tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31605050586564730882024-10-02T13:00:50.849-07:00Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-88005178837211405192012-05-07T13:48:00.000-07:002012-05-07T13:48:00.319-07:00 <P>Congressman <STRONG>Tim Ryan</STRONG> has written a new book about <STRONG>Mindfulness Mediation Techniques</STRONG>.  </P><P>It’s titled.  A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit.</P><P>Tim Ryan knows that mindfulness meditation techniques are gaining acceptance in many areas:   </P>scientists are studying mindfulness; teachers are using it in schools; health care practitioners are implementing it in our health care system; our military is using it to treat veterans and build mental resilience. <P>Here’s an excerpt from an interview Congressman Ryan did with The Huffington Post</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="19"><P><STRONG><IMG title=Tim-Ryan-Mindfulness-Meditation-Techniques border=0 alt=Tim-Ryan-Mindfulness-Meditation-Techniques align=left src="/Tim-Ryan-Mindfulness-Meditation-Techniquesthumb.jpg" width=163 height=243>Q: Because of mindfulness’ Buddhist roots, a lot of people think it’s a religious practice. How does your meditation relate to your Catholic faith?</STRONG></P><P>A: If you love your neighbor and are compassionate, are you automatically a Christian? Practicing present-moment awareness does not entail joining any religion or accepting any belief system. As a Catholic, I find mindfulness helps me participate in my religion more wholeheartedly. If you are praying the rosary, participating in the rituals at Mass or listening to the priest preach, you will actually be paying attention! Whatever your religion is, it can enhance the experience of participating in that religion. What’s more beautiful than that?</P><P><STRONG>Q: There do seem to be some Buddhist concepts in your book, such as the interconnectedness of all beings. Has meditation made you more interested in Buddhist philosophy?</STRONG></P><P>A: I love studying different religions. For me, learning and drawing from the different religious traditions is essential to being a good public servant. And the connections between our various religious traditions become our public ethic; they tie us together.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Just click on the image below to read more at Amazon</P>“Tim Ryan’s <B>A Mindful Nation </B>reminds us that the concept of ‘mindfulness’ is central to each of us becoming more whole, and becoming more whole increases the possibility that our nation can become a more whole and perfect Union.”</P><B>— Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.</B></P>“Tim Ryan takes a big challenge in writing <B>A Mindful Nation</B>. He challenges the nation to take up meditation in their daily lives and tells us ‘why/how’ it works. I know this territory and wish him and us Godspeed.”</P><B>— Phil Jackson,</B> former Coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, winner of 11 NBA Titles, author of Sacred Hoops</P>“<B>A Mindful Nation</B> has the potential to change our country—and the world—one person at a time.”</P><B>— Deepak Chopra,</B> author, War of the Worldviews</P>“Inspiring! An important book. If more politicians can follow in Congressman Ryan’s lead and look to harness the power of mindfulness, then the future of this country will be bright.”</P><B>— Russell Simmons,</B> CEO, Rush Communications</P>“Tim Ryan shows how the simple practice of mindfulness can make us happier, more productive, and more compassionate. An unexpected and welcome book, I highly commend it to all who are searching for a deeper life and a better society.”</P><B>— Rev. Jim Wallis,</B> President of Sojourners, author of God’s Politics</P>“Congressman Ryan offers us a beautifully written, practical, and comprehensive view of the far-reaching effects of mindfulness in civil society. This book brings the entire field of exploring mindfulness forward.”</P><B>— Sharon Salzberg,</B> author of Real Happiness</P><P>Congressman <STRONG>Tim Ryan</STRONG> has presented a really great book about <STRONG>mindfulness meditation techniques.</STRONG></P><P><STRONG>I recommend you check it out by clicking the link below.</STRONG></P><P>A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit<IMG border=0 alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=meditattech08-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1401939295" width=1 height=1></P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4259/tim-ryan-mindfulness-meditation-techniques/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tim-ryan-mindfulness-meditation-techniques" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-43117497357809440542012-05-07T10:43:00.000-07:002012-05-07T10:43:00.815-07:00 <P><STRONG>Meditation techniques to relieve insomnia</STRONG> are gaining attention and approval from the medical profession.</P><P>That’s good.</P><P>Those of us who meditation regularly, know that treating sleeplessness and sleep problems with meditation can be highly effective.</P><P>Meditation does not cure insomnia overnight.  You have to learn and practice, but when you meditate regularly with the intention of sleeping better, you should start to notice small improvements within a week, and be sleeping much more soundly in a month or so.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="40"><P><IMG class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4279" title=meditation-techniques-to-relieve-insomnia alt="meditation techniques to relieve insomnia" src="/meditation-techniques-to-relieve-insomnia.jpg" width=179 height=164>How meditation works for those of us who have insomnia is that it helps to stop the thinking that can prolong the episode of sleeplessness by allowing the mind to settle. It also can help to reduce the anxiety associated with losing sleep. I’ve heard other insomnia sufferers say that the worry about sleeplessness can be as bad as the actual event of not sleeping.</P><P>How do we begin, then, to work with the mind that can either prevent us from falling asleep in the first place, or awaken us once we’ve settled down into a nice and cozy night’s rest?</P><P>While that may seem obvious, it’s amazing how many of us don’t think about fixing the broken sink until it’s really broken, or going to the doctor until our symptoms are out of control. In the same way, if we wait until we’re bug-eyed awake during the middle of the night, trying to practice at that point might be ineffective at best. <STRONG>So, begin practicing meditation during your waking hours</STRONG>. You may even find that if you’re tired enough, you’ll get drowsy while practicing. If this occurs, go lie down and take a nap.</P><P>As we become familiar with meditation practice, it’s important to apply our practice to as many different situations as possible, sharpening our ability to practice under less than perfect circumstances. So, <STRONG>we practice under all circumstances,</STRONG> getting used to working with our mind informally.</P><P>After you’ve settled down, begin your meditation practice and continue until you fall asleep. If you haven’t fallen asleep after 30 minutes, get out of bed, and do whatever it is that you do when you can’t sleep, for example read a book, watch TV, have some hot milk. Then, when you come back to bed, begin your practice again.</P><P>If you wake up in the middle of the night, like I do, begin meditation practice immediately. Sometimes this can result in your falling asleep almost immediately. But if this doesn’t happen, then do what you did at bedtime; practice meditating until you fall asleep or until 30 minutes have passed.  Original article here.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE readability="14"><P><STRONG>Yoga</STRONG> is a gentle exercise that focuses on the use of meditation and position of the body. There are some relaxing stretches that can be done in bed that can help in easing insomnia.</P><STRONG>Happy baby pose:</STRONG> While lying on the back, bring the knees up to the chest. Grasp the outsides of flexed feet with the hands and pull the knees out toward the armpits. This releases the hips and low back. It leaves the body looser and more relaxed.<STRONG>Goddess pose:</STRONG> Sit with the knees bent and open to the sides toward the floor. The soles of the feet touch. Lie back on the floor, keeping the soles of the feet together and place the arms at the sides of the body. This opens the groin and relaxes the inner leg where tension is held.<STRONG>Corpse pose:</STRONG> Lie on the back, allowing the arms and legs to naturally roll outward. Relax the entire body become aware of your natural breath. This relaxes the entire body one part at a time, moving from the toes all the way to the head.<P>is a technique that focuses on repeating a mantra or chosen word. This can be done either in bed or out of bed. It releases the mind from stress, allowing the body to relax.</P>Find a focal point for the meditation, a word or phrase of your choice that can be said over and over in the mind and creates calm rather than stress.When the mind wanders, bring it firmly but gently back to the focal point.<P><STRONG></STRONG> is focusing on something that is relaxing and calming. Some people find that thinking about sitting beside a stream or under a tree on a mountain are pleasant things to visualize. This supports a feeling of calm and relaxes the body and mind.</P>Think of something that is relaxing and calming.Concentrate on feeling the coolness of a soft breeze or smelling the fragrance of a favorite flower or remembering something soothing from childhood.<P>is another form of meditation that can help a person sleep. It combines meditation with relaxation and hypnosis. It is a technique that follows a guided meditation to a state of relaxation.</P><P>This requires either a guided imagery therapist or a recording to direct the meditation.</P>This technique can be done while lying in bed or while seated. It should be done in a quiet room where focus and concentration can be achieved.A meditation teacher that specializes in guided imagery, or a CD player with a guided imagery recording, will guide the person through relaxation exercises and visualization.<BR>original article here </BLOCKQUOTE><P>We have a lot more to say about <STRONG>meditation techniques to relieve insomni</STRONG>a.  If you have trouble sleeping, and would like to learn how meditation can help you get to sleep,<STRONG> please leave a comment below</STRONG></EM>.</P><P>We will contact you with additional articles, and maybe even a free guided meditation for insomnia.</P><P>Also, <STRONG>please click the like button below</STRONG>.  This helps get the word out about how meditation helps.</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4276/meditation-techniques-to-relieve-insomnia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meditation-techniques-to-relieve-insomnia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-9993527784853751712012-05-07T06:18:00.000-07:002012-05-07T06:18:00.131-07:00 When you think of <STRONG>Sedona Meditation Techniques</STRONG>, does your mind think of those amazing red rocks?</P>Many people do. Hollywood has been making movies with the red rocks of Sedona since the silent movie era, because of the natural beauty of the place.</P>In more recent times, Sedona has become known as an energy vortex where connection with spirituality and The Divine is a little easier.</P>That’s why I was completely delighted to discover that Sarah Mclean has a new book out.</P>Check out the video below</P><STRONG>Here’s what people are saying about this great new book</STRONG></P>“<STRONG>Soul-Centered is entertaining, informative, and inspiring for even the most experienced meditator.”</STRONG></P><STRONG>- Deepak Chopra, Author,</STRONG></P><STRONG>“Sarah McLean weaves an inspiring exploration on the essentials of meditation, giving the first-time meditator all the tools they will ever need to explore the potential of their own awareness.”</STRONG></P><STRONG>- Debbie Ford, </STRONG></P><STRONG>NY Times bestselling Author of </STRONG></P><STRONG>The Dark Side of the Light Chasers</STRONG></P><STRONG>“Sarah moves us from our mundane lives to the depth offered by our souls. She’s a genuine teacher and a meditation goddess.”</STRONG></P><STRONG>- Colette Baron-Reid, </STRONG></P><STRONG>Intuitive Counselor and Life strategist, </STRONG></P><STRONG>author of #1 bestseller- </STRONG></P><STRONG>The Map- Finding the Magic and Meaning</STRONG></P><STRONG>in the Story of Your Life</STRONG></P><STRONG>“Basically, meditation is pretty simple; but for most of us, it’s not easy. Sarah McLean’s vast experience and loving approach to meditation and teaching, makes Simple… Easy.”</STRONG></P><STRONG>– Lindsay Wagner, </STRONG></P><STRONG>Actress, Author, Advocate</STRONG></P>Learn more about this wonderful book at Amazon.com</P>http://amzn.to/Imb3MJ</P><IMG alt="" src="/wpid-640px-SunsetRedRocksAZ-public-domain.jpg"></P><P>Source</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4253/sedona-meditation-techniques-sarah-mclean/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sedona-meditation-techniques-sarah-mclean" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-39045083843536027302012-05-07T01:40:00.000-07:002012-05-07T01:40:00.502-07:00 <P>Are you looking for a <STRONG>guided meditation course for beginners</STRONG>?</P><P>Here are some wonderful meditation tips from our friends at Zen Habits.  These tips are guaranteed to make any meditation course for beginners a little easier.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="37"><P><IMG class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4229" title=guided-meditation-course-for-beginners alt="Guided meditation Course For Beginners" src="/guided-meditation-course-for-beginners.jpg" width=300 height=199>Here are some tips that will make your guided meditation course for beginners a little more simple and easy.</P><P>…Practical recommendations to help beginners get past the initial hurdles and integrate meditation over the long term:</P><P><STRONG>1) Make it a formal practice</STRONG>. You will only get to the next level in meditation by setting aside specific time (preferably two times a day) to be still.</P><P><STRONG>2) Start with the breath</STRONG>. Breathing deep slows the heart rate, relaxes the muscles, focuses the mind and is an ideal way to begin practice.</P><P><STRONG>3) Stretch first</STRONG>. Stretching loosens the muscles and tendons allowing you to sit (or lie) more comfortably. Additionally, stretching starts the process of “going inward” and brings added attention to the body.</P><P><STRONG>4) Meditate with Purpose</STRONG>. Beginners must understand that meditation is an ACTIVE process. The art of focusing your attention to a single point is hard work, and you have to be purposefully engaged!</P><P><STRONG>5) Notice frustration creep up on you</STRONG>. This is very common for beginners as we think “hey, what am I doing here” or “why can’t I just quiet my damn mind already”. When this happens, really focus in on your breath and let the frustrated feelings go.</P><P><STRONG>6) Experiment</STRONG>. Although many of us think of effective meditation as a Yogi sitting cross-legged beneath a Bonzi tree, beginners should be more experimental and try different types of meditation. Try sitting, lying, eyes open, eyes closed, etc.</P><P><STRONG>7) Feel your body parts</STRONG>. A great practice for beginning meditators is to take notice of the body when a meditative state starts to take hold. Once the mind quiets, put all your attention to the feet and then slowly move your way up the body (include your internal organs). This is very healthy and an indicator that you are on the right path.</P><P><STRONG><IMG class=wp-smiley alt=8) src="/iconcool.gif"> Pick a specific room in your home to meditate</STRONG>. Make sure it is not the same room where you do work, exercise, or sleep. Place candles and other spiritual paraphernalia in the room to help you feel at ease.  Read the original story here.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Dr. Kilstein has created a fine <STRONG>Guided Meditation Course For Beginner</STRONG>s.</P><P>You can read all about it here.  Just click the link below.</P><P>http://meditationtechniques.co/10-minutes-to-bliss/</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4207/guided-meditation-course-for-beginners/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guided-meditation-course-for-beginners" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-5794097447092049612012-05-06T21:08:00.000-07:002012-05-06T21:08:00.400-07:00 “Just because you are blind, and unable to see my beauty doesn’t mean it does not exist.”</P>? Margaret Cho</P>Margaret Cho is a bold comedian.</P>She is also a meditator. On her blog recently, we got a taste of <STRONG>Margaret Cho meditation techniques</STRONG> for when you just can’t seem to focus your mind.</P>I am sure you have had many times when you wanted to meditate, but it just doesn’t happen. Here’s what Margaret Cho says …<IMG alt="" src="/wpid-MargaretCho2009-Photo-by-Derek-and-Margaret-Cho.jpg"></P>Note- image of Margaret Cho by Derek & Margaret Cho, used with permission.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="13"><P>Sometimes I just can’t make myself do anything. And then I just sit here, feeling bad about it, my inactivity, my sloth. I guess then I am actually active, because I am sitting here, and I am feeling bad, so that is two things I am doing at once. The problem is I feel guilty. There’s a badness that I associate with inactivity, as if time cost something and I have to pay for it in sweat or at least movement or at the very least, shopping.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>Now, just sitting and staring would not be considered “real” meditation in most traditions.</P>But when you think about it, just sitting and staring might be much better for you than watching television….or any one of the things we do each day.</P>Is the “<STRONG>Margaret Cho meditation technique</STRONG>” of just sitting and staring and putting your mind in neutral something you would legitimately call meditation?</P>Please let us know in the comment area below,</P>and most especially, please click the LIKE button to spread the message of meditation with your friends on Facebook.</P><P>Source</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4244/margaret-cho-meditation-techniques/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=margaret-cho-meditation-techniques" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-31656211748910654322012-05-06T18:07:00.000-07:002012-05-06T18:07:00.652-07:00 As part of my work here at Meditation Techniques, I am always on the lookout for a good<B> meditation forum. Australia</B> has a lot of meditation groups and teachers, so I was pleased to find this new meditation forum just getting started in Australia.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="13" ALIGN="left">7 <B>Meditations</B> is a discussion forum share and learn one’s experiences and knowledge with people around the world with similar interests. It allows the user to discuss <B>meditation</B> as well as provides video for you to browse and share your <B>meditation</B> <B>…</B></P>Link to website - http://7meditations.com</P>I registered there, and will check it out every once in a while.</P>Please click the LIKE button below… every little bit helps to spread the message of meditation</P><IMG src="/wpid-meditation-techniques-for-self-confidence.jpg"></P><P>Source</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4248/meditation-forum-australia-this-new-forum-looks-wonderful/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meditation-forum-australia-this-new-forum-looks-wonderful" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-38469682877962944072012-05-06T13:34:00.000-07:002012-05-06T13:34:00.300-07:00 <P>Are you looking for a <STRONG>low priced mudra yoga</STRONG> course?</P><P>A mudr? ) is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism<BR>While some mudr?s involve the entire body, most are performed with the<BR>hands and fingers. A mudr? is a spiritual gesture and an energetic<BR>seal of authenticity employed in theiconography and spiritual practice<BR>of Indian religions and traditions of Dharma and Taoism.</P><P>One hundred and eight mudras are used in regular Tantric rituals.</P><P>In yoga, mudr?s are used in conjunction with pranayama (yogic<BR>breathing exercises), generally while seated in Padmasana, Sukhasana<BR>or Vajrasana pose, to stimulate different parts of the body involved<BR>with breathing and to affect the flow of prana in the body.</P><P><BR>There is only one thing better than a really <STRONG>low priced mudra yoga</STRONG><BR><STRONG>cours</STRONG>e, and that is a FREE mudra yoga course.</P><P>Dr Harlan Kilstein has<BR>created a free email course on mudra Yoga and you can sign up for free<BR>at http://www.fingerhealing.com/</P><P>Click here to sign up http://www.fingerhealing.com/</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4215/low-priced-mudra-yoga-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=low-priced-mudra-yoga-video" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-35319594791447028592012-05-06T09:58:00.000-07:002012-05-06T09:58:00.572-07:00 Today we are going to look at<B> Meditation: How To Reduce Stress</B>.</P>Meditation will help you to relieve stress, anxiety and worry by training your mind. Some of the most well known methods of using meditation to decrease anxious thoughts are</P>mindfulness meditationTranscendental Meditationmantra meditationguided meditationMeditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.</P>Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being. </P>Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and can even improve certain medical conditions.</P>Meditation and emotional well-being</P>When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.</P>The emotional benefits of meditation include:</P>Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations</P>Building skills to manage your stress</P>Increasing self-awareness</P>Focusing on the present</P>Reducing negative emotions Original story at Mayo Clinic</P><IMG src="/wpid-cartoonmeditation.jpg"></P><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4272/meditation-how-to-reduce-stress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meditation-how-to-reduce-stress" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-61191666459480626612012-05-06T06:23:00.000-07:002012-05-06T06:23:00.614-07:00 Today we are going to look at Meditation: How To Reduce Stress.</P>Meditation will help you to relieve stress, anxiety and worry by training your mind. Some of the most well known methods of using meditation to decrease anxious thoughts are</P>mindfulness meditation</P>Transcendental Meditation</P>mantra meditation</P>guided meditation</P><BLOCKQUOTE ALIGN="left">Understanding meditation</BLOCKQUOTE>Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.</P>Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being. </P>Benefits of meditation</P>Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and can even improve certain medical conditions.</P>Meditation and emotional well-being</P>When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.</P>The emotional benefits of meditation include:</P>Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations</P>Building skills to manage your stress</P>Increasing self-awareness</P>Focusing on the present</P>Reducing negative emotions Original story at Mayo Clinic</P>?</P><BLOCKQUOTE ALIGN="left">To create relaxation and peace of mind</BLOCKQUOTE>Imagine a peaceful place where you feel completely safe and secure. Imagine you are there now and use all your 5 senses to make this visualization vivid in your mind. You will feel calm and secure and even happy if the place you choose makes you happy. This technique enables you to recreate an earlier experience whenever you want for stress relief.</P>Feel an emotion vividly to create more powerful and positive inner states</P>Think of something that makes you smile. Feel that smile spread through our body filling you with your smile. Imagine how you look with a big smile on your face and how you would stand, sit and feel. You can do this with any positive emotion. For example think of situations, people or things that make you feel love or joy and spread it through your body. </P><BLOCKQUOTE ALIGN="left"></BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE ALIGN="left">Reprogramming your response to stressful situations</BLOCKQUOTE>This technique brings together the lessons of positive thinking and the meditation for relaxation to make it easier to change your behavior. This technique will work as a simple positive thinking exercise and you can combine it with the meditation practice to make it a powerful self-hypnosis technique. </P>First – choose a stressful situation that you want to change. I.e. something that you wish you would react to differently or handle with more calm and confidence.</P>Second – Imagine/Visualize the way you want to act and behave in great detail. If you want to feel calm, alert and confident then imagine how your would act in a previously stressful situation where you now have the ability to remain calm and confident.</P>Third – Step into the scene you have created. Imagine you are actually in this situation you have created. Feel the calmness and confidence you would feel in this visualization of how you would like to behave and act.</P>I hope this article gave you some great ideas on </P>Meditation – How To Reduce Stress ? </P>http://meditationtechniques.co/-how-to-reduce-stress/</P>We are building the best collection of Meditation Techniques For Every Challenge</P>at www.MeditationTechniques.co</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4274/meditation-techniques-for-quick-stress-reduction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meditation-techniques-for-quick-stress-reduction" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-74579871665418730182012-05-06T02:13:00.000-07:002012-05-06T02:13:00.590-07:00 <P>Lots of people are looking for the the<STRONG> best price meditation course</STRONG> these days.</P><P>Taking a meditation course is becoming more and more accepted:</P>teachers are learning and teaching meditation to deal with stress scientists are studying meditation to uncover hidden health benefitsour military is using mindfulness meditation courses to deal with PTSDmany doctors are using low cost meditation courses to improve our health care system<P>In the excerpt below, we see how physicians at McGill University are using an affordable meditation course that teaches doctors some valuable coping skills.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="20"><IMG class="size-medium wp-image-4265" title=stk156643rke alt="best price meditation course" src="/best-price-meditation-course-300x300.jpg" width=300 height=300> Learn more about Dr. Kilstein's low cost meditation course by clicking the image above</P><P>It’s not easy to work with critically ill children and stressed-out parents. Doctors who work in pediatric-palliative care do it every day. Conversations with parents are often tense; frustrations can boil over – on both sides.</P><P>Pediatrician Stephen Liben knew he needed to figure out how to cope better with the stress. The director of pediatric-palliative care at the Montreal Children’s Hospital was finding himself angry or defensive in heated moments with parents.</P><P>A calm doctor is a better doctor. He knew he could do better as a physician.</P><P>So he decided – reluctantly – to try mindfulness meditation.</P><P>McGill University offers such a program for healthcare professionals, and colleagues had spoken highly of it. Liben was skeptical, but willing.</P><P>“If you’re finding yourself reacting out of anger or frustration and it has brought neither you nor others around you any happiness or understanding, you start asking yourself: Is there any other way to be in the world other than this reactive way?” Liben said.</P><P>Read the original article here</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>McGill University has discovered that the doctors get so much benefit from learning meditation that they are now providing a mindfulness meditation course as a 4th year elective for medical students.</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="15"><P>Patricia Dobkin, a clinical psychologist tenured in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, is responsible for all mindfulnessbased meditation programs in Whole Person Care, which offers a fourth-year elective in which mindfulness is taught to medical students.</P><P>Dobkin says that one-onone contact with patients is not always the main stressor, but that interactions between colleagues and changes in the health-care system also contribute to workplace stress.</P><P>Before entering the program, physicians and students are gauged for depression or burnout. After the course, they’re tested again. The results routinely show a significant reduction in both ailments and stress in general. Dobkin says feelings of self-compassion and well-being also rise.  See original article here.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Most people looking for the<STRONG> best price meditation cours</STRONG>e won’t be able to take a meditation course from the Faculty of Medicine at McGill.</P><P>That’s why well-known meditation teacher, Dr. Harlan Kilstein created a low cost meditation course that you can try for just one dollar.  It’s called 10 Minutes To Bliss.</P><P>Learn more about this very inexpensive guided meditation course by clicking here.</P><IMG alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="/pixel.png"> <IMG alt=Share src="/sharesave17116.png" width=171 height=16><br /><p><a href="http://meditationtechniques.co/4262/best-price-meditation-course/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-price-meditation-course" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-34104431297846981262012-05-05T22:09:00.000-07:002012-05-05T22:09:00.146-07:00 <IMG alt=Fb-Button src="/facebook-ico1.jpg"> <P><EMBED height=505 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=640 src=http://www.youtube.com/v/wPf0-t8xp-g?version=3 allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED></P><P>As we get closer to 2012, the energy field of Mother Earth is changing. The energy field is lightening and quickening. As the energy vibration of the planet changes so too does the energy field of each individual person need to change. As the energy vibration grows lighter and moves faster it is like being in a tornado: all those who are able to change with the energy vibration will move towards the center of the energy vibration. The space in the center of the energy vibration is quiet and peaceful. All those who are not able to change and is heavy and dense will move to the edge of the energy vibration field and experience the intensity of the energy at the outside of the energy vibration field.</P><P>I suspect that most people would rather be in the center of the energy vibration field, where it is quiet, peaceful and calm. In order to be in the center, it is necessary to change our personal energy vibration fields that surround our body. Therefore, the question is how do we change our own energy fields to go along with the changes that are occurring in the energy vibrational fields of Mother Earth?</P><P>One way to teach our own bodies energy field to vibrate along with that of mother earth is to work with the sacred energy sites on the planet. These sacred sites hold the keys to learning how to change our energy vibration fields.</P><P>There are sacred sites all over Mother Earth. Some of them are well known. We know they were used in the distant past, because the peoples of those times left monuments at these sites that still exist today. The pyramids of Egypt, the Sphinx, the Mayan Pyramids, Stonehenge, Mesa Verde, etc., are just a few of the well-known sacred sites. These sites hold knowledge, energy vibration and information that is still accessible today.</P><P>When Mysteries School members do sacred ceremony at these sites at specific times of the year it opens their nervous systems to previously unavailable information. Just as the frequencies and intensities of solar energy affect and change the leaves on trees at specific times of the year, solar frequencies at the vernal and autumnal equinox and summer and winter solstice affect and change our nervous systems, allowing our energy vibrational fields to match those of the planet. These changes lead to greater connection with our universe, world and people on the planet, which are also vibrationally changing in this time of change. This greater connection to Cosmic Consciousness leads to greater knowing, which is a form of Intuition: knowing from feeling.</P><P>These changes in our nervous systems may initially be profound or subtle, but are always manifest. They manifest in unique ways in each individual depending on which physical and/or psychological blocks are present. As the blocks clear over time, a relationship with the greater consciousness becomes manifest for the individual. The individual begins to know beyond their current time frame or belief system. They come into Cosmic Consciousness.</P><P>These sacred sites hold information built into them in many ways. Buildings, temples and pyramids at these sites were constructed in certain patterns using sacred geometry to help activate the higher nervous system. Drawings and glyphs on pyramidal surfaces also represent sacred geometry as well as a form of record keeping. Mystery School meditation with sacred geometry can help the individual reawaken their body and nervous system to that of higher consciousness. As Hunbatz Men says, “Information is stored in stone and bone.” We can connect with that higher information in these sacred sites that hold that information.</P><P>Each site may have different guardians or spirit keepers who protect the site but also assist appropriate, respectful seekers. When asked for help they may help the individual bring information held at that site into their nervous system, which affects change and evolution.</P><P>The information available at these sites is not limited to any one group or Mystery School. It is truly ancient and beyond time. The New Age is really a return to Cosmic Consciousness. An opportunity to reconnect with that that is greater then the small Self, the separate Self, the Ego.</P><P>Wouldn’t you like to be reconnected to Cosmic Consciousness, to Cosmic Wisdom? Connecting with a Mystery School will help you make the shift in 2012.</P><P>The following emails from the Grand Maya Itza Council explain the 52 Full Moon Project. Please let us know if you are participating so we can add you to our list of places around the world where the meditations and ceremony are occurring. We are sending out emails with information each Full Moon so please sign up for the email list and keep us informed of your events so we can inform others as the Feathered Serpent of Light marches around the world!</P><P>Please share this information with everyone you know.<BR>You will be part of a Global Transformation!</P><P><STRONG>Cosmic Brothers & Sisters:</STRONG></P><P>The GRAND MAYA ITZA COUNCIL feels proud to distribute this list of sacred sites to all the Initiates and Workers of Light from all around the world. These sites must be used to do the work of returning of the Great Spirit in order to prevent our mother Earth from the unfortunate events foreseen to happen in the year 2012.</P><P>We the MAYA ITZA people are very aware of the bad news and disasters that are going to occur in the year 2012 as foreseen by many people. According to many of them, the world will come to an end due to phenomena like the ones mentioned in the Apocalypse of the Christian Bible.</P><P>We the Mayans who have not been cultured by the Western Culture do not agree with all the negative things our sacred calendars have been involved in. That is the main reason why we are distributing this list of sacred sites where we are planning to do our spiritual work.</P><P>Every Full Moon we are going to make a spiritual journey to every one of the sacred sites on the list, starting our first ceremony on November 13, 2008, and continuing that way until carrying out the last ceremony on December 28, 2012, which is the actual date when our Sister and Mother Moon is going to perform the big change on the mankind’s mentality.</P><P>In our next communication, we are going to explain you how the ancient Mayas used to make these spiritual journeys to the ancient ceremonial centers in order to activate all the sacred sites from all around the world. This will be the best to contribute to the salvation of our Mother Earth as well as the sacred human race and all the living beings.</P><P>Please pass this information onto all your contacts and acquaintances</P><P><STRONG>Cosmic Brothers & Sisters:</STRONG></P><P>I feel very grateful to our Mayan Creator Hunab K’u for having let me reincarnate to gather again with my siblings of the Maya Itza Tradition. This way, we will be able to get together as we used to do long time ago in these sacred lands where the cosmic wisdom of the Itza Light still reigns. Every Full Moon we are going to gather together in spirit at the sites of the list we previously sent to you so that our Sister Moon can remind us of the time when we stopped understanding her and the mankind got lost in the lunatic illusion we are living nowadays. This initiatic work will be done in 52 moon cycles and after we complete the whole cycle we will be able to remember our cosmic past again.</P><P>The rituals of these spiritual journeys will be held in the following way: the rituals and journeys will be held by 5 initiate people; then the sacred site where the ritual is going to be held must be selected and then 4 of the 5 people must be placed on the four cardinal directions, one on the east, another one on the west, another one on the north and the other one on the south; the fifth and last person must be lying face up with his or her head pointing to the north. The ritual is going to be held in a Full Moon night and will last a little more than an hour. The 5 initiates could be male or female and must be adults. They should also wear white clothes. When they do the ritual, their bodies and spirits must be in complete harmony.</P><P>During the ceremony, both the ritual conductors as well as the whole humankind will be asked to keep their minds clear so that our understanding ability can be illumined and we can understand the wisdom of the universal intelligence.</P><P>#of Full Moon, SACRED SITE, COUNTRY, DATE OF FULL MOON</P>ANGKOR, CAMBODIA, NOVEMBER 13, 2008ASTRAKHAN, RUSSIA, DECEMBER 12, 2008BASRA, IRAQ, JANUARY 11, 2009BLYTHE – CA, UNITED STATES, FEBRUARY 09, 2009BUNDOOMA, AUSTRALIA, MARCH 11, 2009CAHOKIA, UNITED STATES, APRIL 09, 2009CARNAC, FRANCE, MAY 09, 2009COBA, MEXICO, JUNE 07, 2009COPAN, HONDURAS, JULY 07, 2009CUNAGUA, CUBA, AUGUST 06, 2009CHACO CANYON, UNITED STATES, SEPTEMBER 04, 2009CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO, OCTOBER 04, 2009DEBRECEN, HUNGARY, NOVEMBER 02, 2009ESFAHAN, IRAN, DECEMBER 02, 2009GRAN PIRAMIDE, KEOPS, EGYPT DECEMBER 31, 2009GUAYAMA, PUERTO RICO, JANUARY 30, 2010HATOR DENDERA, EGYPT, FEBRUARY 28, 2010HELFRANTZKIRCH, GERMANY, MARCH 30, 2010IZMIR, TURKEY, APRIL, 28, 2010JIBHAFANTA, MONGOLIA, MAY 27, 2010KALACMUL, MEXICO, JUNE 26, 2010KRAPINA, CROATIA, JULY 26, 2010KURUMAN, SOUTH AFRICA, AUGUST 24, 2010LATAKIA, SYRIA, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010LHASA, TIBET, OCTOBER 23, 2010LUBAANTUN, BELIZE, NOVEMBER 21, 2010MACHU PICCHU, PERU, DECEMBER 21, 2010MALAKAL, SUDAN, JANUARY 19, 2011MAORI, NEW ZEALAND, FEBRUARY 18, 2011MEXIANA, BRAZIL, MARCH 19, 2011MIXCO VIEJO, GUATEMALA, APRIL 18, 2011MOUNDVILLE, – AL, UNITED STATES, MAY 17, 2011NAMPULA, MOZAMBIQUE, JUNE 15, 2011OLLANTAYTAMBO, PERU, JULY 15, 2011PARANA, ARGENTINA, AUGUST 13, 2011PIRAMIDES DE GUIMAR, SPAIN, SEPTEMBER 12, 2011SERPENT MOUND, UNITED STATES, OCTOBER 12, 2011SILBURY HILL, ENGLAND, NOVEMBER 10, 2011SIPAN, PERU, DECEMBER 10, 2011STONEHENGE, ENGLAND, JANUARY 09, 2012SURAKARTA, INDONESIA, FEBRUARY 07, 2012TAJ MAHAL, INDIA, MARCH 08, 2012TANGER, ALGERIA, APRIL 06, 2012TAZUMAL, EL SALVADOR, MAY 06, 2012TEOTIHUACAN, MEXICO, JUNE 04, 2012TIHUANAKU, BOLIVIA, JULY 03, 2012TIKAL, GUATEMALA, AUGUST 02, 2012TONGARIYAMA, JAPAN, AUGUST 31, 2012TUCUPITA, VENEZUELA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012UXMAL, MEXICO, OCTOBER 29, 2012VAASA, FINLAND, NOVEMBER 28, 2012VIJAYANAGAR, INDIA, DECEMBER 28, 2012<IMG alt=Fb-Button src="/facebook-ico1.jpg"> <br /><p><a href="http://www.cosmicmysteries.com/http:/www.cosmicmysteries.com/52moons" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-59704009837700909332012-05-05T17:44:00.000-07:002012-05-05T17:44:00.197-07:00 <P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17826" title="buddha and mala" alt="" src="/Fotolia112071XS-255x340.jpg" width=255 height=340>The benefits of meditation come with regular practice, and that means making it part of your life. That’s one of the great challenges of learning meditation, so here are ten tips for establishing a meditation practice.</P><P>1. Get some instruction</P><P>You can learn the techniques of meditation from books and CDs: there are some good ones around (check out our shop). But it helps a lot to learn from a real person.Take a course – or go to a class where you can ask questions about the issues. In time, it helps to have friends or even teachers who are more experienced meditators than you are.</P><P>2. Settle on a practice that suits you</P><P>On an MBSR course there are three main practices – the mindfulness of breathing, the body scan and mindful movement, and there are many others out there. It’s worth experimenting a bit and then settling on the practice, or combination of practices, that work for you.</P><P>3. Find a regular time for practice</P><P>You might start off thinking you’ll just try fitting meditation into your day somehow or other, but establishing a practice means finding a time that works for you. For many people, first thing in the morning before the day starts up is a good time; others prefer the evening. There are pros and cons with either so you’ll need to experiment.</P><P>4. Set up a meditation place</P><P>You can meditate anywhere, but if you sit down amid clutter it has an effect. So set aside a space that evokes the feeling of meditation. Some flowers, a candle or an image on a table can be enough to encourage the feeling that you’re leaving aside the usual preoccupations. It also helps to set aside the cushions or chair that need for meditation, and it’s worth thinking about getting some meditation cushions or a stool.</P><P>5. Talk to your family or housemates</P><P>To avoid people barging in or turning up the music just as you start to get settled, talk to the people you live with and let them know what you are doing. Don’t worry if they thing you’re weird: if they notice you’re calmer and happier they’ll soon change.</P><P>6. Meditate with others</P><P>It’s hard to keep anything going on your own, at least to start with. We all need encouragement and guidance. Many people find a setting where they can meditate with others: Buddhist centres, sitting groups, follow on courses.</P><P>7. Go on retreat</P><P>Retreats are a chance to get away from all the things that usually fill up our lives. They vary in length: you can find day retreats or residential retreats for a weekend or longer. Just being quiet and meditating several times a day lets everything settle down so your experience can go deeper. On an intensive retreat you don’t do much apart from meditate, but there are less demanding options as well.</P><P>8. Take your practice off the cushion</P><P>If you think of meditation as something that only happens in the formal practice time, it will be hard to maintain. So look for ways to keep the thread of mindfulness and meditation alive through the day. The Three Minute Breathing Space gives you time to stop and connect with mindfulness, and you can find many more, informal ways to do the same.</P><P>9. Reflect on your values</P><P>Most of us get enthusiastic, every so often, about a certain kind of exercise or studying a particular subject. But, looking back, we only maintain a few of these. They are the ones that touch on the values at the core of our lives. If you can make the connection between something that is a deep-seated drive like helping others or understanding the truth, or a pressing concern like not getting depressed or being more effective as a parent, then you’re much more likely to be able to sustain it.</P><P>10. Be patient … and persistent</P><P>Establishing a regular meditation practice is a long-term project. You may miss days, get discouraged or just forget about meditation for a while. The key thing is to keep going. If you force yourself to meditate when you really don’t feel like it, you’ll probably have a reaction to the whole idea; but if you wait until you do feel like it before you pick your practice up again, it may never happen. But with time,</P><P>Finally, if you have learned meditation with me, do keep in touch and come to the Practice Sessions. I’d love to hear how you are getting on. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/ten-tips-for-setting-up-a-meditation-practice" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-13408275468135445942012-05-05T13:19:00.000-07:002012-05-05T13:19:00.683-07:00 <P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17758" title="lotus flower and seedpod" alt="" src="/Fotolia24750444XS-255x338.jpg" width=255 height=338>The word “sacred” has two kinds of meanings. First, it can refer to something related to religion or spirituality. Second, more broadly, it can refer to something that one cherishes, that is precious, to which one is respectfully, even reverently, dedicated, such as honesty with one’s life partner, old growth redwoods, human rights, the light in a child’s eyes, or longings for truth and justice and peace.</P><P>Both senses of the word touch me deeply. But many people relate to just one meaning, which is fine. You can apply what I’m saying here to either or both meanings.</P><P>I think each one of us – whether theist, agnostic, or atheist – needs access to whatever it is, in one’s heart of hearts, that feels most precious and most worthy of protection. Imagine a life in which nothing was sacred to you – or to anyone else. To me, such a life would be barren and gray.</P><P>Sure, some terrible actions have been taken in the name of avowedly sacred things. But terrible actions have been taken for all kinds of other reasons as well; the notion of the sacred is not a uniquely awful source of bad behavior. And just because some people act badly in the name of something does not alter whatever is good in that something.</P><P>Opening to what’s sacred to you contains an implicit stand that there really are things that stand apart in their significance to you. What may be most sacred is the possibility of the sacred!</P><P>If you’re like me, you don’t stay continually aware of what’s most dear to you. But when you come back to it – maybe there is a reminder, perhaps at the birth of a child, or at a wedding or a funeral, or walking deep in the woods – there’s a sense of coming home, of “yes,” of knowing that this really matters and deserves my honoring and protection and care.</P><P>How?</P><P>For an overview, notice how you feel about the idea of “sacred.” Are there mixed feelings about it? How has the rise of religious fundamentalism worldwide over the past several decades – or the culture wars in general – affected your attitudes toward “sacred”? In your own life, have you been told that certain things were sacred that you no longer believe in? Do you feel you have the right to name what is sacred to you even if it is not sacred to others? Taking a little time to sort this out for yourself, maybe also by talking with others, can clear the decks so that you can know what’s sacred for you.</P><P>In this clearing, there are many ways to identify what is sacred for someone. Maybe you already know. You could also find a place or time that is particularly peaceful or meaningful – perhaps on the edge of the sea, or curled up with tea in a favorite chair, or in a church or temple – and softly raise questions in your mind like these: What’s sacred? What inspires awe? A feeling of protection? Reverence? A sense of something holy?</P><P>Different answers come to different people. And they may be wordless. For many, what’s most sacred is transcendent, numinous, and beyond language.</P><P>Whatever it is that comes to you, explore what it’s like to open to it, to receive it, to give over to it. Make it concrete: what would a conversation be like, or what would your day be like, if you did it with a sense of something that’s sacred to you?</P><P>Without stress or pressure, see if there could be a deepening commitment to this something sacred. How do you feel about making sanctuary for it, in your attention and intentions, and in how you spend your time and other resources?</P><P>Then, when you do sustain a sense of the sacred, or involve it in some way in some action, sense the results and let them sink in to you.</P><P>However it shows up for you, the sacred can be a treasure, a warmth, a mystery, a light, and a profound refuge. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/coming-home-to-the-sacred" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-52936988587603365122012-05-05T09:08:00.000-07:002012-05-05T09:08:00.298-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>Apr 25, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17745" title="brain map" alt="" src="/brainmap-255x232.jpg" width=255 height=232>Scientists have speculated that the human brain features a “God spot,” one distinct area of the brain responsible for spirituality. Now, University of Missouri researchers have completed research that indicates spirituality is a complex phenomenon, and multiple areas of the brain are responsible for the many aspects of spiritual experiences. Based on a previously published study that indicated spiritual transcendence is associated with decreased right parietal lobe functioning, MU researchers replicated their findings. In addition, the researchers determined that other aspects of spiritual functioning are related to increased activity in the frontal lobe.</P><P>“We have found a neuropsychological basis for spirituality, but it’s not isolated to one specific area of the brain,” said Brick Johnstone, professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions. “Spirituality is a much more dynamic concept that uses many parts of the brain. Certain parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work together to facilitate individuals’ spiritual experiences.”</P><P>In the most recent study, Johnstone studied 20 people with traumatic brain injuries affecting the right parietal lobe, the area of the brain situated a few inches above the right ear. He surveyed participants on characteristics of spirituality, such as how close they felt to a higher power and if they felt their lives were part of a divine plan. He found that the participants with more significant injury to their right parietal lobe showed an increased feeling of closeness to a higher power.</P><P>“Neuropsychology researchers consistently have shown that impairment on the right side of the brain decreases one’s focus on the self,” Johnstone said. “Since our research shows that people with this impairment are more spiritual, this suggests spiritual experiences are associated with a decreased focus on the self. This is consistent with many religious texts that suggest people should concentrate on the well-being of others rather than on themselves.”</P><P>Johnstone says the right side of the brain is associated with self-orientation, whereas the left side is associated with how individuals relate to others. Although Johnstone studied people with brain injury, previous studies of Buddhist meditators and Franciscan nuns with normal brain function have shown that people can learn to minimize the functioning of the right side of their brains to increase their spiritual connections during meditation and prayer.</P><P>In addition, Johnstone measured the frequency of participants’ religious practices, such as how often they attended church or listened to religious programs. He measured activity in the frontal lobe and found a correlation between increased activity in this part of the brain and increased participation in religious practices.</P><P>“This finding indicates that spiritual experiences are likely associated with different parts of the brain,” Johnstone said.</P><P>The study, “Right parietal lobe ‘selflessness’ as the neuropsychological basis of spiritual transcendence,” was published in the International Journal of the Psychology of Religion. </P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/distinct-god-spot-in-the-brain-does-not-exist-researcher-says" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-84654850223542771492012-05-05T06:02:00.000-07:002012-05-05T06:02:00.110-07:00 <P><IMG class="alignright size-large wp-image-17741" title="cracked Buddha" alt="" src="/IMG3355-510x682.jpg" width=510 height=682></P><P>Ring the bells that still can ring<BR>Forget your perfect offering<BR>There is a crack in everything<BR>That’s how the light gets in. </P><P>From “Anthem,” by Leonard Cohen.</EM> </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/there-is-a-crack-in-everything-thats-how-the-light-gets-in" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-27096345852466231572012-05-05T01:30:00.000-07:002012-05-05T01:30:00.632-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>Apr 30, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17784" title="Hands of Buddha" alt="" src="/Fotolia40204382XS-255x382.jpg" width=255 height=382>“Love thy neighbor” is preached from many a pulpit. But new research from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that the highly religious are less likely to be motivated by compassion when helping a stranger than are atheists, agnostics and less religious people.</P><P>In three experiments, social scientists found less religious people’s generosity was consistently driven by compassion. For highly religious people, however, compassion was largely unrelated to how generous they were, according to the findings which are published in the July issue of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science</EM>.</P><P>The results challenge a widespread assumption that acts of generosity and charity are largely driven by feelings of empathy and compassion, researchers said. In the study, the link between compassion and generosity was found to be stronger for those who identified as being non-religious or less religious.</P><P>“Overall, we find that for less religious people, the strength of their emotional connection to another person is critical to whether they will help that person or not,” said UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer, a co-author of the study. “The more religious, on the other hand, may ground their generosity less in emotion, and more in other factors such as doctrine, a communal identity, or reputational concerns.”</P><P>Compassion is defined in the study as an emotion felt when people see the suffering of others which then motivates them to help, often at a personal risk or cost.</P><P>While the study examined the link between religion, compassion and generosity, it did not directly examine the reasons for why highly religious people are less compelled by compassion to help others. However, researchers hypothesize that deeply religious people may be more strongly guided by a sense of moral obligation than their more non-religious counterparts.</P><P>“We hypothesized that religion would change how compassion impacts generous behavior,” said study lead author Laura Saslow, who conducted the research as a doctoral student at UC Berkeley.</P><P>Saslow, who is now a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Francisco, said she was inspired to examine this question after an altruistic, nonreligious friend lamented that he had only donated to earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti after watching an emotionally stirring video of a woman being saved from the rubble, not because of a logical understanding that help was needed.</P><P>“I was interested to find that this experience – an atheist being strongly influenced by his emotions to show generosity to strangers – was replicated in three large, systematic studies,” Saslow said.</P><P>In the first experiment, researchers analyzed data from a 2004 national survey of more than 1,300 American adults. Those who agreed with such statements as “When I see someone being taken advantage of, I feel kind of protective towards them” were also more inclined to show generosity in random acts of kindness, such as loaning out belongings and offering a seat on a crowded bus or train, researchers found.</P><P>When they looked into how much compassion motivated participants to be charitable in such ways as giving money or food to a homeless person, non-believers and those who rated low in religiosity came out ahead: “These findings indicate that although compassion is associated with pro-sociality among both less religious and more religious individuals, this relationship is particularly robust for less religious individuals,” the study found.</P><P>In the second experiment, 101 American adults watched one of two brief videos, a neutral video or a heartrending one, which showed portraits of children afflicted by poverty. Next, they were each given 10 “lab dollars” and directed to give any amount of that money to a stranger. The least religious participants appeared to be motivated by the emotionally charged video to give more of their money to a stranger.</P><P>“The compassion-inducing video had a big effect on their generosity,” Willer said. “But it did not significantly change the generosity of more religious participants.”</P><P>In the final experiment, more than 200 college students were asked to report how compassionate they felt at that moment. They then played “economic trust games” in which they were given money to share – or not – with a stranger. In one round, they were told that another person playing the game had given a portion of their money to them, and that they were free to reward them by giving back some of the money, which had since doubled in amount.</P><P>Those who scored low on the religiosity scale, and high on momentary compassion, were more inclined to share their winnings with strangers than other participants in the study.</P><P>“Overall, this research suggests that although less religious people tend to be less trusted in the U.S., when feeling compassionate, they may actually be more inclined to help their fellow citizens than more religious people,” Willer said.</P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/very-religious-people-may-be-more-likely-to-give-even-when-they-dont-feel-compassionate" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-237413126361894222012-05-04T21:27:00.000-07:002012-05-04T21:27:00.130-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>May 02, 2012</P><P>It’s not what you’d expect at a school: students being asked not to think!</P><P>“We are calling it a mental recess,” said Greg Graber, the head of middle school at Lausanne Collegiate School. “We really think this is going to help them, to sit and do nothing for 10-15 minutes and try to relax their minds to get distressed and unplugged.”</P><P>The Lausanne Collegiate School in East Memphis is trying a different way to get kids focused.</P><P>Starting in September, Middle schoolers 10 to 14 years old are going to get the option, of skipping recess to sit and do nothing.</P><P>“Have you ever tried meditation?” …</P><P>Read the original article » </P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/memphis-school-offering-meditation-to-middle-school-students" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-23884548322572502382012-05-04T17:43:00.000-07:002012-05-04T17:43:00.638-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>May 01, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17790" title="The stethoscope isolated on the white background" alt="" src="/Fotolia31596325XS-255x384.jpg" width=255 height=384>Training physicians in mindfulness meditation and communication skills can improve the quality of primary care for both practitioners and their patients, University of Rochester Medical Center researchers report in a study published online this week in the journal Academic Medicine.</P><P>As ways to improve primary care, the researchers also recommend promoting a sense of community among physicians and providing time to physicians for personal growth.</P><P>“Programs focused on personal awareness and self-development are only part of the solution,” the researchers stated. “Our health care delivery systems must implement systematic change at the practice level to create an environment that supports mindful practice, encourages transparent and clear communication among clinicians, staff, patients, and families, and reduces professional isolation.”</P><P>Medical education can better support self-awareness programs for trainees while also promoting role models — preceptors and attending physicians — who exemplify mindful practice in action, they wrote.</P><P>The Academic Medicine article, which will be published in the journal’s June print edition, is a follow-up to a study by the researchers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2009. That study found that mindfulness meditation and communication training can alleviate the psychological distress and burnout experienced by many physicians and can improve their well-being.</P><P>Seventy physicians from the Rochester, N.Y., area were involved in the initial study. The physicians participated in training that involved eight intensive weekly sessions that were 2 ½ hours long, an all-day session and a maintenance phase of 10 monthly 2 ½-hour sessions. For the new report, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 20 of the physicians who participated in the mindfulness training program.</P><P>The findings in the new study include:</P>For 75 percent of the physicians, sharing personal experiences from medical practice with colleagues was one of the most meaningful outcomes of the program.A nonjudgmental atmosphere helped participants feel emotionally safe enough to pause, reflect, and disclose their complex and profound experiences, which, in turn, provided reassurance that they were not alone in their feelings.Sixty percent reported that learning mindfulness skills improved their capacity to listen more attentively and respond more effectively to others at work and home.More than half of the participants acknowledged having increased self-awareness and better ability to respond non-judgmentally during personal or professional conversations.Seventy percent placed a high value on the mindfulness course having an organized, structured, and well-defined curriculum that designated time and space to pause and reflect — not something they would ordinarily consider permissible.Participants also described the personal struggles they have with devoting time and energy toward self-care despite acknowledging its importance.<P>The researchers have developed and implemented required mindful practice curricula for medical students and residents at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. They also are studying the effects of an intensive, four-day residential course for physicians.</P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/mindfulness-is-good-for-doctors-and-their-patients" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-40706571741631703112012-05-04T12:49:00.000-07:002012-05-04T12:49:00.410-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>Apr 27, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17752" title=thinker alt="" src="/thinker-255x346.jpg" width=255 height=346>A new University of British Columbia study finds that analytic thinking can decrease religious belief, even in devout believers.</P><P>The study, which will appear in tomorrow’s issue of Science, finds that thinking analytically increases disbelief among believers and skeptics alike, shedding important new light on the psychology of religious belief.</P><P>“Our goal was to explore the fundamental question of why people believe in a God to different degrees,” says lead author Will Gervais, a PhD student in UBC’s Dept. of Psychology. “A combination of complex factors influence matters of personal spirituality, and these new findings suggest that the cognitive system related to analytic thoughts is one factor that can influence disbelief.”</P><P>Researchers used problem-solving tasks and subtle experimental priming – including showing participants Rodin’s sculpture The Thinker or asking participants to complete questionnaires in hard-to-read fonts – to successfully produce “analytic” thinking. The researchers, who assessed participants’ belief levels using a variety of self-reported measures, found that religious belief decreased when participants engaged in analytic tasks, compared to participants who engaged in tasks that did not involve analytic thinking.</P><P>The findings, Gervais says, are based on a longstanding human psychology model of two distinct, but related cognitive systems to process information: an “intuitive” system that relies on mental shortcuts to yield fast and efficient responses, and a more “analytic” system that yields more deliberate, reasoned responses.</P><P>“Our study builds on previous research that links religious beliefs to ‘intuitive’ thinking,” says study co-author and Associate Prof. Ara Norenzayan, UBC Dept. of Psychology. “Our findings suggest that activating the ‘analytic’ cognitive system in the brain can undermine the ‘intuitive’ support for religious belief, at least temporarily.”</P><P>The study involved more than 650 participants in the U.S. and Canada. Gervais says future studies will explore whether the increase in religious disbelief is temporary or long-lasting, and how the findings apply to non-Western cultures.</P><P>Recent figures suggest that the majority of the world’s population believes in a God, however atheists and agnostics number in the hundreds of millions, says Norenzayan, a co-director of UBC’s Centre for Human Evolution, Cognition and Culture. Religious convictions are shaped by psychological and cultural factors and fluctuate across time and situations, he says. </P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/analytic-thinking-decreases-religious-belief" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-71207444502968360502012-05-04T08:04:00.000-07:002012-05-04T08:04:00.222-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>Apr 27, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17764" title="A Mindful Nation" alt="" src="/A-Mindful-Nation-255x382.jpg" width=255 height=382>Ed Halliwell, the Guardian: Mindfulness meditation was once a tool of the counter-culture. But now it’s transforming the minds of conservative America.</P><P>“A quiet revolution is happening in America.” So says Tim Ryan, Ohio congressman and author of A Mindful Nation, which documents the spread of mindfulness meditation across the US, and argues for its widespread adoption as a way to favourably affect the country’s healthcare system, economy, schools and military.</P><P>Just published, the book is significant not so much for what’s being said – evidence for the benefits of mindfulness has been piling up in scientific journals over recent years – but …</P><P>Read the original article » </P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/mindfulness-the-altered-state-of-america" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-89270291378354535642012-05-04T03:08:00.000-07:002012-05-04T03:08:00.176-07:00 <STRONG>Wildmind Meditation News</STRONG></P>Apr 28, 2012</P><P><IMG class="alignright size-medium wp-image-17781" title="search inside yourself" alt="" src="/search-inside-yourself-255x304.png" width=255 height=304>Maybe it’s no surprise that a yellow-brick road winds through the Googleplex.</P><P>Step onto Google’s campus here — with its indoor treehouse, volleyball court, apiaries, heated toilet seats and, yes, Oz-style road — and you might think you’ve just sailed over the rainbow.</P><P>But all the toys and perks belie the frenetic pace here, and many employees acknowledge that life at Google can be hard on fragile egos.</P><P>Sure, the amenities are seductive, says Blaise Pabon, an enterprise sales engineer, but “when you get to a place like this, it can tear you apart” if you don’t find a way to handle the …</P><P>Read the original article » </P><IMG class="avatar avatar-100 avatar-default" alt=avatar src="/meditation-news.jpg" width=100 height=100> <P>We comb the internet, looking for news stories related to all forms of meditation, whether Buddhist or not. To date we have posted thousands of news stories that cover everything from meditation and health to meditating celebrities. When we publish a story that's favorable to or critical of one form of meditation, this does not imply that we agree with the stance of the original news story. Read more articles by Wildmind Meditation News.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/o-k-google-take-a-deep-breath" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-1517080546655954092012-05-03T23:23:00.000-07:002012-05-03T23:23:00.339-07:00 <P>I have a little torn magazine clipping hanging above my desk that I refer to almost daily. Unfortunately I don’t know who the quote is from, but it’s worth sharing. </P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="6"><P>What is a skill that all people should possess? “Empathy and the will to help others. Someone said — not me — but someone said that the point of life is helping others to get through it, which I like very much.”</P></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><p><a href="http://meditation.com/empathy-in-action/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-60011688367833380232012-05-03T18:48:00.000-07:002012-05-03T18:48:00.180-07:00 <P>Meditation. It’s a good idea. We like it. We hope you like it. It’s helping lots of people live their lives with greater quality, which is a key inspiration behind Meditation.com. Quality, of course, is a very subjective thing and that’s one of the beauties of meditation. We interact with lots of different people and one common theme among the folks we meet that meditate is that meditation helps them touch their true personalities, the essence of who they are, which is a pretty remarkable and subjective thing. It’s one of the central reasons we are creating Meditation.com, to bring this benefit to as many people as possible.</P><br /><p><a href="http://meditation.com/were-now-on-crowdrise/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-8507389234364490782012-05-03T14:04:00.000-07:002012-05-03T14:04:00.123-07:00 <P>We are currently recruiting our fund raising team. If you’d like to play along and help bring Meditation to the masses, visit us at Crowdrise.com/meditation to join our team!</P><br /><p><a href="http://meditation.com/get-on-board/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160505058656473088.post-43756839539209990202012-05-03T10:14:00.000-07:002012-05-03T10:14:00.142-07:00 <P>From The Compassionate Life, by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama:</P><BLOCKQUOTE readability="27"><P>One point I should make here is that some people, especially those who see themselves as very realistic and practical, are sometimes too realistic and obsessed with practicality. They may think, ‘The idea of wishing for the happiness of all beings, of wanting what is best for every single one, is unrealistic and too idealistic. Such an unrealistic idea cannot contribute in any way to transforming the mind or to attaining some kind of mental discipline, because it is completely unachievable.’</P><P>…They feel there is simply no point in thinking about all beings since there is an infinite number of them. They may conceivably be able to feel some kind of connection with some fellow human beings on this planet, but they feel that the infinite number of beings throughout the universe has nothing to do with their own experience as individuals.</P><P>…What is important here, however, is to grasp the impact of cultivating such altruistic sentiments. The point is to try to develop the scope of our empathy in such a way that we can extend it to any form of life with the capacity to feel pain and experience happiness. It is a matter of recognizing living organisms as sentient, and therefore subject to pain and capable of happiness.</P><P>…Such a universal sentiment of compassion is very powerful, and there is no need to be able to identify, in specific terms, with every single living being in order for it to be effective.</P><P>…Given patience and time, it is within our power to develop this kind of universal compassion.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><p><a href="http://meditation.com/a-movement-toward-an-empathic-civilisation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Mody87http://www.blogger.com/profile/14167103993198699507noreply@blogger.com