Some of the earliest written sources on meditation, go back to the old Indian customs and belong to approximately 1500 BC These sources include religious scriptures known as the Vedas, which address the meditative traditions of ancient India.
In the sixth century BC began the development of various forms of meditation - Taoist examination in China, Buddhist in India, even the Greeks were engaged in meditation.
The first Christians began to use meditation, were hermits who lived in the Egyptian deserts in the fourth century AD. Their practice of meditation in their own terms, reminiscent of traditional Hindu and Buddhist meditation.
At 11 and 12 centuries AD dzenovskaya form of meditation called "Dzadziev", spread to Japan.
Mechanisms of action of meditation
Nobody knows exactly how the act meditation techniques. Nevertheless, enough understanding of this problem was achieved by examining the overall level inherent to all forms of meditation - an object designed for concentration. Such incentives, designed to focus, apparently, is a fundamental characteristic of the meditative process.
The role of the object for the concentration is, apparently, is to enable intuitive, neegotsentricheskomu type of thinking (which is correlated with activity neokorteksta right hemisphere) to occupy a dominant place in the mind - a place that usually takes an analytical ego-centric type of thinking (associated with the activity of the left hemisphere). Object provides for the concentration, obviously, the possibility of such a shift by the monopolization of neural activity of the left hemisphere, which allows the right hemisphere to become dominant. Object for concentration can monopolize the activity of the left hemisphere, involving him in any monotonous activities (eg focus on a mantra, breath, or at certain positions). In addition, the object of concentration can lead to a state of congestion and frustration of the left hemisphere. This occurs when the meditator reflects on the seemingly paradoxical problem (as in Zen), or when he is engaged in intense physical activity, as it is practiced Sufi ( "dancing dervishes"), followers of Tantrism, or perhaps the American jogging enthusiast.
When an object for concentration is used effectively, the nature of information processing by the brain is changed. "When the rational (analytical) mind calms down, intuitive way leads to an exceptional knowledge. This knowledge is the goal of all meditation techniques practiced by their followers.
This state of "exceptional knowledge" referred to in different ways. In the East it is called "nirvana" or "satori". Loosely translated these words sound like "enlightenment." You can translate them as "true consciousness" or "awareness of Being." In former times, those few people in the West who were familiar with this condition, called him "superconscious", or "cosmic consciousness".
More modern studies include attempts to study the neurophysiology at the superconscious state. While the results of the neurophysiological studies are not completely defined. These earlier works is in favor of the fact that in a state of super-consciousness on the electroencephalogram decreases the frequency of waves with a simultaneous increase in their amplitude. Recent neyrofiziolo-logical studies suggest meditation process, as already mentioned, the transition with meditation, the dominant role of the left cerebral hemisphere to the right. In the final analysis, we may find that this condition is the result of reduction in activity of the neocortex in a dominant right hemisphere.
It is important to emphasize that meditation and the attainment of super-consciousness are not always the same!
The patient must understand that meditation is a process or set of techniques that are used by the meditator to achieve the desired goal - the superconscious state.
Therapeutic criteria superconscious state
As mentioned recently, the peculiar condition superconscious "exceptional knowledge" is a desirable goal for dealing in any type of meditation. However, as a clinician and patient must understand that one can never be sure of achieving this state and that it is not every time is reached, even a man with extensive experience in meditation. Therefore the question arises: if the meditator can not attain the superconscious state, is not the time devoted to meditation practice, expended in vain? The answer to this question is only one - no! Positive therapeutic effect can be obtained without reaching a final state of the superconscious. The basis for this assertion is the existence of several "therapeutic criteria of" inherent in the process of meditation and pointing to the approach to the superconscious state. Although Shapiro considers the five stages of meditation, namely:
1) shortness of breath,
2) confused thinking,
3) relaxation,
4) a detached observation and
5) a higher state of consciousness - we would like to expand the idea of the stages observed in the meditation process.
The first and most fundamental stage refers to the fact the beginning of meditation practice. Even the ancient Hindu scriptures dzenovskie devoted to meditation, indicate that much more important attempt to achieve, superconscious state, than its actual achievement. For the clinician, who lives in the twentieth century, it should be clear that the patient, spending time on meditation, thus making a conscious effort to improve their health. This position is, by definition, the opposite of a behavioral style, which leads the patient to excessive stress. Similarly, underlining the importance of the act of meditation, but did not reach a state of the superconscious can lift the patient's most competitive, success-oriented component of this process.
The second milestone on the path to the superconscious is the emergence of a more pronounced relaxation. At this stage the patient is alone in his trofotropnoe state of relaxation. It represents the waking state, characterized gipometabolicheskim functioning of the organism, as described in the literature. This state has a therapeutic effect due to the fact that:
1) the body reaches a state close to sleep on their reduction potential, or exceeds it;
2) reduced effective Proprioceptive impulses caused ergotropnoy stimulation.
The third milestone on the path to the superconscious is a detached observation. In the Indian sacred books is described as a state in which the meditator observing his environment, is "resting in his audience. The condition is an impersonal passive state of observation, in which the meditator simply "coexist" with the environment, and not opposed to it, trying to subdue. This nonanalytic, intuitive state. A similar feeling experienced by many, is the "road hypnosis". This condition is often experienced drivers in repetitive high-speed highways. At some point, they notice that they are at a fork 6, and the next moment - already at a fork 16, although I do not remember the 10 intermediate junctions. Many call this "waking dream". It is important to note that the driver is not completely lost the ability to drive and this condition is not a dream. If there is a critical situation, the driver can respond to it appropriately. The clinician, therefore, must explain what the state is neither lethargic nor entirely passive (which is a major concern of many patients).
Last stage of meditative experience, is "a state of super-consciousness. This condition, apparently, includes all previous states, differing, however, a greater intensity of experience. Davidson describes his nature as follows:
1. Good mood (calmness, peacefulness).
2. The feeling of unity with the environment: what the ancients called Union of the microcosm (man) with the macrocosm (universe).
3. Nontransferability sensations.
4. Changing the space-time relations.
5. Heightened perception of reality and meaning of the surrounding.
6. The paradox, ie acceptance of things that seem paradoxical to ordinary consciousness.
Because the clinician will be bombarded with questions about the nature of meditative experience of the patient, we have to better understand the place all the typical experience along the continuum
This continuum of meditation experience is not the nature of the gradual move from one discrete state to another. Meditating can jump from any state to any other and back. On the other hand, the experience of each state may vary in degree of depth. Note that the boredom and distracting thoughts often precede a more positive effects. The clinician should explain to the patient that it is quite natural and that they should be patient in such cases and simply shift the attention back to the object of concentration.
Meditator must be weaned from the evaluation meditation sessions, since this approach introduces the paradigm of success - failure. Is simply useful patient descriptive stories about his experiences in order to be able to monitor his activity in the period between two and three weeks. The patient can keep a diary, if only it is descriptive rather than evaluative
In the sixth century BC began the development of various forms of meditation - Taoist examination in China, Buddhist in India, even the Greeks were engaged in meditation.
The first Christians began to use meditation, were hermits who lived in the Egyptian deserts in the fourth century AD. Their practice of meditation in their own terms, reminiscent of traditional Hindu and Buddhist meditation.
At 11 and 12 centuries AD dzenovskaya form of meditation called "Dzadziev", spread to Japan.
Mechanisms of action of meditation
Nobody knows exactly how the act meditation techniques. Nevertheless, enough understanding of this problem was achieved by examining the overall level inherent to all forms of meditation - an object designed for concentration. Such incentives, designed to focus, apparently, is a fundamental characteristic of the meditative process.
The role of the object for the concentration is, apparently, is to enable intuitive, neegotsentricheskomu type of thinking (which is correlated with activity neokorteksta right hemisphere) to occupy a dominant place in the mind - a place that usually takes an analytical ego-centric type of thinking (associated with the activity of the left hemisphere). Object provides for the concentration, obviously, the possibility of such a shift by the monopolization of neural activity of the left hemisphere, which allows the right hemisphere to become dominant. Object for concentration can monopolize the activity of the left hemisphere, involving him in any monotonous activities (eg focus on a mantra, breath, or at certain positions). In addition, the object of concentration can lead to a state of congestion and frustration of the left hemisphere. This occurs when the meditator reflects on the seemingly paradoxical problem (as in Zen), or when he is engaged in intense physical activity, as it is practiced Sufi ( "dancing dervishes"), followers of Tantrism, or perhaps the American jogging enthusiast.
When an object for concentration is used effectively, the nature of information processing by the brain is changed. "When the rational (analytical) mind calms down, intuitive way leads to an exceptional knowledge. This knowledge is the goal of all meditation techniques practiced by their followers.
This state of "exceptional knowledge" referred to in different ways. In the East it is called "nirvana" or "satori". Loosely translated these words sound like "enlightenment." You can translate them as "true consciousness" or "awareness of Being." In former times, those few people in the West who were familiar with this condition, called him "superconscious", or "cosmic consciousness".
More modern studies include attempts to study the neurophysiology at the superconscious state. While the results of the neurophysiological studies are not completely defined. These earlier works is in favor of the fact that in a state of super-consciousness on the electroencephalogram decreases the frequency of waves with a simultaneous increase in their amplitude. Recent neyrofiziolo-logical studies suggest meditation process, as already mentioned, the transition with meditation, the dominant role of the left cerebral hemisphere to the right. In the final analysis, we may find that this condition is the result of reduction in activity of the neocortex in a dominant right hemisphere.
It is important to emphasize that meditation and the attainment of super-consciousness are not always the same!
The patient must understand that meditation is a process or set of techniques that are used by the meditator to achieve the desired goal - the superconscious state.
Therapeutic criteria superconscious state
As mentioned recently, the peculiar condition superconscious "exceptional knowledge" is a desirable goal for dealing in any type of meditation. However, as a clinician and patient must understand that one can never be sure of achieving this state and that it is not every time is reached, even a man with extensive experience in meditation. Therefore the question arises: if the meditator can not attain the superconscious state, is not the time devoted to meditation practice, expended in vain? The answer to this question is only one - no! Positive therapeutic effect can be obtained without reaching a final state of the superconscious. The basis for this assertion is the existence of several "therapeutic criteria of" inherent in the process of meditation and pointing to the approach to the superconscious state. Although Shapiro considers the five stages of meditation, namely:
1) shortness of breath,
2) confused thinking,
3) relaxation,
4) a detached observation and
5) a higher state of consciousness - we would like to expand the idea of the stages observed in the meditation process.
The first and most fundamental stage refers to the fact the beginning of meditation practice. Even the ancient Hindu scriptures dzenovskie devoted to meditation, indicate that much more important attempt to achieve, superconscious state, than its actual achievement. For the clinician, who lives in the twentieth century, it should be clear that the patient, spending time on meditation, thus making a conscious effort to improve their health. This position is, by definition, the opposite of a behavioral style, which leads the patient to excessive stress. Similarly, underlining the importance of the act of meditation, but did not reach a state of the superconscious can lift the patient's most competitive, success-oriented component of this process.
The second milestone on the path to the superconscious is the emergence of a more pronounced relaxation. At this stage the patient is alone in his trofotropnoe state of relaxation. It represents the waking state, characterized gipometabolicheskim functioning of the organism, as described in the literature. This state has a therapeutic effect due to the fact that:
1) the body reaches a state close to sleep on their reduction potential, or exceeds it;
2) reduced effective Proprioceptive impulses caused ergotropnoy stimulation.
The third milestone on the path to the superconscious is a detached observation. In the Indian sacred books is described as a state in which the meditator observing his environment, is "resting in his audience. The condition is an impersonal passive state of observation, in which the meditator simply "coexist" with the environment, and not opposed to it, trying to subdue. This nonanalytic, intuitive state. A similar feeling experienced by many, is the "road hypnosis". This condition is often experienced drivers in repetitive high-speed highways. At some point, they notice that they are at a fork 6, and the next moment - already at a fork 16, although I do not remember the 10 intermediate junctions. Many call this "waking dream". It is important to note that the driver is not completely lost the ability to drive and this condition is not a dream. If there is a critical situation, the driver can respond to it appropriately. The clinician, therefore, must explain what the state is neither lethargic nor entirely passive (which is a major concern of many patients).
Last stage of meditative experience, is "a state of super-consciousness. This condition, apparently, includes all previous states, differing, however, a greater intensity of experience. Davidson describes his nature as follows:
1. Good mood (calmness, peacefulness).
2. The feeling of unity with the environment: what the ancients called Union of the microcosm (man) with the macrocosm (universe).
3. Nontransferability sensations.
4. Changing the space-time relations.
5. Heightened perception of reality and meaning of the surrounding.
6. The paradox, ie acceptance of things that seem paradoxical to ordinary consciousness.
Because the clinician will be bombarded with questions about the nature of meditative experience of the patient, we have to better understand the place all the typical experience along the continuum
This continuum of meditation experience is not the nature of the gradual move from one discrete state to another. Meditating can jump from any state to any other and back. On the other hand, the experience of each state may vary in degree of depth. Note that the boredom and distracting thoughts often precede a more positive effects. The clinician should explain to the patient that it is quite natural and that they should be patient in such cases and simply shift the attention back to the object of concentration.
Meditator must be weaned from the evaluation meditation sessions, since this approach introduces the paradigm of success - failure. Is simply useful patient descriptive stories about his experiences in order to be able to monitor his activity in the period between two and three weeks. The patient can keep a diary, if only it is descriptive rather than evaluative
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