| As an author of meditation programs and a meditation | | | | consciousness through meditation. The basic technique |
| instructor, I'm often asked to compare the effects of | | | | of meditation is a four-part skill. Because it is a skill, it is |
| brainwave entrainment technology (BET) with the | | | | something that you get better at through consistent |
| effects of meditation. After all, some BET products | | | | practice over time. The four steps are these: |
| claim to help you "meditate like a monk." If this is true, | | | | 1. You focus on your meditation cue(s). |
| why learn to meditate when you can just put on some | | | | 2. You recognize when your mind has wandered from |
| headphones and allow the technology to do the work | | | | its focus. |
| for you? One of the major BET programs claims that | | | | 3. You release the thoughts, emotions, images, or |
| using their technology is "the lazy man's way to | | | | sensations that grabbed your attention. |
| meditate." | | | | 4. You return to your focus. |
| Because my first response to that claim is that BET is | | | | By following these steps you develop the following |
| not meditation, many people think that I am critical of | | | | internal skills of being able to: |
| BET. What I'll do in this article is to define what each of | | | | · observe yourself and your inner physical, |
| these techniques is and what benefits can be gained | | | | emotional, and mental processes without judgment, |
| from each one. The benefits of these two | | | | · actively relax, |
| approaches are related, but there are some important | | | | · breathe deeply, |
| differences. | | | | · align your posture, |
| First, let's define what we mean by BET. Then, we'll | | | | · release negative emotions, |
| define meditation. From those two definitions, we'll talk | | | | · generate positive feelings, |
| about the different benefits of each and how they | | | | · focus and clear your mind, and |
| compare and differ. With that information, you can | | | | · be aware of awareness itself, or become |
| decide how to best use each in your life. | | | | aware of yourself as pure consciousness. |
| Recently there has been an explosion in the availability | | | | You develop these inner skills in a natural and holistic |
| of BET programs. What is this technology and how | | | | way, as your body is ready and able. Because you |
| does it work? | | | | are using your natural abilities and focusing on cues in |
| I found a nice articulation of BET on a website called | | | | your own body, heart, mind, and spirit, the process |
| "Unexplainable.net". Here's what they have to say on | | | | unfolds as your system is ready to expand. Because |
| the most well-known of these technologies called | | | | of this, the process proceeds safely at the right pace |
| binaural beats: | | | | and timing. You release subconscious tensions, heal |
| "Binaural Beats work by broadcasting two separate | | | | wounds, and expand your awareness and ability as |
| frequencies in each ear. For example, if you wanted to | | | | you are able to handle these things. The whole |
| tune your brain to a 7 Hz frequency, you could play | | | | process is guided by a higher wisdom within you. |
| 200 Hz in your right ear, and 207 Hz in your left ear. | | | | Meditation develops your discernment of this inner |
| The brain will compensate for the difference between | | | | guidance. |
| the two and produce a third tone that will be exactly 7 | | | | Like any set of skills, meditation does take time, |
| Hz. This will result in your brain frequency being raised | | | | practice, and effort. It also gives you rewards and |
| or lowered, and tuned to the desired operating stage." | | | | benefits that you cannot get without those efforts and |
| To utilize this technology, you listen to the binaural | | | | the development of those skills. |
| beats technology through a set of stereo headphones. | | | | Finally, when you cultivate the skills of meditation, it is |
| You use stereo headphones so that a different | | | | empowering. You know that you can do this at any |
| frequency can be played in each ear. | | | | time because you've learned how to do it yourself. |
| The benefits of using binaural beats include deep | | | | You have gained a level of mastery in the physical, |
| relaxation, release of tension, better synchronization | | | | emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your being. |
| between the two hemispheres of the brain, enhanced | | | | You can take these skills and apply them to anything |
| learning, memory, creativity, concentration, and mental | | | | that you desire to express, grow, and create in your |
| clarity, stimulation of positive brain chemistry, and so on. | | | | life. |
| From this list, the benefits sound a lot like | | | | So how do you choose between using meditation and |
| meditation-and, it's true, these benefits are what you | | | | using BET? First, I suggest that you follow your inner |
| can expect from meditation practice. So what's the | | | | guidance and see what you are drawn to. Second, |
| difference? | | | | you can certainly use both systems, but I suggest not |
| Let's look at a definition of meditation. Meditation is | | | | using them at the same time. They can feed each |
| consciously focusing your attention for a period of | | | | other, but they may compete if you do them both at |
| time. Different meditations have different objects of | | | | once. Because of your internal needs on a particular |
| focus. These include, but are not limited to, your | | | | day, your brain may be heading in one direction through |
| breathing, a specific area, energy center, or pathway in | | | | the natural process of meditation and it may be |
| your body, present moment awareness, a specific | | | | entrained in another way by the predetermined BET |
| emotional state, and creative visualizations. What is | | | | frequency. So, if you decide to use both systems, use |
| common to any meditative practice is consciously and | | | | them separately. |
| actively focusing your attention. | | | | Finally, understand what you want to get from your |
| In contrast with BET which is passive stimulation, | | | | practice time, so that you can choose what is most |
| meditation is an active process and a skill that you can | | | | appropriate to your needs and goals. |
| develop. In fact, you develop many different skills of | | | | |