| Meditation is a state of being focused on a | | | | In today's world, where there is so much |
| certain thought and involves the "quieting of | | | | chaos and negativism brought about by man's |
| the mind" as you concentrate inwardly, | | | | pursuit of wealth and power, many have fallen |
| resulting to a more relaxed and calm feeling. | | | | victim to stress and anxiety, not to mention |
| This relaxation technique can help a person | | | | a variety of medical conditions such as |
| develop his personality through mental | | | | cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. |
| discipline as well as encourage his spiritual | | | | |
| well-being by communing with God. | | | | Meditation relaxation involves the body and |
| | | | mind. It is beneficial in providing relief to |
| Usually associated with some ancient eastern | | | | those suffering with anxiety disorders as it |
| religions dating back several centuries, | | | | allows the person to experience relaxation |
| meditation has been assimilited in western | | | | and release negative energies stored in the |
| culture via spiritual practices and medical | | | | body, allowing it to acquire a different form |
| therapies which focus on different kinds of | | | | of healing that is not afforded by |
| healing with the help of the mind and inner | | | | medications. But this method is a skill which |
| energy. | | | | needs to be learned properly. Training in the |
| | | | art of meditation relaxation is necessary to |
| According to Dr. Borysenko, author of | | | | avoid getting distractions. |
| 'Minding the Body, Mending the Mind', | | | | |
| "...through meditation, we learn to access | | | | In Yoga Meditation, the key principles in |
| the relaxation response (the physiological | | | | this process are attention and breathing. |
| response elicited by meditation) and we | | | | These two work together naturally in allowing |
| become more aware of the mind and the way our | | | | the relaxation of the physical body, as well |
| attitude produces stress." He believes that | | | | as the mind. |
| through meditation, one can also get in touch | | | | |
| with the "inner physician" and allow the | | | | There are times when the mind is restless |
| body's own inner wisdom to be heard. | | | | that it could not keep itself from getting |
| | | | distracted and have the tendency to open the |
| In Taoism, the mind of emotions is controlled | | | | eyes or make unnecessary movements during the |
| by the "Fire" energy of the heart. | | | | process. What some practitioners do is to |
| Unrestrained, this Fire energy flares upward | | | | make use of external device or stimulus like |
| and wastefully burns up the energy and | | | | music or visual support to get to that state |
| smothers the mind. On the other hand, the | | | | of relaxation. However, to train the mind |
| mind of intent, or will power, is governed by | | | | means not relying on this external technique |
| the Water energy of the kidneys. Without | | | | but directly working in the mind itself. |
| direction, the "Water" energy is flushed down | | | | |
| the sexual organs which drains its essence | | | | In order to train the restless mind, one must |
| and spirit. However, when you are meditating, | | | | first acknowledge it as restless and that it |
| these flows of Water and Fire energies are | | | | will not easily come through. Give the mind |
| reversed. The Water energy is drawn up to the | | | | something to do, something internal and real, |
| head through the Central and Governing | | | | not external or a fantasy. Focus on what is |
| channels, while the Fire energy from the | | | | within the body and do not create something |
| heart is drawn down into the Lower Elixir | | | | that isn't there. That's the beauty of Yoga |
| Field in the abdomen, where the energy is | | | | meditation. So, whether the goal is to combat |
| refined and transformed. This process allows | | | | stress, cure illness or to gain higher |
| the mind of intent, which is Water, to | | | | spiritual experience, Yoga meditation as well |
| provide a soothing and relaxing effect over | | | | as other relaxation therapies can help you |
| the mind of emotion, which is Fire. Hence, | | | | find healing by training your mind to reach |
| meditation relaxation occurs. | | | | into your inner being. |
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