Meditation - Meditation on the form

Use of visual consciousness as a means spokoeniya mind technically called a "meditation on form." But do not be afraid of this title. In fact, meditation on the form is very simple. In fact, we unconsciously practice it every day when we look at a computer screen or on a traffic light. When we raise this unconscious process to the level of active consciousness, intentionally directing their attention to a particular object, the mind becomes very calm, open and relaxed.

I was taught to start with a very small facility, located close enough to see it without straining. This may be a colored spot on the floor, a candle flame, picture, and even head of a man sitting in front of you in the audience. Just nice to look at an object that has spiritual significance, often called the pure form. If you are a Buddhist, then such an object could be an image or statue of the Buddha, being a Christian, you can focus on the cross or on the face of a saint. If you belong to some other religious traditions, select the object, which has for you a special sacred significance. When you become accustomed to this practice, it becomes possible to focus even thought-forms - objects that you just extract from the visual memory.

Meditation - Meditation on the pain.

Feeling cold, heat, hunger, overeating, weight, dizziness, migraine, dental pain, nasal congestion, sore throat, pain in the knees or lower back very directly - though not always pleasant - appear awareness.

Because pain and discomfort related to such a direct sense, they are very suitable as sites for meditative concentration.

Most of us feel the pain threatened physical well-being. On the one hand, when we worry or to fixate on the threat, the pain is almost always increased. On the other hand, if we feel pain or discomfort object of meditation, you can use these experiences to enhance the clarity, just watching how the mind deals with different solutions.

Meditation on the physical sensations

To start straighten the spine and relax the body.

If you do all the rules, you can take a previously described seven-position . If you're in a place where to adopt such a posture is not possible, simply straighten your spine and let the rest of the body to relax comfortably. It does not matter, open or closed your eyes during practice. In fact, some people believe that it is easier to keep your eyes closed. (Of course, if you are driving or walking down the street, then I would strongly recommend that you do not close your eyes!)

Let your mind dwell for a moment just as it really is ...

Now slowly move your attention to the forehead ...

Perhaps you feel at this point slight tingling or a sensation of heat. You might even appear itching or pressure. Whatever you feel, just allow yourself to realize it for a minute or two ...

Just heed this ...

Just send your attention to this feeling ...

Then leave your care and allow the mind to stay so, as it is. If your eyes were closed, now they can open.

How does it feel?

Meditation on the site.

In the course of ordinary perception of the information we obtain from the senses, almost inevitably becomes a source of distraction, because the mind tends to cling to the information from the sensory receptors. At the same time, being by nature bodily or incarnate, the essence, if we tried to be completely disconnected from their feelings or deny them the information that comes through, such attempts would have failed. A more practical solution would be to make friends with their senses and use the obtained information from them as a means for calming the mind.

In Buddhist texts, a process called samoprotivoyadiem, because it itself a source of distraction is used as a means of liberation from distraction. The metaphor comes from the well-known in the ancient practice in which to work with a particular substance, used the same material. For example, if you were to cut the glass, then you should have used glass and for cutting the iron needed to use an iron tool. Similarly, you can use your senses to eliminate distractions coming from them.

Meditation - The gates of perception.

Buddhists, like Western science, recognize the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. In Buddhism, the five sensory abilities are called the gates of perception - the etymology of this metaphor is related to the entrance of the house.

Most of our feelings and perceptions are our experience through one or more of these doors. But as the five faculties of feelings - or sense of consciousness as they are called in the Buddhist texts - can detect only sense perceptions, the Buddhist science adds a sixth sense - the mental consciousness. In this sixth consciousness is nothing mystical or occult. It has nothing to do with extrasensory perception or the ability to communicate with spirits. This is simply the ability to distinguish between the mind and evaluate what we see, hear, we taste, smell and palpable.

Meditation - Without an object.

My Teacher first explained to me, as allowing the mind to rest in a natural way "Naked Awareness, I had no idea what he was saying. How could my mind should "rest" if there is nothing on which it rests?
Fortunately, my teacher has traveled the world, met many people and was able to talk with them about their lives, challenges and successes. In fact, when you walk in Buddhist robes, surrounded by aides who are dressed the same way and take care of your basic needs, such as registering a hotel room or a cook, you have a great advantage. People tend to think that you are a wise and important man, and willingly opened to you from telling details of his life.

The first step - Meditation

The Buddha realized that there are no two absolutely identical people - everyone is born with a unique combination of skills, qualities and traits. Precisely because of its insight and compassion was so great, he was able to develop a rich variety of methods by which any person can achieve direct experience of their true nature and completely free from suffering.

Most of their teachings Buddha gave spontaneously, according to the needs of people who found themselves next to him at that moment. Ability to spontaneously give a completely correct answer - it is one of the characteristics of an enlightened master, which works well until the teacher is alive. But when the Buddha left this world, his first disciples had to work hard to organize these spontaneous exercise for the benefit of future generations. Fortunately, the first followers of Buddha are very well how to create classifications and categories, and found a way to organize a variety of meditation practices taught by the Buddha, dividing them into two main categories: analytical and non-analytic methods.