrary, memory created by thoughts is always stored for future. The sense organs do contribute to the formation of memory and thoughts. The best way to keep the mind in tranquility and peace is to go deep inside the mind where the memory is calm and is free from thoughts. Only such memory is called awareness. This is what most seers preach and practice to the world. Do not blame your mind as it is an empty space where only thoughts and memories create your joy and sorrow of course with the complete support of all the sense organs. About the AuthorDr S Ranganathan, Director, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai 
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| Posted: 17 Feb 2012 02:00 AM PST Article by Harry Carlin Sarnath is one of the well known Buddhist places in India. This site is renowned for the various Buddhist attractions as well. Some of the best known lures of Sarnath are temples, stupas, caves, museums etc. All these allures can be explored in different locations of Sarnath. Hence, you can also come and visit to the famous Buddhist sites in Sarnath as well. Sarnath Buddhist tour in India has exceptional worth for all the visitors. This trip enables you to find the major allures of Buddhism in India. Travelers can easily discover the loveliness of Sarnath. Some of the major allures of this site are Sarnath Museum, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dharmekh Stupa, Digambar Jain Temple, Ashoka Pillar and lots more. All these lures can be discovered in various spots of Sarnath as well. Thus, it would the best deal for the Buddhist devotees to plan for the Sarnath Buddhist tour in India. On the other side, if you are willing to know about rest of the Buddhist lures in India, you can go for the option of Sarnath Buddhist tour packages as well.Most of the Buddhist adherents are keen to know about the Sarnath Buddhist Tour in India. This tour is also renowned among the global tourists. On this journey, you can simply explore varied Buddhist sites in Sarnath such as shrines, monuments, statues, sculptures, foot prints etc. All these allures are rich with the wonderful architectural designs as well. Moreover, these attractions also disclose the enigma of life style of Lord Buddha. Furthermore, this tour also helps the visitors to know about the various Buddhist destinations in India. Many of the tourists are crazy to know about the different Buddhist places in India. There are numbers of Buddhist sites available in India such as Bodhgaya Tour, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Sarnath, Patna and so on. Among them, most of the visitors like to know about Sarnath as well. Besides it, all the destinations are related to the life of Buddha. However, these places in India are the splendid spots for all the supporters.Apart f! rom that , most of the global visitors are also willing to know about various Buddhist holy places in India. You can find magnificent temples of Lord Buddha. You can find them at diverse destinations of India. There are so many Buddhist temples available in India such as Mahabodhi Temple, Wat Thai temple, Digambar Jain Temple, The Chinese Temple Monastery etc. All these Buddhist holy places are designed very gracefully. Thus, Buddhist temples may have exceptional importance for all the Buddhist devotees residing in across the world. In nutshell, Sarnath tour is an ideal journey for all the travelers. About the Author Harry Carlin is a professional writer of web content. For more information onBuddhist Train and Buddhist Tour India. 
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| A Vietnamese Persecution Of Vietnamese Buddhism Posted: 17 Feb 2012 01:00 AM PST Article by Arjanyai Then came in 2506/1963 the persecution of Buddhism and the Buddhist crisis which turned the monks political and militant. The crisis began on the eve of the Visakha Puja Day, May 8, 2506/1963, when the police, to follow an order of the President on the use of flags, tore down some of the Buddhist flags raised for the celebrations. Then followed protests by the Buddhists and violent responses from the government to the degree of destruction and bloodshed. The monks led the people in political demonstrations, hunger strikes and sacrificial suicides by burning themselves to death. It was Thich Quang Duc, a 73-year-old monk, who first performed self-immolation on June 11, 2506/1963. He was followed by a number of monks, nuns and lay Buddhists. Among the five demands of the Buddhists were equality under the law for Buddhists and Catholics, and the free practice and propagation of the Buddhist faith. The event which started as a purely religious issue quickly turned into a test of political power. Madame Nhu, the President's sister-in-law, scorned the Buddhists and condemned them as Communists. She even said, "If another monk barbecues himself, I will clap my hands." On August 21, the Buddhists' headquarters and stronghold at Za Loi pagoda was crushed by Ngo Dinh Nhu and martial law was proclaimed. The American advice to conciliate with the Buddhists was not accepted.At this point, the American government ordered a stop of support to Nhu and agreed to support the military men who planned to bring down the Ngo family. Then the way for a successful coup had been paved by the Buddhist opposition against the government and the Diem regime was finally overthrown on November 1, 2506/1963, by a military coup d'etat. Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu were both killed. VIETNAMESE BUDDHISTS REORGANIZEAfter the coup of 1963, the Buddhists became a major force in Vietnamese politics, the third power after the Army and the Vietcong. The military group who held power then wanted to win their support, so they appr! oved the Vietnamese Buddhist Reunification Congress held in Saigon from December 21, 2506/1963, to January 3, 2507/1964. The major result of this meeting was the establishment of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Church (also called United Buddhist Association) which united the Theravada followers1 with the Mahayana sects and which gave the Buddhists a new type of organization with an ecclesiastical hierarchy, parallel to the government structure. The governing body at the top of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Church was the Assembly of Elders, consisting of about fifty to seventy respected senior monks. The Assembly was presided over by the Patriarch, who was elected to a four-year term from among the members of the Assembly. Under the Assembly was the Vien Hoa Dao, or the Council for the Execution of the Dharma, with a Chairman, three Deputies and a Secretary-General. The Vien Hoa Dao consisted of nine departments or commissions (comparable to government ministries), dealing with Sangha affairs, education, youth affairs, cultural affairs (or art and literature), government for nuns, the laity, social service, construction and finance, and the dissemination of the Dharma. The organization at the provincial and district levels followed the same structure of nine departments and was subject to an electoral system. All the key positions from the heads of the departments from the provincial level upwards were held by monks, whether Mahayana or Theravada. In addition to these was established the Buddhist Chaplain Corps with welfare programmes for soldiers' families, which in practice became a support for the Buddhist leadership within the Army. In 2507/1964, with the initiative of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Church also created in the Department of Education the Institute of Higher Buddhist Studies in Saigon, which was shortly afterwards, in the same year, transformed into Van Hanh University with Thich Min Chau as its first rector. In 1966, this university had an enrolment of more than 2,000 students. About the AuthorPlease visit my site Portable basketball equipment All inclusive holidays Best hair loss treatment Patience 
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| Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:00 AM PST Article by Teaque Kapnick We all need balance in our life span and what better way to achieve it then practicing any types of yoga. Yoga is fairly new in the Western landscape, but it is well rooted. It may take courses in exercise centers and health clinics, both in regions and the cosmopolitan area. Courses are aimed at children, elderly, persons with stress, healthful, pregnant women... Many types of yoga have characteristics that are suitable for many persons. The courses are usually done in groups, in a safe and non competitive atmosphere. Also, many types of yoga does not require special skills. It produces almost immediate psychic and muscularrelaxation. In the medium term, it develops elasticity and helps to treat several musculoskeletal problems. Regular practice seems to help relieve serious physical problems and promote better overall health. Here are the most usual types of yoga in the West. Anusara. One of the many types of yoga established by John Friend in 1997. She rapidly popularized it and it is now present in 70 countries. Its basic philosophy is to celebrate the heart and see the good in everyone and everything. Ashtanga. Characterized by the synchronization of breath with fast sequences of postures increasingly challenging. This raises the metabolism and body temperature. Excellent for endurance. In the U.S. was developed a particularly strong form called Power Yoga. Iyengar. Disciplined and rigorous courses where the attention is on the alignment of members, and particularly of the spine, very oriented towards health. No spiritual connotation, but the meditative perspective is present. Kripalu. A dance of body, mind and energy, with an attention on respiratory techniques. Promote distinctly the cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems. Kundalini. Another different types of Yoga that aims above all to stimulate the kundalini, the original energy healing. The approach works on the meditative consciousness through sequences of postures. Sivanand! a and Ve danta. Classes are taught by the Sivananda organization in its own centers. The emphasis on positive thinking, meditation, breathing, relaxation and aliment. There is a very spiritual angle to Sivananda. Sudarshan Kriya. This type of yoga was founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the early 1980s. This day existing in over 140 countries, it relies massively on the breath to rebalance the body and mind. Viniyoga. Is characterized by the integration of movement with inhaling and personalized advice that adapts to each person. As for before birth, this course focus on the particular needs of pregnant women. The professor selects certain exercises (postural and breathing) to help them overcome the troubles related to pregnancy, it facilitate the stages of childbirth and assist the body back into balance after birth. There is also the Tibetan Yoga, another one of the different types of yoga that is practiced utilizing belts or straps to keep the body in certain postures and above all favor relaxation. In the end, there is the Prasara yoga. This type of yoga is a new way to perform yoga, and focus more on the position and breathing, this program highlights the movement through the transitions between each pose. This type of yoga is a good way to generate body muscles (abdominals, hips and back muscles), it increases balance, flexibility and range of movement. About the AuthorClick here to know more about Prasara yoga. Would you want to blog and be paid doing so? Click here to earn money blogging. Yoga Shakti - Siddhanamaskar and Pranayam 
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| What Is Meditation? An Exploration of the Possible Benefits of Meditation Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:00 AM PST Article by David G Wilcox Can the practice of meditation really relieve stress, bring serenity, and possibly improve your health? Scientific studies seem to indicate that it can. Meditation has often been used as an effective method of stress and pain relief. Meditation has also been shown to be effective in increasing attention span, which may be good news for people who have attention deficit disorder. The evidence is clear, although much study still needs to be done, meditation has been shown to help relieve stress, bring a sense of serenity, and may improve some health issues like attention deficit disorder. However, while meditation promises a host of verifiable benefits, and maybe others yet undiscovered, it remains shrouded in mystery. However, as mysterious as it may seem to the beginner, over 20 million Americans are now practicing some form of meditation. Are you interested in joining this growing number of people who are practicing meditation to improve their quality of life? If so, this article will attempt to unveil some of those mysteries for you, and offer good, balanced information which will help you unlock the secrets of mediation, and be able to take advantage of its unique benefits. Let me begin with a disclaimer. I strongly believe that meditation can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing for everyone who practices it. However, some meditation techniques are not appropriate for most people, and in some cases are self-hypnosis programs which, in my opinion, you want to stay as far away from as possible. Be cautious as you begin your meditation journey, and keep your meditations as simple as possible. Any meditation program that calls for long hours, complicated breathing techniques, or asks you to buy lots of materials or go on long retreats, is not necessary for beginners. However, where you go on your meditation journey is up to you. My advice at the beginning is to keep it as simple and easy to use as possible. This will ensure you get off to a good, positive start. One last disclaimer. The mind is very powerful and you may find that once you start to spend time exploring the deep recesses of your mind, you are becoming aware of strong emotions, or issues which you had long ago repressed, or forgotten about. You may find that these issues are causing you distress. If so, you may need to seek professional help, or the help of a member of the religious clergy of your particular spiritual tradition to deal with the problem. Meditation is a tool to help guide us to good health. Sometimes it functions as a sign post to point us in the direction we need to go to get the help we need. Be aware of what you need, and do not substitute meditation for the help of qualified professionals who can further guide you towards serenity and peace of mind. How to Begin Meditating. Is it AUM or is it OM? At its most basic level, meditation is the practice of focusing the mind on a particular object. All meditation practices which are common today are rooted in a particular spiritual tradition, and were developed around focusing the mind on the divine, however the divine was conceived to be in that particular tradition. Most of the more advanced meditation practices of these traditions were kept secret (although they can now widely be found all over the internet). They were only available to priests, monks, nuns, and other adepts who had given up everything to learn these secret techniques and achieve enlightenment. By giving up all worldly pursuits, and submitting to the discipline of a master, guru, or church, a person showed his/her worthiness to be trusted with these secret teachings, among them specific methods of meditation and breathing which were designed to bring a person into an altered state of consciousness. Eventually, if the student faithfully practiced and followed the advice and teachings of his spiritual teacher or church, he/she could achieve a state known as divine union. This state of divine union is called many different things like satori, nirvana, or Kingdo! m of Hea ven, however, while the names are different, the experience of divine union is always the same for those who achieve it. The practitioner who achieves divine union experiences an expanded state of consciousness where he/she feels completely submerged into another reality, one of which he/she is a part of, yet is completely beyond them as well. It is impossible to avoid the fact that all meditation methods are rooted in a particular religious tradition. If you are an atheist, it will be difficult to find practices which do not, at some level, point to something beyond as the source of all existence. And even if you are not an atheist, you need to come to grips with this fact before beginning meditation, otherwise you will find yourself confused and frustrated. For example, some westerners can easily incorporate eastern meditation practices into their lives. However, eastern practices are centered around certain fundamental principles; like Karma and Reincarnation. Eastern meditation also demands, in some traditions, total detachment from all worldly pursuits. Westerners, (like myself, I have problems with these beliefs), may find it difficult to accept these teachings, affecting the quality of the meditation. What do you believe? Are you a Christian who wants to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus? Or are you suspicious of organized religion, but open to the possibility of some reality that exists as the source of all life, but are unready to commit to a particular religious tradition? Be honest, because the answers you get will determine what kind of meditation practice you use, and how effective it is. About the AuthorDave Wilcox writes articles on topics such as self-improvement, spirituality,diet, and fitness. If you would like to learn more about meditation please go to: http://www.squidoo.com/meditation-for-self-improvement 
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| Here's What Yoga Can Do For You... Posted: 16 Feb 2012 11:00 PM PST Article by Dave Klein You want to have a full life. You want to feel well. You want lots of energy, vitality, power, and stamina. Am I right so far? Well, the great news is that all these can be yours. Yoga applies age-old secrets to everyday life in a modern, fast-paced world. Its practical application can restore your lost youth, put new zest into your every step, and empower you to fully enjoy a sense of health, energy and creative living. All this will do wonders for your future happiness... Sounds good, huh? Well let me tell you a little about yoga... Yoga is an ancient health-art developed and perfected over the centuries by wise men in ancient India. Yoga is not a religion, a metaphysical doctrine, or a philosophy. It is not magic, although the amazing improvements it can make in your health, your appearance and your youthfulness may often seem magical, even miraculous... There are many different types of yoga. Contrary to popular belief, not all types of yoga involve difficult positions and postures, uncomfortable exercises or strenuous diets... Yoga can take years off your face and years from your body, and add years to your life. There are certain secret methods by which the Yogis keep the flexibility and "spring" of early youth in their joints and muscles and limbs well into the declining years... It is a common sight to see, in the crowded, colorful streets of Bombay or New Delhi, Yogis well into their seventies and even their eighties, with the straight, graceful posture of a boy, walking with the elastic, springy step of youth... with firm, healthy bodies, their hair dark and glossy and un-streaked with grey. Firm, unlined faces... clear, un-dimmed eyes... Not only does yoga make you look and feel years younger, and years healthier, but it lends your body superb health. It works like magic because it enables the body to realize its full potential of great health... You know that Nature has built into your body certain certain "defense mechanisms" for self-r! epair, n atural safeguards against disease. Well, modern yoga helps the body's machinery function smoothly, efficiently, and at peak performance... Yoga encourages your body to derive every last possible atom of nutritive value from the food you now eat (so different from the natural diet of your ancestors)... to get every second of refreshment and rest from your sleep... to attain regularity, relief from little aches and pains, the ability to sleep deep and wake refreshed that can make the difference from feeling "pretty good" to feeling "terrific"! Yoga assists all your muscles and bones and organs to operate at their maximum potential. Yoga stimulates into peak performance the hidden abilities of your body to throw off the attacks of disease that affect so many people we know and love... Do you suffer from insomnia and stress? Have you lost your appetite? Do you find it hard to relax? Do you smoke too much, feel "worn out" by the afternoon, find as you grow older that you cannot enjoy full life and day to day vitality? Yoga has the amazing power to relax and refresh you, soothe your nerves, calm your mind, give you the serenity and strength and inner stamina that is part of the "Magic of the East".Yoga prevents the premature grey in your hair, the ugly wrinkles in your face.... Yoga tightens those sagging muscles that give you that "tired look." It puts new zest in your appetite, brings back the sparkle in your eyes, and gives that wonderful sensation of feeling "fit as a fiddle"... If these benefits are important to you (and you'd be crazy if they weren't) then its time you learnt about yoga! About the AuthorDave Klein is the author of http://www.yogaology.com a site completely dedicated to yoga. Visit http://www.yogaology.com to find out how you can start applying yoga to your life to achieve maximum health and energy. 
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| Stress Relief Tips - 7 Tips To Relieve Family Stress Posted: 16 Feb 2012 10:00 PM PST Article by Linda Hampton Dealing with family stress is a surefire way of creating tension in your household and beyond. Families are an important part of your life. At times it may seem like your family is the source of your stress, but they are also an important source of caring and emotional support. Your family is a valuable resource for coping with stress. They provide you with love, joy, pride and deep satisfaction, while causing confusion, irritation, frustrations dissatisfaction, misery and at it's worse violence. Families are complicated. Any significant change within the family unit is stressful. Births, deaths, divorce, weddings, dealing with a rebellious adolescent are those things we think about that cause extreme stress. But what about a child going away to college or even starting school for the first time or taking care of a frail elderly parent. I can remember when doing homework was daily stressful event. Stress ripples through the entire family until it's resolved. Families, God love them, are forever. Even with the stress would you be willing to give them up. After all at the end of the day when all else is said and done they are our biggest champions and will stand beside you, and in most cases will love you unconditionally. Maintaining family ties and holding on to those good feeling takes some effort. Make the time for those you care about. Work at making your relationships positive and satisfying. So how do you change or reduce the stress in your family. Since the situations always involve people, open direct communication is your biggest resource. Secrets and indirect communication are the primary sources of stress. Everyone is responsible for their own feelings. When we assume responsibility for someone else's happiness, we communicate a lack of respect for their competence as humans beings. Communication skills take practice. One reason for the lack of good communication is the difficulty of understanding someone other then yourself. Family secrets, alco! holism, drug addition, abuse, violence, infidelities are the biggest obstacles to effective communication. Practice using these tips for better communication and stress reduction in your family. 1. Be direct and clear. Say what you need to say. Avoid vague and confusing words. 2. Make "I" statements. Speak from your own perspective and avoid blaming others 3. Let them know the effect their words had on you. How it made you feel 4. Make sure your verbal and nonverbal messages are not conveying anger 5. Know the difference between what truly important and what is not and don't worry about the unimportant things 6. Make an effort to spend time together every day. Plan one meal with the entire family. Food add fuel to your body. Communication add fuel to your mind. 7. Be a good listener. Pay attention to what the other person is saying. Avoid formulating in your mind a rebuttal before they complete their statement. And now you have have tools to easily relive family stress that work About the AuthorAnd now I'd like to offer you more stress relief techniques that get results! Discover how to significantly improve your stress relief results by claiming your FREE 5 Part E-Course. You can get instant access at ==>http://www.transitionyourlife.com Life Balance for iPhone demo 
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| Choose the Meditation Style That's Right for You Posted: 16 Feb 2012 09:00 PM PST Article by Keli Austen There's really no governing body connected with meditation that mandates "The following will be the different forms of meditation and that is the final word!" Instead there's an almost infinte variety of approaches and combination of strategies that might meet your needs exactly. However, I want to talk about precisely what I think are the extended types of meditation as well as the likely scenarios in which they'd be of benefit. As implied earlier, the boundaries are gray as opposed to black or white and there is usually very much overlap. Before talking about the several sorts, I'd like to reference a handful of characteristics that almost all styles share. To get the most out of meditating, it usually is good to wear comfortable clothes, be in a comfortable postition and stay in a hushed setting. Furthermore lots of people always like to make use of a comfy cushion or yoga exercise mat to sit on, and some always like to make use of auditory music to enhance their meditation. Most of these sounds can be obtained on a meditation download internet site. In addition the overall goal of most kinds of meditation is to learn to quieten or focus our hectic and noisy minds and consequently attain inner tranquility and reduced anxiety. Now about the different types: Concentration MeditationThe objective of this kind is usually to improve your concentration and focus. It is crucial to master to slow down the continuous flow of thoughts to ones that are relevant to the moment. This emptying of the mind is one of the most hard facets of meditation. Nevertheless, the better you are able to focus the easier it becomes to achieve a deep meditative condition. In employing this kind of concentration meditation, the goal is to focus on something while not actually engaging your thoughts about it. You may focus on something visible like a statue or image, an auditory signal such as a binaural beat or audio of ocean surf, a phrase which you repeat out loud or in your mind and even something as easy as ! your own deep breathing. Meditations which you might be familiar with which fall under this type would include Zen meditations, mantra meditations and object meditations. Insight MeditationIf you need to go in a different direction than emptying your mind, then you could attempt insight meditation. With this the goal is to welcome all of our thought processes and physical sensations without judging or analyzing. You only want to be aware of your whole body and mind, basically as an outside observer. You will be absolutely in the present moment without taking into consideration the past or future. Vipassana and mindful meditations fall into this classification. Motion MeditationThis category works counterintuitive to what many perceive meditation to be i.e., that you must be still and peaceful to meditate. However, with motion meditation you will be moving about. You're strengthening your attention and awareness by focusing on your motions as well as the way in which the body moves. The motion can be something as easy as walking or it could be more complex. Meditations which are in this category include Tai Chi, Chi Neng and Qi Gong. Goal Oriented MeditationThis class includes almost limitless variations. With goal oriented meditation, you may spend your quiet time with visualization techniques and focusing on a particular goal or outcome that you are pursuing. You could visualize the healing of a sickness, being a lot more understanding with every person you encounter, raising your self esteem as well as resolving a particular problem in your life. When you decide on a broad classification that you feel might benefit you, then you could dig down within that class to uncover what specific branch you wish to attempt. The true secret to success lies in employing a regular schedule for your meditation and utilizing patience to get more comfortable with your meditations. After trying one kind for a bit, and you do not sense your are achieving the benefits you expected then do not be hesitant ! to attem pt another type. About the AuthorAnd finally, you can learn more about meditation techniques at www.meditationdownloadhq.com. Meditation Download Headquarters is a site dedicated to exploring techniques and tools that can enhance meditation so go learn more about utilizing a meditation download today! Yoga Shakti - Yoga Exercises - Murcha Pranayam - Meditation - Stress Relief 
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| Science's "nothing" different from religion's "nothing" Posted: 16 Feb 2012 09:00 PM PST You'd think that if secular scientists and religious true believers could agree on anything, it'd be the nature of nothing. After all, isn't nothing, well, nothing? Zero. Zilch. Nada. Absence. Void. But, no, here too science and religion are butting heads. Scientific nothing is quite different from religious nothing. And while I used to be more on religion's side when I thought about what nothing meant in the Big Question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?", now I strongly lean toward the headbutt (or to the faithful, butthead) of science. Physicist/cosmologist Lawrence Krauss does a great job laying out the debate in his new book, "A Universe from Nothing." Subtitle is the aforementioned Big Question. If you don't want to read his engrossing 191 pages, Krauss talks on You Tube for about an hour on this subject. (The video has gotten over 1,140,000 views. Good to know that a talking dog and Kate Upton aren't the only ones getting lots of hits on You Tube.) Here's how Krauss lays out the controversy in the preface to his book. Before going further, I want to devote a few words to the notion of "nothing" -- a topic that I will return to at some length later. For I have learned that, when discussing this question in public forums, nothing upsets the philosophers and theologians who disagree with me more than the notion that I, as a scientist, do not truly understand "nothing." (I am tempted to retort here that theologians are experts at nothing.) "Nothing," they insist, is not any of the things I discuss. Nothing is "nonbeing," in some vague and ill-defined sense. This reminds me of my own efforts to define "intelligent design" when I first began debating with creationists, of which, it became clear, there is no clear definition, except to say what it isn't. "Intelligent design" is simply a unifying umbrella for opposing evolution. Similarly, some philosophers and many theologians define and redefine "nothing" as not being any of the versions of nothing that scientists currently describe. But therein, in my opinion, lies the intellectual bankruptcy of much of theology and some of modern philosophy. For surely "nothing" is every bit as physical as "something." It then behooves us to understand precisely the physical nature of both these quantities. And without science, any definition is just words. A century ago, had one described "nothing" as referring to purely empty space, possessing no real material entity, this might have received little argument. But the results of the past century have taught us that empty space is in fact far from the inviolate nothingness that we presupposed before we learned more about how nature works. Now, I am told by religious critics that I cannot refer to empty space as "nothing," but rather as a "quantum vacuum," to distinguish it from the philosopher's or theologian's idealized "nothing." ... And we're told that the escape from the "real" nothing requires divinity, with "nothing" thus defined by fiat to be "that from which only God can create something." Brilliant and cogent analysis. Krauss has nailed the Big Question about the Big Question: When we ask, why is there something rather than nothing?, it's important to make clear what the "nothing" is we're contrasting "something" with. For many years prior to my churchless conversion, a.k.a. enlightenment, I thought of "nothing" in the idealized way Krauss criticizes above. Meaning, my "nothing" was an abstract quasi-philosophical, quasi-theological conception that didn't relate to anything observable or experienceable. After all, how could it? My "nothing" was the absence of "something." So much so, there wasn't even the potential for any existence in my notion of non-existence. Yet strangely (looking back), my "nothing" had some sort of presence to it. Otherwise, how could I conceive of it? It was like I was some sort of Godlike being looking upon existence from a transcendent realm, contemplating two cosmic possibilities: one where "nothing" prevailed eternally; another where the "something" we are aware of is existent. I'd wonder why there's something rather than nothing. It just seemed so mysterious, so awesome, so marvelous, that instead of nothing, there was something, and I'm a part of it! My mistake, as Lawrence Krauss points out, was in assuming that nothing and something are both realistic possibilities. Actually, there's no such thing as nothing, in the sense of nonbeing. Material existence is what there is. The opposite of reality isn't nothing, nonbeing, or nonexistence. Such is a theological or philosophical idea, an abstraction, present only in the human brain/imagination. Religions, particularly of the Western monotheisitic variety, adore the idea of creatio ex nihilo, "creation out of nothing." But that's all it is: an idea. There's no evidence of the absolute "nothing" so loved by the religionists who take issue with Krauss's scientific view of a quantum nothing that creates universes instead of God. The quantum nothingness of empty space is filled with energy, potential, possibility. So the everlasting God of religion, which is nowhere to be observed, is replaced by the everlasting quantum nothing which has been proven to exist even in seemingly absolutely empty spacetime. As Krauss says, religious true believers argue with this scientific godless understanding of the cosmos. "But the quantum vacuum isn't really nothing," they say. "It is governed by the laws of nature." Well, who says that reality has to conform with how God-crazy humans want things to be? Reality is what it is. Nothing isn't really nothing. Deal with it, religionists. Khun Sa - Opium Warlord of the World 
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Janet Steffenhagen, Vancouver Sun: One of my fondest memories from a recent visit to Seymour elementary in Vancouver was joining the students in Carrie Gelson's Grade 2 class in morning meditation.
Gordon Hoekstra, PostMedia News: Simple meditation techniques, backed up with modern scientific knowledge of the brain, are helping kids hard-wire themselves to be able to better pay attention and become kinder, says neuroscientist Richard Davidson.
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