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10 Ways to Reduce Commuting Stress
Do you get out of your car with a queasy stomach, a headache and your blood pressure registering through the roof? If you do, that energy vulture called stress may have sent your pulse skyrocketing. In a study conducted at the University of...
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"Heat Up" New Year Weight Loss With An Ir Bodywrap
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How To Cut Down On College Stress
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Its Ok to Be Happy Again
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A Look at Meditation
I've counseled many people from every background and led
workshops and lectures about self-empowering topics for
about 25 years. Over that time, I saw a need. Everyone was
searching. What they were looking for was unclear, many
times. But the search was on. While I could meet many of
their immediate needs, through counseling, they still needed
a source, or connection with who they really were.
This was not a religious pursuit, per se, but a spiritual
one. We all need to know our inner self. And the best way
for us to get there is through meditation: a quiet time of
some sort---contemplation. So out of that need, I saw an
answer. Spreading information about basic meditation became
my mission.
Almost all of the information I received about meditation
over the years was through personal experience—trial and
error. I did not read any books on the subject. They all
seemed too deep and philosophical. And many times, the books included a whole cultural exploration. This is good for
someone looking into historical information, or perhaps a
religious belief. But just to know the basics of what
meditation is and how to do it, there wasn't anything.
I've been able to connect very well with the groups I've
spoken to because I've been in their shoes. I had first hand
experience looking for my own inner self. And so, the column
you see here will explore for you, the personal experiences
of the proverbial searcher.
I had just graduated from high school, and was looking for
some kind of personal project for the summer. Since I lived
in a very small town, and it was in the 1960's, I was very
surprised to find a yoga class being offered at the nearby
middle school. I was always open for the new and different,
and this fit the bill.
I joined the class as soon as I could and found myself in
some very strange positions. But there was one position that
I kept going back to. It was sitting cross-legged with my
hands resting on my knees, palms up. It immediately made me
sit straight, and my spine was relaxed.
While practicing this position at home, a strange thing
happened. I began to feel unusual. There wasn't any way I
could describe it. But it was a kind of light-headed
feeling---almost like dropping off to sleep—--but I was
awake.
I asked the instructor about it on the very next session.
She assured me it was fine. But I had my reservations. So I
stopped. I didn't go back to the class. And I didn't
continue with the yoga practice.
I found out much later that I was beginning meditation.
The
instructor must have been concerned about giving too much
information about yoga philosophy and the spiritual
traditions of Eastern India.
Our community was extremely slow about accepting new ideas. She was probably reluctant to introduce something new that could cause problems. So the yoga positions were only taught as an exercise.
I imagine many new or different ideas were stifled in the
beginning. Some hesitate to share information for fear of
being rejected or ostracized. And some of us hesitate to
look at new information because we're afraid of rocking the
boat.
As you explore the concept of meditation, you will learn
about the varied benefits that can be brought about by
meditation, including health, emotional release, and self-
empowerment. You will realize that meditation is about ease.
Moving one step at a time.
The Purpose of Meditation
Meditation is a way to connect with the inner self, or what
some believe is the Divine Spark of God that we all are. It
is to become quiet: to allow all outside disturbances to
fade away, to be comfortable with the quiet. That quiet, or
silence, which is allowed in, can calm the mind, restore the
body, and define a spiritual path.
Let's take this opportunity to try a sample meditation on for size. Remember that this is a sample. It gives us the chance to practice. And in practicing, we learn.
Bringing In A Quiet Moment
Take a moment out of your busy day. Go for a five-minute
walk by yourself. Pay attention to the sound of your
footsteps. Let it become even with your heartbeat. When this
rhythm within you overrides the sounds of the day, take a
deep cleansing breath. Look at the sky. Watch the clouds.
Just enjoy the moment. This is the skill of meditation. It
is nothing harder than that: just taking a moment, and
relaxing into it. Allow your mind to relax into it.
This is just a very quick way for everyone to get some idea
of what meditation is like. There are plenty of different
types of meditations, as many as there are people. It
requires a few undisturbed minutes, dedication and a desire.
It will open up a whole new world for you. Just give it a
try.
Copyright 2003, Melissa Leath
About the Author
Rev. Melissa Leath is a personal growth and metaphysical counselor and meditation instructor. She is author of "Meditation, Plain and Simple Workbook," and "The Go-Between: Bridging the Gap." For more information about the ease of meditation visit her website: http://www.MeditationMadeEasy.com For a FREE Spiritual Newsletter go to http://www.123-spiritual-growth.com
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| Learning Meditation Home Page |
| Introduction to the basics of meditation and the reduction of stress. |
| www.learningmeditation.com |
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| Meditation Room |
| Choose freely and feel free to perform more than one meditation. ... Allow some time for your meditation. These meditations last from 3 - 10 minutes. ... |
| www.learningmeditation.com |
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| Meditation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| An introduction to different traditions, forms, techniques, and benefits. Includes links to other resources. |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| World Wide Online Meditation Center |
| Contains colorful, clear, concise meditation instruction on a variety of meditation methods from various spiritual teachings, plus tranquil meditation tapes ... |
| www.meditationcenter.com |
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| The Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program - Official website. How ... |
| Meditation validated by over 600 scientific studies. The best meditation against stress. Online video! Personal instruction and lifetime follow-up. |
| www.tm.org |
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| Vipassana Meditation Website |
| Homepage of the organization which offers Vipassana Meditation courses as taught by SN Goenka. |
| www.dhamma.org |
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| Welcome to Meditation Mount |
| Meditation training programs and group meditation as a service to humanity. Worldwide organization based in Ojai, California. |
| www.meditation.com |
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| Guided meditations on mindfulness, peace, the 23rd Psalm, the way ... |
| Come into the present moment with this 10-minute mindfulness meditation narrated by ... Experience a flow of positive energy with this meditation on peace ... |
| www.beliefnet.com |
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| Meditation Station Presented By The Meditation Society Of America |
| Meditation Society of America's web site. Dedicated to sharing meditation techniques and concepts from all traditions. |
| www.meditationsociety.com |
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| Wildmind | Learn Meditation Online |
| Wildmind provides a complete guide to simple meditation techniques. |
| www.wildmind.org |
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| Meditation |
| An article By Dr Tom J. Chalko explaining the process and stressing the need for a spiritual teacher. |
| www.thiaoouba.com |
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| Free Learn to Meditate, online meditation - Meditation Australia. |
| Details of activities, events, and classes in Wollongong University, Australia. Also offer a free online Meditation course. |
| meditation.org.au |
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| Meditation, Home, what is meditation, types of meditation ... |
| Meditation Meditation is an alternative therapy. It can be broadly classified under the mind-body medicine. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation ... |
| 1stholistic.com |
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| Sivananda Yoga - Meditation |
| Introduction to the Official Web site of the Internationa Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Lots of information on Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, ... |
| www.sivananda.org |
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| Stress Reducers: Articles index |
| yellow arrow button, Choose a Virtual Meditation Slide Show for Your ... yellow arrow button, Meditation and Relaxation: 20 Minutes A Day Can Make A ... |
| www.selfhelpmagazine.com |
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| Zen Mountain Monastery: Zen Meditation Instructions |
| Detailed instructions from Zen Mountain Monastery on how to practice Zen meditation. |
| www.mro.org |
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| Meditation and concentration |
| meditation concentration ability. ... Online fire meditation use it and develop concentration ability; Online flash meditation look at the screen and ajust ... |
| www.ababasoft.com |
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| Siddha Yoga path - Gurumayi - Swami Muktananda founder |
| Under the guidance and teachings of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Siddha Yoga meditation students embrace the spiritual practices of yoga. |
| www.siddhayoga.org |
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| Meditation Handbook |
| Survey of seven meditation techniques for beginners. |
| home.att.net |
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| Healing Music|Meditation Music|Self Help products |
| Healing Products offers healing music for your Mind, Body & Soul at low prices. Use sound and music to heal and relax. |
| www.healingproducts.com |
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