How Meditation Changes Your Brain

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Magnolia — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:24:00 GMT

I've practiced Hatha Yoga in one form or another since I was 19. Meditation is an integral part of that practice. I begin in a meditative state -- sometimes a few minutes -- sometimes much longer. I establish goals for specified periods of time, but if something else is moving and I feel the need to meditate longer and spend less time on postures, I honor the body/mind connection and do that.

I can say that persistence does pay off, for those of you who experience difficulty in staying focused. What works for me is, setting the time aside, using a focal point that represents something uplifting, and bringing the mind to that one point. If it wanders, just relax and bring it back. No pressure. Just keep gently bringing it back. Eventually it will obey you.

Don't get discouraged and don't give up. When your time is almost up, express thanks in whatever way is unique to you and close your meditation.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

paragonx — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:46:44 GMT

Is Roy Master's 'Be Still and Know" the best one out there?

'Be Still and know that I'm God."

There should be no mantras or chanting during meditation, the object is to quiet the mind and focus on the 3rd eye shakra and keep returning to it when you get distracted by a thought.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

happyhippy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:37:02 GMT

I am curious, how can someone who has trouble focusing participate in TM? I have tried, and almost always end in frusturation. I would appreciate learning about how others with ADD have acomplished a successful meditation practice. Thanks!

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Michelle P — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:54:36 GMT

On a similar theme, Jeff Pratt of YWAM Axiom http://www.ywamaxiom.com conducts guided silent retreats in the tradition of the "Christian Mystics," and also offers a Retreat Handbook/Manual as an aid for self-guided silent retreat.

A quote from http://www.ywamaxiom.com:

"Here in the western world we often live with cluttered and distracted minds and hearts that have forgotten how to be still and know that He is God. Inside ourselves were running all the time, forever ambushed by the tyranny of the urgent, by our busyness and schedules. We are seldom awakened to the fact that every moment and every minute can be lived in the presence of God, alive and aware of His love. Robert Benson tells the story of a four year old girl who was over heard whispering into her newborn baby brotherís ear, "Baby," she said, "tell me what God sounds like. I am starting to forget."

Thus we believe that the spiritual discipline of Silence and Solitude, coupled with Prayer is a time-tested activity that is an essential means of receiving life-transforming grace, and of being disciples of Jesus not only in word but also in deed.

If you are intereseted in attending one of the guided Silent Retreats than please contact our director Jeff Pratt at; info@ywamaxiom.com

Also, we have available a small Retreat Handbook to assist you in your journey of pursuing God in this discipline for a day. This manuel is formatted in such a way that you are guided through several spiritual disciplines in a flow similarly used by the desert Fathers (Christian mystics) centuries ago as well as by modern day contemplatives. You may order one of the handbooks by emailing info@ywamaxiom.com"

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

berry lee — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:11:44 GMT

I learned TM way back in 1973 and it has helped me a lot. No one has mentioned the "relaxation response" which is just as good a way to learn to meditate as is TM. Just type relaxation response into your browser.

Here is the best Hindu Wisdom: When the mind is detached from the senses one reaches the summit of consciousness. Mastery of the mind leads to wisdom. Practice meditation. Stop all vain talk. The highest state is beyond reach of thought-For it lies beyond all duality. Keep repeating the ancient mantrum OM-Until it reverberates in your heart !!!! (duality is the conflict between the ego and the self)

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

HealingMindN — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:03:15 GMT

From what I've experienced, there are all kinds of purposes for all kinds of meditation. In general, when done correctly, meditation does connect you to your higher consciousness. Since we're at Dr. Mercola's site, we can talk about meditation for health and well being. Specifically, I would point out internal martial arts meditation like Tai Chi Qigong, Kuji Kiri, or Tridaya Tenega Delam.

In martial arts, the idea of exercise is collect energy in the limbs and flesh while meditation takes that collected energy and focuses it along pathes of circulation such as the extraordinary vessels and meridians to increase elements of health attached with those particular pathes of energy. Coincidently, small circulation meditation increases focus and concentration while creating new neural pathways for inner control such as that of the autonomic nervous system.

Deep breathe control is key to proper meditation of any kind. Remember to relax your focus as if looking into the distant horizon of an ocean and relax your jaw by letting it drop slightly. These actions relax the 1st through 5th cranial nerves which allows you to induce instant relaxation.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

naomi_203 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:14:08 GMT

Almost all the research that has been done on meditation has been done on one specific type of meditation: The Transcendental Meditation technique of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This meditation is unique from any other program or meditation. The results of the scientific and medical research done on the TM technique cannot be generalized to meditation in general. It is not accurate or helpful to anyone to do so. One cannot expect to see these benefits by following Dr. Mercola's instructions above, or by learning how to 'meditate' from a book or magazine, or by making up something on your own. It doesn't work that way. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless technique that can be properly and easily learned from a TM teacher who has been trained by Maharishi. For more information or to find a TM teacher near you, please go to www.TM.org.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

davidn46 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:26:36 GMT

This might interest you:

http://www.wordsofpeace.ca/

This too:

innernomads.braveblog.com

Best wishes to you.

David

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Heather Marsh — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:03:51 GMT

I sent for some special 'deep mediation' CDs a few years ago, and found that an hour of listening (and I invariably fell asleep) would leave me feeling as refreshed as several hours of sleep.

On the downside, my patience in some areas underwent a very sharp decline, and I became far less able to be my previously (extremely)passive self - which caused a bit of friction. One of the CDs I have only used twice as I seemed to become quite uptight and aggressive after, which I felt was not a good way to be.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Danielle Lisi — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:00:49 GMT

To think that all physical illness does not begin with a mental cause is denying the mind, body and spirit connection. Stress can come from a collective consiousness belief of what we think should be happening.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

DDS_203 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:00:19 GMT

"Just about every illness is stress related" is hogwash. What about all the childhood illnesses - stress related, I think not!

I relax my brain while I sleep, and never feel the need for meditation. Maybe some type A personalities do.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

MattW — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:56:24 GMT

I meditate daily as part of my Buddhist tradition. I wrote a narrative to help me meditate. Perhaps someone will find it helpful.

www.hologramthoughts.com/.../a-meditation-on-chenrezig

Matt

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Nature Woman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:16:09 GMT

I am thinking of adding yoga to aid in meditation, but I am not certain what kind of yoga would be good and what the differences are.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

OssieA1 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:39:07 GMT

I know this is a different subject, but my problem was I was fuzzy-headed and not quite with it at all. I had a heavy metal problem with mercury, lead and arsenic. I have been chelating using tablet form and my natural medicine doctor has got me on all sorts of things to get my body back into balance because with this heavy metal problem my body hasn't been able to absorb the right nutrients, . I have been doing this now for a year and over the past couple of months have had a splendid change in the way I can now focus and concentrate.

I have a lot of downtime which is nice and I think perhaps I meditate naturally.

re: How Meditation Changes Your Brain

Salud — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:07:07 GMT

I have been meditating/praying for many years, it is an outstanding, eco-friendly and inexpensive way to balance your energies and improve your state of well-being. Although I don't do it for health but for a spiritual purpose, this is a welcome side effect. It helps you to untangle and detach from stress and oppression, so you can reconnect with people and things from the center of yourself again. Once you practice it on a regular basis, you also learn to recall this state whenever you need it in your daily life. Since there are many different traditions and techniques it is very important to find the right one for you, where you feel happy and at ease (no matter if it's not the same than your neighbor).