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3 episodes with self enquiry
8 episodes with self enquiry
4 episodes with self enquiry
3 episodes with self enquiry
2 episodes with self enquiry
3 episodes with self enquiry
2 episodes with self enquiry
4 episodes with self enquiry
2 episodes with self enquiry
When you are in an 'ego storm' ask yourself "If I would die tomorrow... would I still react this way?"Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast please consider subscribing and rating!For more information please visit www.lifewillprovide.com. If you would like to do a solitary retreat or have a counseling session, feel free to check out www.silentselfretreats.com which also has many free resources!Much love,Lore
Delve into this poetic meditation and let its resonance awaken the depths of your being. Each word is crafted to echo in the quiet spaces of your soul, uncovering truths that gently whisper to your knowingness - that you are ok, you are enough, you are what you seek. This experience invites you to explore the living landscapes within, reconnecting you with the essence of who you are. Cultivated from the more feminine-rooted teachings of nonduality, this affirmation touches on elements of ecopsychology and nature-based healing, helping you remember your innate, inherent, and ever-present wholeness. Thank you for listening. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for allowing me to walk with you today. Love SezPurchase the Script to this meditation to use in your own practice or with your clients - SCRIPTSJoin our Substack CommunityNot on social media :)Support the Show.
Our True Self is always present but often overshadowed by the mind's preferences and energies. Through introspection and reflection, we come to understand that unconsciousness is not a problem, but rather a natural part of our existence. It's good not to regret moments when we may have momentarily lost touch with our True Self, as it is through these experiences that we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. The True Self is described as embodying a healthy honesty, a sense of realness, and a willingness to be open and vulnerable. It encourages us to shine a light on our experiences and embrace them, regardless of the mind's interpretations. Sat Mindo Damalis is an enlightened spiritual teacher helping others to reach Non-Duality, Enlightenment and Full Consciousness. Mindo has helped over 550 people to raise their Levels of Consciousness and has helped them to discover their Highest True Potential, Freedom and Power! www.divinemarga.com www.galacticacademy.org
This is Part 1 of a series of lectures given by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the text, Vakya Vritti. Vakya Vritti is a text of fifty-two Sanskrit slokas attributed to Adi Shankara and is in the form of a dialogue between an eager student and an enlightened teacher. The text concerns itself with the detailed and elaborate explanation of two Mahāvākyas – aham brahmāsmi and tat tvam asi which are intended to give a direct perception of Brahman. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate
This is Part 2 of a series of lectures given by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the text, Vakya Vritti. Vakya Vritti is a text of fifty-two Sanskrit slokas attributed to Adi Shankara and is in the form of a dialogue between an eager student and an enlightened teacher. The text concerns itself with the detailed and elaborate explanation of two Mahāvākyas – aham brahmāsmi and tat tvam asi which are intended to give a direct perception of Brahman. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate
Kathryn Dixon, the founder of ClarityCoachingInstitute.com, describes herself as a Galactic Adventurer who celebrates the fact that every answer lies within. Kathryn facilities The Work of Byron Katie, while bringing her own unique gifts and perspective to the table, helping relieve needless suffering caused by our own thoughts. In this episode, Kathryn Dixon and Tara showcase a re-patterning session, where Tara gets vulnerable about her anxiety in regards to writing a book about her life journey. You can do a virtual session with Kathryn from anywhere in the world. Find details at claritycoachinginstitute.com Watch or listen to the previous episode featuring Kathryn here: https://www.taragarrison.com/blog/kathryndixon CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 3:41 Kathryn's spiritual journey 11:33 How people take themselves from agony to ecstasy 18:00 The answers are inside of you 21:43 Byron Katie 24:08 Tara's session with Kathryn 1:11:24 Comfortable in our suffering
On the Secret Witch Show today, Nicole is diving into all things ‘personality profiling', exploring how ‘psychology type' tools can be harnessed powerfully for deep healing, via self-enquiry and self-illumination. She explains why she believes we were each born with a unique soul purpose to live out - and how exactly we can reveal the soul plan and more meaningful purpose that's in store for us, via archetypal personality mapping tools (and specifically, her uniquely magical Archetypal Soul Readings). In this episode she explores how ‘Archetypal Remedies' (which we work with in the Archetypal Apothecary path) are personality profiles that can be mapped out to ascertain our unique “soul plan” - especially with reference to sensitive souls who were born with healing gifts. She shares the 4 “layers” of our soul plan, and how knowing each of these layers - and our unique Archetypal Remedies - can support us to learn to heal ourselves (rather than outsource our healing to others), discover our gifts, and journey through the layers of wounding in the way of us actualising our purpose. She also invites us into a simple exercise to begin to reclaim the gifts in our wounds. What You'll Learn from this Episode: Psychological personality profiling is something that is primarily used for deeper self-illumination, to understand aspects of ourselves that we hadn't seen before - our core personality, our gifts and our challenges You could call these ‘personality types' Archetypes, or mirrors to our soul - and the combination of Archetypes with Homeopathy is what created “Archetypal Remedies” - which help us to understand ourselves for deeper healing and discovery of our gifts Archetypal Remedies have distinct patterns that make our wounds - and our healing of them - and our gifts identifiable. They are like personality types, only much more magical. We are born into this world with unique gifts - a plan that our soul came here to live out - and that means that our soul has particular “remedy relationships” it came here to live out, which can be “mapped” to provide a clear roadmap for our next steps - even (and especially) when we feel lost We are all like an onion - whole in the middle, with lots of layers of wounding over the top. There are 4 layers of an Archetypal Soul Map - 1. our Birth Constitution, 2. our Soul Remedy (our core wound, which holds our gift), 3. our Surface Layers and 4. our Ancestral Layers - and working through healing each of these layers allows us to become who we were born to be. When we understand our Archetypal Soul Map, we can learn to work with it to heal ourselves, rather than outsource our healing to others. This is important because healers need to heal themselves first. Resources and Things that We Spoke About: Social: Tiktok - @archetypalapothecary Instagram - @iamnicolebarton Instagram - @archetypalapothecary You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/@secretwitchsociety Join our Secret Witch Society: www.facebook.com/groups/secretwitch Next Crucible: Aurum www.nicolebarton.co.uk/aurum Find out about Nicole's Archetypal Soul Readings - www.nicolebarton.co.uk/soulreading Website: www.nicolebarton.co.uk Book: Maureen Murdoch - The Heroine's Journey - https://maureenmurdock.com/articles/articles-the-heroines-journey/ Thank you for listening, we'd love to know what comes alive for you in this week's episode, so please let us know. If you loved it, there's a fresh episode every other week - subscribe so you don't miss it! Thank you, Nicole and Team Secret Witch xox
How to surrender completely? Challenged by the idea of surrender, Dinup asks Maharishikaa how he can get rid of the fear and anxiety he experiences after his non duality meditation practice. Maharishikaa puts order in the ambiguity that often accompanies spiritual practices. She explains to Dinup how the long meditations take him into cosmic states, which result in the anxiety and fear he experiences when he reintegrated into the material world. All his fears on the spiritual path are addressed until clarity and realization, emerges. #Maharishikaa #NonDuality #Surrender Aaryaa Maharishikaa Preeti Maiyaa, is a revolutionary female mystic who fearlessly dares to demystify spirituality in her unrelenting call to realize Self, and act from Source. Detailed biography: https://maharishikaa.org/biography/ If you would like to make a Dakshinaa offering directly to Maharishikaa: Online transfer: http://bit.ly/Dakshinaa PayPal: maharishikaadakshinaa@gmail.com If you wish to make a donation to charitable works inspired by Maharishikaa: http://bit.ly/Daanam Lives transformed by Maharishikaa: https://maharishikaa.org/testimonials/ Subscribe to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/MaharishikaaEmailList
What have you been putting off? The thing that you know is kinda there, but your ego is doing a gnarly job of hiding it from you saying, "it's all good, don't worry about this, keep doing what you're doing!" You know, that thing. Today's episode is a short and sharp one, with me sharing what I've been putting off, why I respect the fact that we do, but how much better it is when we actually address the "thing". Because let's face it, it's dragging your energy down!MONTHLY SESSIONS, LIVE & ONLINE - Next live is Dec 10th, 10AM AEDT.No matter where you are in the world, Monthly Sessions Live & Online allows for us to come together in-real time to have real chats, deeply enquire and share space with one another. Sign up now!LAST IN REAL LIFE EVENTS FOR 2023ZEROFKS Dance Party - 21st November - Book here!WORK WITH ME 1:1 - Coach with Kat.SUBSCRIBE TO MY MEDITATION MEMBERSHIP - TAKE YOUR MEDS - Take Your Meds Meditation Membership - Join now.Support the show
In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 1st October 2023, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan's teachings. Devotee #1: When doing self-enquiry, when asking in whom is this thought occurring, the answer is, in me. And when asking, who am I, you understand this is not a question to be answered but to be explored or investigated. But if I were to answer, would it be correct to say that I am the observer of the illusory mind/body Susan? To explain, I, Susan am walking down the street, I follow Ramana's teachings and so I say to myself, I, the I, as in I am is observing Susan walking down the street, and I am now observing Susan stopping to by a cup of coffee. Devotee #2: No matter how much I try, I am unable to pursue the path of athma vichara with dedication. Firstly, it is very hard to practice self inquiry. Secondly, on those very few occasions when I actually sit and try and focus, I don't know what to expect when I close my eyes and observe my thoughts because I am not sure how “self” even feels. Is the thoughtless state the actual self, because I am unable to go beyond that? How do I not fall into the trap of frustration and keep persevering? This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.
Ana explores our primary motivations of living from either love or fear, and shares related poems as well as offering questions for you to ponder.
In transcending our patterns and distortions, it can be helpful to first ask who is experiencing the pattern? What is it that is noticing the pattern? We tend to take our traumas and issues very seriously, and while trauma healing is important, it is most helpful to step back and look at the space in which these issues arise. It's another way of seeing ourselves that provides clarity. Sat Mindo discusses this relevant topic with humor and lightness to show another way to navigate our spiritual path. Sat Mindo Damalis is an enlightened spiritual teacher helping others to reach Non-Duality, Enlightenment and Full Consciousness. Mindo has helped over 550 people to raise their Levels of Consciousness and has helped them to discover their Highest True Potential, Freedom and Power! www.newhumanitylife.com www.galacticacademy.org
In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 9th September 2023, Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan's teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.
Zastanawiałeś się kiedykolwiek, kim naprawdę jesteś? W dzisiejszym filmie zagłębimy się w praktykę samo-badania, która różni się od tradycyjnych metod medytacji. Zamiast skupiać uwagę na jakimś obiekcie medytacji w nadziei na osiągnięcie relaksu czy spokoju, skupimy się na bezpośrednim badaniu naszej wewnętrznej natury. W praktyce self-enquiry zadajemy sobie proste, ale głębokie pytania, takie jak "Kim jestem?". Zamiast szukać odpowiedzi w formie myśli, uczymy się obserwować, jak te myśli powstają i znikają, zastanawiając się, kto je postrzega i skąd one pochodzą. To nie jest typowa medytacja. Może wywołać poczucie niezrozumienia, frustracji, ale jej celem jest skierowanie uwagi w zupełnie inną stronę niż na co dzień. Chcemy zrozumieć, skąd pochodzi nasza chęć tworzenia i osiągania, kto naprawdę chce osiągać i tworzyć. Jeśli jesteś gotów na podróż w głąb siebie, doświadczyć czegoś więcej niż słowa mogą wyrazić, zapraszamy do oglądania. Pamiętaj, prawdziwa odpowiedź leży poza słowami. Miłego słuchania :)
My reading this episode is two extracts from the works of Ramana Maharshi. The first is an excerpt from a longer work entitled “Who Am I,” and the second is titled “Self Enquiry.” The “Self Enquiry” piece was written around 1901, and both writings appear in Author Osborne’s The Collected Works of Sri Ramana Maharshi. … Continue reading "Ramana Maharshi – Instructions for Self Enquiry"
In this episode, Ana muses on the variety of identities we assume in a lifetime, and the eventual possibility of relinquishing those decriptors of the small self on the journey towards remembering our true nature.
In a Zoom meeting with the San Diego Ramana Satsang (ramana-satsang-sd@googlegroups.com) on 7th May 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan's teachings. This episode can also be watched as a video here and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded here.
In a Zoom meeting with the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK on 29th April 2023 Michael answers various questions about Bhagavan's teachings. ----more---- This episode can also be watched as a video here, and a more compressed audio copy in Opus format (which can be listened to in the VLC media player and some other apps) can be downloaded from here.
Self enquiry? What on earth are Sam and Ellie on about? This week we're diving a dive into the power of listening to ourselves (from the mind to the body and all in between). Why? Because the more in tune you are with what's going on 'inside', the more beautiful your life will become!
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge: dharma talks and meditation instruction
(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) edited
This is meditation on the Nature of the Mind by Lama Shabkar taken from the text, "The Flight of the Garuda" - translated by Keith Dowman. Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (1781-1851) was a Tibetan Buddhist yogi and poet from Amdo. Shabkar's yogic and poetic skill is considered second only to Milarepa. Shabkar begin his spiritual practice early, completing a one-year retreat at the age of 16, later becoming a Gelug monk at 20. Shabkar studied with masters of all major Tibetan Buddhist schools including Gelug and Nyingma, and received Dzogchen teachings from his main root guru Chögyal Ngakgi Wangpo. He spent years in solitary retreats in various caves, woods and mountains of Tibet. Shabkar's works express non-sectarian ideals similar to those of the 19th century Rimé movement, even though he predates the movement by about three decades and never met with any of the Rime masters from Kham.
We are defined by so many things, aren't we? Just think about it. Your name was given to you by your parents, your nationality is an accident of birthplace, and your physical features by your genes. Now add educational status, social status, work status, financial status etc etc. You are defined by multiple surface layers, some acquired willingly, others not!But who are you really? When you strip back all those layers, what is there? What is left?The practice of self-enquiry is thousands of years old as people across the ages have pondered the question "who am I?" It is the foundation for meditation and pranayama practice which are ultimately paths to self-discovery. To know consciously what you are beyond body, mind and emotions. In this podcast I'm flying solo and talking about self-enquiry and why it's important. I take you through a short exercise to give you an idea of what it means. Aren't you curious?Find Mina: www.minablair.com
For this episode I'm sharing a guest teacher session from Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, all about "Shaping Your Life Through Journalling & Self-Enquiry," with Vienda Maria. This session is full of Vienda's, and some of my own, personal stories and experiences with journaling, and how we have used it to process our emotions, listen to our intuition, clear creative and emotional blocks, implement boundaries that support us and shape a creative life that is always shifting, changing and growing. This "Creative Convo" episode is perfect for you if you are looking for processes to explore in your journaling practice to help you listen to yourself, hear your own inner wisdom, process emotions and build a loving, compassionate relationship with yourself through your journalling practice. I hope you love it! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nicola-newman/message
In this episode, Amarjit discusses the process of self-enquiry from the perspective of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He talks about some important teachers, such as Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Papaji, who followed this methodology to become self-realized. Amarjit then plays a recording of Papaji answering a student's question at satsang. Podcast website https://www.thestoryofmepodcast.com/ Support the show with a donation. https://www.thestoryofmepodcast.com/contact/ Sign up for Amarjit's Newsletter http://eepurl.com/b8aohb Submit your questions: https://www.thestoryofmepodcast.com/contact/ Be a guest on the podcast to discuss some issues that you may be dealing with in your life. https://www.thestoryofmepodcast.com/contact/ Full show notes: https://www.thestoryofmepodcast.com/self-enquiry-with-advaita-vedanta/ Mentioned on the show: Papaji satsang recording played on the podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMHcak07pmE Papaji documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBIK-VFvDhA Ramana Maharshi documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkcYAFGjkVU book: https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Works-Ramana-Maharshi/dp/1597310042/ref=sr_1_3?crid=4TFBJGR079OW&keywords=ramana+maharshi&qid=1656425759&s=books&sprefix=ramana%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C359&sr=1-3 Book of Nisargadatta Maharaj, I am that https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj-dp-0893860468/dp/0893860468/ref=dp_ob_title_bk Amarjit's Merch Shop Europe: https://thestoryofmepodcast.myspreadshop.net/ North America: https://thestoryofmepodcast.myspreadshop.com/ Amarjit's Social Media: Substack: https://amarjitsingh.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/amarjitsingh8 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarjitsingh8/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amarjitsingh810 Visit our sponsors: https://www.singhflutes.com/ Music courtesy of http://www.aykanna.com/
"Jeśli momentami czujesz że Self-Enquiry (badanie siebie) jest dla Ciebie intelektualnie trudne albo nie czujesz o co w tym chodzi, to jest prostsza metoda - poddaj się. Ustąp na moment. I zobacz, że nadal żyjesz, kiedy ustąpisz... Być może lżej?" ~ Nitya
Embodied self enquiry is where we begin to notice the stories of the mind without needing to explain, fix or find a solution. Where we create safety to notice the narratives and feel emotions without making any of it right or wrong.In this podcast recorded at the 2021 Fundamentals of Tantra, Chantelle delves into how to clear away the blockage to expressing your authentic truth, through discourse on: Reflecting with the body (not the mind)Feeling as a portal to understandingCheck out the Academy's online library of Tantric courses: www.embodiedawakeningacademy.com, or sign up for our newsletter for Tantric tools and tips: https://www.embodiedawakening.academy/newsletter.
Self enquiry is a powerful practice that seekers have used for thousands of years to discover who they really are. Vishrant guides seekers into meditation and to enquire into your true nature in this recording. You are invited to relax, tune in to the energy field of truth and discover true self. Vishrant is an enlightened Sannyasin of Osho Rajneesh who has been guiding seekers towards finding higher consciousness and discovering their true nature since his awakening in 1999. His invitation is for you to discover what you really are and to remove the obstacles in the way of living as your true nature. Learn more about Vishrant, his work and his community at www.vishrant.org.
Dr. David Rabin is a conscious innovator dedicated to elevating human consciousness through our inherent ability and right (last time I checked) to heal the monkey mind we're collectively drowning in. Right now, we're jacked up on a pyramid of addictions, from physical substances and devices to other, less tangible habits, such as moral echo chambers and negative bias. In this enlightening physiological voyage with Dr. Rabin, we consider the potential to create space between triggers and actions in our shared mission to make peace with peace. One way I have been tuning in to the body and confronting my “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous response is with Apollo: a novel touch therapy device that emits gentle waves of vibration, scientifically proven to improve your resilience to stress. Kudos for pushing the envelope of psychological possibilities forward in the offset of the pandemic, and maintaining a tight-knit team throughout this fiasco. The scientific research on Apollo is fascinating – so intriguing, we nearly didn't have time to touch on a few fan fave topics, such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and the neurobiology of belief. Prepare for some jaw-dropping facts in this one. After diving into the science, you're probably going to want to check the Apollo out for yourself, so head to https://apolloneuro.com/lukestorey for a sweet 15% discount. 05:15 — Launching Apollo Into the World Selling out the first batch of devices just before the world shut down Protecting company culture during the pandemic, and scaling a team remotely Dr. Rabin's private practice and building trust with clients Ketamine-assisted therapy training 19:00 — Therapy as a Vehicle for Change Talk therapy and feedback Why you need to feel safe in order to create opportunities to change Putting your thoughts into question 44:32 — The Principle of Self Enquiry Facing emotional fears, and growing from awareness Why cancel-culture is not helping anyone, and the real way to cultivate inner or collective peace Humor and sublimation: the way out of projection How technology can help us become more human The amygdala, detecting threats, and our stress response 1:18:48 — How Apollo Works Delivering sense of safety in a stressful environment The scientific correlation between music, the mind, and your mood Why we need touch to feel in community How Apollo helped Dr. Rubin conquer performance anxiety The fascinating takeaways from years researching Apollo Breath Try Apollo for yourself at apollonuero.com and use code “LUKE15” for 15% 1:57:30 —The Peaks and Pitfalls of Psychedelics Current legislation on psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine Taking responsibility to use psychedelics effectively IV DMT clinical trials, and the potential for it to be patented Navigating psychedelics with a healthy dose of excitement and caution Why dosage really matters Why you need to read: PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story Examining the 2C family More about this episode. Watch it on YouTube. Connect with Luke on social media to learn how to take your lifestyle to the next level, plus catch exclusive live interviews & events: INSTAGRAM - @lukestorey // instagram.com/lukestorey/ FACEBOOK - facebook.com/MrLukeStorey/ TWITTER - @MrLukeStorey // twitter.com/MRLUKESTOREY YOUTUBE - youtube.com/c/LukeStorey THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: JOOVV. A new generation of Joovv devices are here, and I am stoked. They're sleeker, lighter, easier to set up, and allow you to stand 3x further away from the device while still getting the recommended dosage. There's also a new ambient mode to help you wind down at the end of the day, and a recovery mode that will help you rejuvenate after a tough workout. If you are ready to get a new Joovv device, you can get a discount for a limited time over at Joovv.com/luke. AND... Water and Wellness. I take my water very seriously and use Water and Wellness to ensure my H2O is pure, toxin-free, and mineral-rich. Their team has crafted a portfolio backed by decades of research and phenomenal results. My house is set up with their RO, countertop water filter, AquaTru, and my cupboards are stocked with Quinton to keep me hydrated and healthy daily. Just one set of filters makes the equivalent of 4,500 water bottles, so you're saving on plastic too. Head to waterandwellness.com/storey and get the AquaTru system + one set of replacement filters + a free 30-day supply of Quinton sea mineral sachets for only $499. AND… Super Speciosa. As a medicine, kratom is a wonderful plant-medicine that combats anxiety, high blood pressure, and pain. For the highest quality, most pure Kratom leaf that's been rigorously third party-lab tested, I rely on Superspecio. Head to getsuperleaf.com/luke to save 20% off your next purchase. HELP SUPPORT THIS SHOW! Love the Show? You'll really love Luke's Master Market Online Store! It's a win-win! Get direct links to all of Luke's hand-picked biohacking and health products all in one place, exclusive discounts, and support the show by making purchases through the web store >> SHOP NOW. Other ways to support: SUBSCRIBE >> Apple Podcasts + Stitcher + Google Podcasts + Spotify LEAVE APPLE PODCASTS REVIEW >> Simple step-by-step instructions SHARE >> Spread the word! Tell your family, friends, neighbors, and all your social pals Resources Website: drdave.io Instagram: @drdavidrabin Twitter: @daverabin Clubhouse: @Dr.Dave Apollo: apolloneuro.com Apollo Research + Fact Sheet Related Shows Episode #284: Psychedelic Psychiatry: Cosmic Connections w/ Dr David Rabin
Everything you experience - like thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions - come and go. But do you come and go with them?To help answer this question is philosopher Rupert Spira, who walks us through a simple but powerful process of 'self-enquiry'**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these interviews - head to simonmundie.comFor the original episode with Rupert Spira - go here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-philosophy-of-sport-and-reality-rupert-spira/id1564063336?i=1000521016109 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
BONUS | In this special bonus episode of the podcast we hear from a past student of mine, Sara, about her experience with my 6-week online program, EMBODIED. Sara shares with us the profound impact that this course had on her relationship with herself, exploring her feminine side for the first time and discovering strength in softness. If you're interested to know what you can expect from joining EMBODIED, have a listen!Through video lessons, curated exercises, workbooks and guided meditations, along with weekly live zoom sessions with me, we'll explore how to feel truly embodied from the inside out. Each week we'll dive in to a new topic to help you connect deeper with your self, your pleasure and your loved ones. We'll explore themes such as:✨ Self-Enquiry and De-conditioning✨ The energetics of Feminine & Masculine Polarity✨ Menstrual Cycle Awareness✨ Self-Intimacy & Self-Pleasure✨ S3x & Orga$m✨ Relationships & CommunicationEnrolments for EMBODIED are open now! Head to thesensualityacademy.com/embodied
BONUS | In this special bonus episode of the podcast we hear from a past student of mine, Elaine, about her experience with my 6-week online program, EMBODIED. Elaine opens up about the ways in which the practices she learnt in the course impacted her relationship with herself and her boyfriend, what she loved most about the course and so much more.Through video lessons, curated exercises, workbooks and guided mediations, along with weekly live zoom sessions with me, we'll explore how to feel truly embodied from the inside out. Each week we'll dive in to a new topic to help you connect deeper with your self, your pleasure and your loved ones. We'll explore themes such as:✨ Self-Enquiry and De-conditioning✨ The energetics of Feminine & Masculine Polarity✨ Menstrual Cycle Awareness✨ Self-Intimacy & Self-Pleasure✨ S3x & Orga$m✨ Relationships & CommunicationEnrolments for EMBODIED open next week & waitlist students will receive bonus content plus priority enrolment.To get yourself on the waitlist, head to thesensualityacademy.com/embodied-waitlist - or simply find the link in the episode description and show notes.
Reading from the text - Be As You Are - by Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. I have omitted the questions for ease of flow. Edited by David Godman.
How do you connect with your true self? Your soul? These are the type of questions I love to dig in to. So on today's Episode, I invite yoga teacher, storyteller & founder of Ahi Wellness Tarikura Kapea to come explain how your spiritual self and self care are connected. You'll learn how you can simplify your self care and the different products, rituals and practices you can start doing to enhance your life. You'll walk away feeling empowered to make your mental + spiritual wellness a priority.Episode at a glance...Tarikura shares about herself & her spiritual journey What it means to be spiritual What is self care and how its connected to your spiritual self Are there guidelines or rules to self care? Why you DO HAVE TIME for self care Is watching netflix & being on your phone really self care?How tracking your menstrual cycle is a form of self care A note on birth control & how its f*cked up we aren't taught about our bodies How the ritual of taking baths can improve your life The science behind essential oils Easy steps you can take to start connecting to your soul How self care can be easy and simple if you choose itConnect with Ali...Instagram @ali.merrisWebsite alimerriscoaching.comLearn about Rise & Shine, my transformative 10 week 1:1 coaching program here. Want to work with me? I'm taking new clients in July! Book a free chat to get started here.
vedagyan2020@gmail.comVedanta/ is a roadmap of the journey of/ “Atma-Vichaar” /or the journey of Self Enquiry/. The purpose of this journey is realization of the ultimate reality – the truth. The truth about your self, the truth about the Universe and the truth about happiness. Vedanta contains knowledge about Atma. Atma means Consciousness
Following numerous requests, here is a Guided Meditation on Self-Enquiry - spoken spontaneously by Samaneri Jayasara, ending with an {optional} poem for meditation written by Ayya Jitindriya. Image: La Scapigliata, 2021, Found Stones, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Original by Leonardo De Vinci). Justin Bateman - Pebble Art https://landminds.weebly.com/ Music: Chinese Twilight by Klaus Schønning Poem: "The Mountain Hermitage of Mu" by Ayya Jitindriya
The Invitation from the teachings of Mooji is a simple and potent awakening technique. It helps us to reveal our true nature: formless Being. The meditation starts with Ava leading a gentle relaxation and drop-in, before going further into the Self-Enquiry.
Important notes on the practice of Self-enquiry and why one should persist with it inspite of initial obstacles. Also, a gentle reminder not to judge your thoughts.
This is the only practice that the Maharshi recommended. It's super effective and a surefire way to Self-realisation. I've tried to simplify the practice for you while retaining it's essence and explaining the logic.
Myself and Chrissy explore the power of Self-Mastery and Self-Enquiry. We talk about the importance of taking ownership of your own suffering whilst honouring all your life experiences. Chrissy is very passionate about Gene Keys, a tool to unlocking the enormous potential of your life. This is an inspiring and insightful conversation which will leave you feeling empowered to create real transformation in your inner world. “The impact of our minds & beliefs on our physical well being is so great” Exploring a practice to hearing your inner voice - What can people do at home who are new to self enquiry? Exploring Gene Keys - self discovery system that gives an insight into challenges you may face along the way and discovery into the gifts that live within those challenges. “What does it look like to befriend and embrace your shadow” You can find out more about Chrissy here or by visiting her social links! Chrissy Papetti LLC, wwww.chrissypapetti.com Chrissy Papetti, Self Mastery Mentor, Success Coach, and Speaker at www.chrissypapetti.com About: Chrissy is a Self-Mastery Mentor, Success Coach, and Speaker who teaches leaders and high-achievers to override the limiting patterns in their mind and body that may be holding them back from their potential. She focuses on mental, physical, emotional, & spiritual wellbeing practices with science-backed and spiritually-informed theories, such as The Gene Keys, Human Design, experience-dependent neuroplasticity, subconscious reprogramming, nervous system and emotional regulation, manifestation, behavioral flexibility and resilience, epigenetics, purpose-driven neuroscience and more. Since 2018, she's helped 30+ clients 20x their monthly income and transition their career-paths to start their own businesses, reduce reported levels of anxiety, depression, physical pain, as well as significantly improved their physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life. Social Links: https://www.instagram.com/chrissypapetti/ https://www.facebook.com/chrissy.papetti --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/selfagencyadvocate/support
Welcome to Part 2 of my interview with Michael James. Michael is a learned scholar and teacher of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's teachings. The philosophy and practice of the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana have been taught to many thousands of fortunate students across the world. Michael James is the translator of Tamil works by Sri Ramana and his disciples, Sri Muruganar and Sri Sadhu Om, author of 'Happiness and the Art of Being', and writer of hundreds of articles discussing and explaining the teachings of Bhagavan. Please enjoy: Who Am I - Michael James Interview, PART 2. Today, we discuss: Self Enquiry and self surrender being the 2 methods for liberation What is meant by surrendering to God, to trust God? What is body consciousness? What are the self limiting ideas of the self or the ego? Is it true that if these limiting ideas of the self for the ego or removed, then one can realise self? --- Please see Part 1 on YouTube or my earlier Part 1 Podcast show: Who was Sri Ramana Bhagavan? What is meant by the self? Happiness and how we look for it How we identify with the I Living in the moment What is the real method of living in the moment? — Welcome to my Podcast (Happiness NOW) show… If you would like to watch these interviews then please see my YouTube Channel (Happiness NOW) http://www.youtube.com/c/HappinessNOW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/happinessisnow/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happinessnowchannel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NowHappiness Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/HappinessNowChannel Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happinessnowchann If you would like to connect with me or be interviewed yourself - then please email: happinessnowchannel@gmail.com
Many of us start playing sport because we just fall in love with it. However, many athletes who progress to a higher level of competition lose the joy of sport on the way and their sport-life becomes filled with worry and anxiety. This is a phenomenon Sam Jarman has encountered in many athletes he has worked with. Sport has become a means to happiness rather than an experience of happiness in itself.In this episode, Sam tells about his life as a professional athlete and subsequent work on the mental side of sport, including the philosophical perspective that guides his work. According to him, we first need to address the 'Big Questions' about the nature of reality and our beliefs and values before thinking about any techniques to try to solve our problems. And actually, if we confront and address these questions, the other problems might resolve; we (again) just play our sport. Sam works with teams, coaches and players in a number of sports, helping them learn about the mental side of their games. He has written two books on the subject for golfers. Originally a golf professional, he has experience working in professional football and rugby environments, as well as amateur clubs and schools. He currently works as the Wellbeing and Performance coach for Buckinghamshire Cricket and BB&O Golf.Sam brings a different approach to learning about the mental side of sport, emphasising understanding and self enquiry, rather than prescribing techniques or coping strategies.You can find out more about Sam and his work at https://samjarmangolf.com/ and on Twitter @SamJarmanGolf
30| Many of us are on a constant quest for self-improvement, but how do we do this from an embodied perspective? In this episode I'm joined by mindset coach, Efia Sulter to dive deeper into all things mindset and manifestation.In this eye-opening chat, we explore:How to balance your masculine and feminine energiesReframing our so-called negative traitsMaking meditation less intimidatingHow to find all the answers you need within yourselfJournalling for self-enquiryEfia's signature framework for manifestationAnd the importance of setting boundariesThis podcast is for YOU, so if you ever have any questions you'd like me to answer on the show, or topics you'd like me to cover - reach out to me on email here (LINK) or over on instagram @eleanorhadley (LINK)Links and Resources:Efia Sulter is a mindset coach who is obsessed with helping millennial women squash their limiting beliefs and create empowering new stories so they can manifest the lives of their dreams.You can connect with her on instagram @efiasulter_Manifestation Course - effytalkslife.com/conscious-alchemyFacebook community - Facebook.com/groups/thehighvibesoultribe
BONUS #1 | I'm so excited to be bringing you some special bonus episodes! I've been featured on some amazing podcasts and have recently chatted with some of the wonderful hosts and they've agreed to let me share our interviews with you here on The Sensuality Academy Podcast.First up, we have an interview I did with Samantha Ruberto of Hello BeYOUtiful.In this interview, we chat all about my best secrets to spice up your life and immerse yourself on a heightened sensual path. We chat about the importance of self love, the myths around female sexuality and how to set a mood - wherever you may be.You can find the Hello BeYOUtiful Podcast here: https://hello-beyoutiful.simplecast.com/episodes/pursuing-pleasure-how-to-tap-into-your-sensual-side-the-art-of-self-inquiry-sexuality-divine-feminine-power-with-eleanor-hadley-g3QEcqgRFollow @samantharuberto: https://www.instagram.com/samantharuberto/Follow @hellobeyoutifulpodcast https://www.instagram.com/hellobeyoutifulpodcast/
Listener question: When you talk about the ‘dissolving' of beliefs I still can't get my head around it. I have thoughts like ‘I am not strong enough to cope with this lack of sleep' is that a belief in itself or a thought coming from a deeper belief e.g. I am not resilient? When I question this belief my mind comes up with lots of evidence as to why it is true e.g. my buggered immune system and my tiredness (staying out of the story of these as much as possible) My mind seems to then hit a wall and I find myself tracing back to questioning the ‘I' in the belief e.g. who is it that is not resilient? Perhaps I'm just not entirely sure what self enquiry actually is at the moment it seems to be creating shit storm confusion rather than a portal to what is true.
Connect with T.L. Mazumdar // EveryNowHere : Website: www.findtl.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everynowheremusic/ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/39S0dP5 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlmusician Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlmazumdar
Free-will vs Fate, Astronomy, Vedanta, self-enquiry.....and so much more in the next 30 min. This is the first of our Vedic astrology series with Vikram Devatha. In this episode we get familiar with the history of Vedic astrology and dispel long-held colonial perceptions as we explore the relevance of Vedic astrology in our modern lives. I cannot be more excited to launch with this episode. So subscribe, listen up and SHARE! :) Vikram Devatha is a fascinating blend of a data scientist and Vedic astrologer who believes in the power of big-data to find patterns in life! He is passionate about the Vedas and has been studying Vedic Astrology, Yoga, Cosmology, Vedic mathematics and Philosophy for several decades now. He has a post-graduate diploma in Vedic Astrology from the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences and subsequently taught Astrology for many years. Apart from Astrology, he has written a book on Vedic Maths, a system of mathematics that allows problems to be solved quickly and efficiently. That was when he realized that he needed better, sharper, more efficient tools, and knowledge for processing data. He recently graduated from the Indian School of Business with a gold medal and is currently working at Franklin Templeton as a data scientist in deriving actionable insights from performance and sales of mutual funds. You can reach him on his website: https://www.allthingsvedic.in or instagram @vikramdevatha
Self-awareness without action is absolutely useless. We are not just here to learn about ourselves without changing ourselves, INFJs.Thank you for listening! I have just started an online community called Soul Vitamins where you can access all of my courses, books, and videos for a low monthly price. Check it out at https://bit.ly/soulvitamins2 If you want to connect with me further - below are some ways:Buy my course on creating healthy boundaries at http://bit.ly/boundariescourse2Check out my YouTube Channel at https://m.youtube.com/c/BoomShikhaJoin my FB group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/boomshikha/ Email me at boomshikha at themillionairehippie dot com if you have feedback. Love and light as always,Boom Shikha See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Go to the root cause of our illusions stemming from our false identifications and long term belief , in order to feel stronger in face of adversity and danger. The answer lies within.
The School of Life is a global organisation helping people live more fulfilling lives. With multiple centres around the world, they hold space for exploring self-knowledge through classes, content, community and conversation. In my chat here with Australian Managing Director Eleanor Gammell we discuss the growing importance to have a place of non-judgment to explore the complexity of our inner and outer worlds, particularly at a time of social and environmental importance.
Do objects have a Self? How to use mantras properly? How is the lifestyle of a typical magician? What does the Self Enquiry actually show?
Shunyamurti says that in the early phases of the spiritual journey, the path is divided in four types (action, devotion, meditative, and gyani) and explains each of them, then revealing that, as one goes further, the paths break into two (the "do it yourself" and the bhakti/surrender), describing each of these paths, but stating that both of these require love (not simply karma, willpower, etc.) and any belief one has about oneself.
Shunyamurti leads us on a guided meditation, focusing on Ramana Maharshi's practice of Atma Vichara, or Self-Enquiry, the question "Who Am I?"
Shunyamurti clarifies that the realization of the Self happens outside of time, beyond the world, but the ego-mind is caught in practicality, not to mention dealing with inner drives, desires, fears (of loneliness), but the issues that plague the ego are often never acknowledged because of the ego's focus on the practical and superficial, and he then contrasts this with the case of Ramana and gives a detailed account of Ramana's history leading up to and following his realization of the Self, ending with the point that realization will happen the moment we choose it.
Who am I or what is my essence is the most important question one can ask. This is the Self Enquiry. This talk is an introduction to the enquiry and is meant for beginners. We define the essence as that which remains unchanged, and progressively eliminate all that is non-essential, changing and unnecessary. In this way we arrive at the real I.
Listen to Intuitive Life coach Angela Mills of Empowered Coaching share with you how you can use self enquiry to develop self love & find your purpose.
The Master gives four essential requirements for Self Enquiry to be effective. These are - discrimination, dispassion, cessation of worldly activities and an intense desire for liberation. He explains what happens when some of them or any of them are lacking. He concludes that no matter what you think you have, these four are absolutely necessary for any seeker.
Self-Enquiry cannot just be a mental, dry understanding. It has to have the fragrance of the Self and the energetic presence of the miraculous. Then it will do its work and set you free from the limitations of your imagined identity. A Spontaneous Satsang recorded at Monte Sahaja 9 February 2014
Matt Jongbloet is an open-minded creative who is definitely an old soul. He is wise beyond his years, contributing to the conscious website Live Learn Evolve. Matt is also a creative branding and graphic design specialist. He provides practical wisdom tips that we can use in our everyday lives. Connect with Matt: https://livelearnevolve.com/ Instagram: matt_livelearnevolve Email: matthewjongbloet@gmail.com Graphic Design Work: https://mjongbloet.com/ Learn more about Vipassana meditation here: https://www.dhamma.org/en/about/vipassana Connect with me: Email: maire_123@hotmail.co.uk (mailto:maire_123@hotmail.co.uk) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildexpansion/ If you enjoyed the podcast episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Feel free to share with a friend or family member you think might enjoy this episode.
What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (1) – Audio Excerpts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi. Narration by Vasundhara. Wonderful, Useful Teachings. Guidance for Life and Meditation. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Self-Enquiry-Tips-1-101517-1.38-PM.mp3 The post What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (1) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (2) – Audio Excerpts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi. Narration by Vasundhara. Wonderful, Useful Teachings. Guidance for Life and Meditation. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Self-Enquiry-Tips-2-101817-11.57-AM.mp3 The post What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (2) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (3) – Audio Excerpts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi. Narration by Vasundhara. Wonderful, Useful Teachings. Guidance for Life and Meditation. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Self-Enquiry-Tips-3-102317-3.11-PM.mp3 The post What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (3) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (4) – Audio Excerpts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi. Narration by Vasundhara. Wonderful, Useful Teachings. Guidance for Life and Meditation. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Self-Enquiry-Tips-4-102917-1.15-PM.mp3 The post What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (4) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (5) – Audio Excerpts from Talks with Ramana Maharshi. Narration by Vasundhara. Wonderful, Useful Teachings. Guidance for Life and Meditation. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Self-Enquiry-Tips-5-11917-8.01-AM.mp3 The post What is Self Enquiry? How to do it? (5) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Talks with Ramana Maharshi (18 – 24) – Audio Talks 1 – 13. English. Audio and Video. Lucid, Melodious Narration and Beautiful Video by Vasundhara. Great Guidance for Life, Meditation and Self-Enquiry. https://sriramanamaharishi.com/ramana/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Talks-3-8417-9.08-AM.mp3 The post Talks with Ramana Maharshi (18 – 24) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
In this episode I speak with the courageous Jen Crescenzo, a Melbourne yoga teacher and teacher trainer – E-RYT 500 and Certified Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) This interview is both deep and honest about Jen’s journey from a holding a successful career in the film … Ep #24 – The Life changing power of self enquiry w/ Jen Crescenzo Read More »
Self enquiry is a practice which has been popularized by the great indian saint Ramana Maharshi. It's a direct way of investigating the "I" or the "I AM". In this episode the brothers talk about their own experience with this practice.
This week's show is Eli Jaxon-Bear is the author of An Outlaw Makes It Home. A life long search for freedom took Eli around the world and into many spiritual traditions from a Zen monastery in Japan to a Sufi circle in Marrakesh, among others. His search ended when he was drawn to India (1990) where he met his final teacher, Papaji; a direct disciple of the renowned Indian Sage Ramana Maharshi. Confirming Eli's realization, his teacher sent him back into the world to share his unique psychological insights into the nature of egoic suffering in support of self-realization. Eli infuses his teaching with his teacher's living transmission of silence and peace. He presents a unique map of egoic identification as a vehicle for ruthless self-inquiry and final realization of true freedom. His life is dedicated to passing on the transmission of his teacher. Eli founded and currently teaches through The Leela Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to world peace and freedom through universal self-realization, as well as The Leela School In this conversation, Eli shared the power of self enquiry - what it is, how it works and what it can help you to discover. As a bonus, Eli has an incredibly fascinating story himself which illustrates what he's talking about - we explore his time as a revolutionary, LSD and immortal consciousness... It was quite a trip!
This is a podcast of an enquiry with teenagers at Brockwood Park school in Hampshire. 8 of us spoke about the need for self-enquiry, conditioning, opinions, whether we share the same mind and what it means to be successful. If asked the right questions young people are insightful and remarkably clear. This podcast is part of the non-profit Human Enquiry Project - more details at humanenquiry.com
MEDITATION: IT’S NOT ALL HIPPIES AND PATCHOULI – Why It Matters To Both Your Health AND Bottom Line Links: 7 Types of Meditation (there are many more) https://visualmeditation.co/7-types-of-meditation/ 23 Types of Meditation (there are many more) http://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/ Summary of Meditation Types and Practices http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/24/types-of-meditation-extensive-list-of-techniques/ Summary of Meditation Effects on Brain: https://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/19/how-different-types-of-meditation-affect-the-brain/70052.html More on the practice and science of meditation http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/09/how-to-meditate/ Resources: Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill. Matthieu Ricard. Little, Brown, 2006. Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence. Antoine Lutz et al. in Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 29, No. 42, pages 13,418–13,427; October 21, 2009. Mind Wandering and Attention during Focused Meditation: A Fine-Grained Temporal Analysis of Fluctuating Cognitive States. Wendy Hasenkamp et al. in NeuroImage, Vol. 59, No. 1, pages 750–760; January 2, 2012. FROM OUR ARCHIVES The Physiology of Meditation. Robert Keith Wallace and Herbert Benson; February 1972. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ONLINE Watch talks by Davidson and Ricard at http://ScientificAmerican.com/nov2014/meditation Intro: Broad categories or types of meditation Specific practices Science of meditation How to choose and why Example Creative meditation techniques enable us to consciously cultivate and strengthen specific qualities of mind. Patience, appreciation, sympathetic joy, gratitude, love, compassion, fearlessness, humility, tenderness, and other qualities associated with aspects of nature, Divinity, or the natural world are among the attributes that are most commonly cultivated. Creative meditations invite us to actively nurture these strengths of character by thinking, speaking, and acting "as though" these qualities are more fully alive within us. Types of Meditation: 3 Primary Methods To decide what type of meditation you like best, I recommend doing some experimentation. You may want to try one particular type for 10 days, and if you don’t really like it, try another type. The only way to find the type that you enjoy the most is by testing the waters with some different techniques and observing how you respond. The most popular types of meditation include: Vipassana (Mindfulness) and TM (Transcendental), but there are infinitely more meditations than these two. Nearly all types of meditations fit into a category of: concentration, open monitoring, or effortless awareness. 1. Focused Attention (Concentration) Example: Vipassana All types of meditation that involve enhancing concentration can be classified as “focused attention” technique. These practices involve focusing attention on one specific thing for the entire time with the goal of cultivating laser-like focus. Any concentration meditation will involve consistent mental effort to build up the ability to focus without succumbing to distraction. Certain practices may involve focusing on an external object (e.g. a pen), while others will involve focusing on the breath. In any regard, the goal is to direct 100% focus on one thing for the entire session. When the mind wanders, the focus is calmly brought back to the object. Over time, the mind wanders less and the ability to focus your attention improves for longer durations. 2. Mindfulness (Open Monitoring) Example: Mindfulness With this type of meditation, you aren’t focusing your attention on one specific object. In this case, you are letting your attention flow freely without judgment or attachment. In other words, you are simply observing all perceptions, thoughts, memories, and senses that you experience during your practice. Developing the quality of “open monitoring” is synonymous with mindfulness – you are “mindful” of your experience. Being mindful of your perception allows you to observe your experience almost from a third-person perspective rather than first-person attachment. You notice all sensations that you’re feeling, but merely observe them rather than judge them or react positively or negatively. In Vipassana, qualities of concentration along with mindfulness are generally developed together. 3. Effortless Transcending Example: Transcendental Meditation (TM) This type of meditation is classified as “effortless” because it requires no mental effort or concentration. Some have called this subtype of meditation “pure being” or “transcendental” because it involves emptiness, introversion, and calmness. The goal with this specific type is to essentially help the meditator recognize their pure essence (e.g. “Pure Self”) or the true nature of the self by eliminating all thought. The mind becomes a blank slate with consistent practice. Some have compared effortless transcending to giving the brain a massage or bath. The transcendental process helps the individual silence their mind and become aware of deep (arguably “purer”) states of consciousness. A person who has been practicing this specific type may experience a state of emptiness or nothingness and find that it feels great. They Each do different things! And science is now discovering that they have different effects on the brain. …in one fMRI study, appropriately titled “Putting Feelings into Words” participants viewed pictures of people with emotional facial expressions. Predictably, each participant’s amygdala activated to the emotions in the picture. But when they were asked to name the emotion, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity. In other words, consciously recognizing the emotions reduced their impact. How Different Types of Meditation Affect the Brain By Rick Nauert PhD~ 2 min read Be it mindfulness, zen, acem, meditation drumming, chakra, Buddhist, or transcendental meditation, there are countless ways to meditate. Researchers are now parsing how the brain works during different kinds of meditation. “No one knows how the brain works when you meditate. That is why I’d like to study it,” says Jian Xu, M.D., a physician at St. Olavs Hospital and a researcher at the Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Along with colleagues at the University of Oslo and the University of Sydney, Xu’s research was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Different meditation techniques can actually be divided into two main groups. One type is concentrative meditation, where the meditating person focuses attention on his or her breathing or on specific thoughts, and in doing so, suppresses other thoughts. The other type may be called nondirective meditation, where the person who is meditating effortlessly focuses on his or her breathing or on a meditation sound, but beyond that the mind is allowed to wander as it pleases. Some modern meditation methods are of this nondirective kind. Fourteen people who had extensive experience with the Norwegian technique of Acem meditation were tested in an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In addition to simple resting, they undertook two different mental meditation activities, nondirective meditation and a more concentrative meditation task. The research team wanted to test people who were used to meditation because it meant fewer misunderstandings about what the subjects should actually be doing while they lay in the MRI machine. Nondirective meditation led to higher activity than during rest in the part of the brain dedicated to processing self-related thoughts and feelings. When test subjects performed concentrative meditation, the activity in this part of the brain was almost the same as when they were just resting. “I was surprised that the activity of the brain was greatest when the person’s thoughts wandered freely on their own, rather than when the brain worked to be more strongly focused,” said Xu. “When the subjects stopped doing a specific task and were not really doing anything special, there was an increase in activity in the area of the brain where we process thoughts and feelings. It is described as a kind of resting network. And it was this area that was most active during nondirective meditation,” he said. “The study indicates that nondirective meditation allows for more room to process memories and emotions than during concentrated meditation,” said Svend Davanger, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, and co-author of the study. “This area of the brain has its highest activity when we rest. It represents a kind of basic operating system, a resting network that takes over when external tasks do not require our attention. It is remarkable that a mental task like nondirective meditation results in even higher activity in this network than regular rest,” said Davanger. Acem meditation is a technique that falls under the category of nondirective meditation. Davanger believes that good research depends on having a team that can combine personal experience with meditation with a critical attitude towards results. “Meditation is an activity that is practiced by millions of people. It is important that we find out how this really works,” said Davanger. Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology Which meditation should you practice? It totally depends on why you want to meditate in the first place. If your goal is to become more relaxed, you have plenty of great options. If your goal is to become more focused, you’d want to use a concentrative type of meditation. Various other types like Vajrayana actually increase arousal rather than decrease it, so be careful with the type you choose. Whether you believe in the spiritual aspect of each (e.g. kundalini) is a personal thing and highly subjective. Assuming you want to meditate, pick a practice that appeals to you and give it a shot. However, keep in mind that the science behind meditation is relatively new in terms of long-term neural and physiological changes. We do know that different types of meditation produce specific neural and physiological adaptations. Therefore choosing one type may literally transform your brain in an entirely different way than another. Many people assume that the benefits of every type of meditation can be lumped into a collective pile, but clearly they cannot. Assuming you practice meditation for a long-term, be sure to choose a practice that you enjoy and that helps you achieve your particular goal. Personal thoughts on meditation… Science clearly supports the idea that certain types of meditation can be beneficial for mental performance and physical health. That said, there are some dangers to be aware of such as: extensive meditation leading to social isolation, meditation worsening depression or anxiety, too much inward focus (not balanced with the external), and falsely thinking that all the answers are found by looking inwards. Humans didn’t evolve to meditate, they evolved to seek out external things in their environment. While meditation has its place to help with spiritual endeavors, relaxation, and mental performance, too much meditation may lead to adverse experiences – especially for a novice. Also avoid trapping yourself in any new age “cult” thinking that meditation and the idea of enlightenment will solve all your problems; newsflash: it won’t. If you’re just getting started, I recommend using the app called “Headspace” which is a form of Mindfulness meditation. The science supports mindfulness for reducing anxiety, depression, and other measures. The nice thing about this app is there is no religious, subjective, “spiritual” hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo, witchcraft, non-scientific voodoo. It simply guides you through the meditation process at a slow, safe pace. SPECIFIC TYPES OF MEDITATION – AN OVERVIEW OF 23 MEDITATION TECHNIQUES By Giovanni 276 Commentsmeditation, mindfulness Ok, so you know that meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you. This article will help you navigate the sea of different practices of seated meditation, briefly explaining each of them, and pointing to further resources. There are literally hundreds – if not thousands – of types of meditation, so here I will explore only the most popular ones. You can also check my walking meditation guide, for more dynamic meditation techniques. Or, if you already have some experience with meditation, you might enjoy reading about the meditation experiments I was doing while writing this post. At the bottom of this page you will find a button to download a FREE PDF copy of this post, for easy reference. The advice regarding the posture of meditation is very similar among the different styles of seated practice, so I will go in to more detail about it only once, when talking about the first technique (Zen meditation). I have strived to include a “Is it for me?” section, with general observations about each practice. Keep in mind these are tentative; they are there to give some direction, and potentially any person could feel attracted to any of these modalities. This article does NOT tell you which is “the best” type of meditation – because there is no such thing, and I’m not here to create controversy. Also, I have here focused more on meditative practices; I may write another article on other similar practices, that are more about relaxation or contemplation. If you are a beginner, you may also enjoy the post on meditation tips and meditation for beginners – how to build the habit. The “best” meditation is the meditation that works for you, at this stage in you life.3 GENERAL TYPES Scientists usually classify meditation based on the way they focus attention, into two categories: Focused Attention and Open Monitoring. I’d like to propose a third: Effortless Presence. Focused attention meditation Focusing the attention on a single object during the whole meditation session. This object may be the breath, a mantra, visualization, part of the body, external object, etc. As the practitioner advances, his ability to keep the flow of attention in the chosen object gets stronger, and distractions become less common and short-lived. Both the depth and steadiness of his attention are developed. Examples of these are: Samatha (Buddhist meditation), some forms of Zazen, Loving Kindness Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation, Sound Meditation, Mantra Meditation, Pranayama, some forms of Qigong, and many others. Open monitoring meditation2 Instead of focusing the attention on any one object, we keep it open, monitoring all aspects of our experience, without judgment or attachment. All perceptions, be them internal (thoughts, feelings, memory, etc.) or external (sound, smell, etc.), are recognized and seen for what they are. It is the process of non-reactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment, without going into them. Examples are: Mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, as well as some types of Taoist Meditation. Effortless Presence It’s the state where the attention is not focused on anything in particular, but reposes on itself – quiet, empty, steady, and introverted. We can also call it “Choiceless Awareness” or “Pure Being”. Most of the meditation quotes you find speak of this state. This is actually the true purpose behind all kinds of meditation, and not a meditation type in itself. All traditional techniques of meditation recognize that the object of focus, and even the process of monitoring, is just a means to train the mind, so that effortless inner silence and deeper states of consciousness can be discovered. Eventually both the object of focus and the process itself is left behind, and there is only left the true self of the practitioner, as “pure presence”. In some techniques, this is the only focus, from the beginning. Examples are: the Self-Enquiry (“I am” meditation) of Ramana Maharishi; Dzogchen; Mahamudra; some forms of Taoist Meditation; and some advanced forms of Raja Yoga. In my point of view, this type of meditation always requires previous training to be effective, even though this is sometimes not expressly said (only implied). 1) BUDDHIST MEDITATION Zen Meditation (Zazen) Origin & Meaning Zazen (坐禅) means “seated Zen”, or “seated meditation”, in Japanese. It has its roots in the Chinese Zen Buddhism (Ch’an) tradition, tracing back to Indian monk Bodhidharma (6th century CE). In the West, its most popular forms comes from Dogen Zenji (1200~1253), the founder of Soto Zen movement in Japan. Similar modalities are practiced in the Rinzai school of Zen, in Japan and Korea. Focusing on breath — focus all your attention on the movement of the breath going in and out through the nose. This may be aided by counting the breath in your mind. Each time you inhale you count one number, starting with 10, and then moving backward to 9, 8, 7, etc. When you arrive in 1, you resume from 10 again. If you get distracted and lose your count, gently bring back the attention to 10 and resume from there. Shikantaza (“just sitting”) — in this form the practitioner does not use any specific object of meditation; rather, practitioners remain as much as possible in the present moment, aware of and observing what passes through their minds and around them, without dwelling on anything in particular. It’s a type of Effortless Presence meditation Learn more: Zen Mountain Monastery Open Way (PDF) Visit a Zen Buddhist center near to you. Most of them teach zazen for free. Is it for me? Zazen is a very sober meditation style, and you can easily find a lot of strong communities practicing it, as well as plenty of information on the internet. There is a lot of emphasis in keeping the right posture, as an aid for concentration. It is usually practiced in Zen Buddhist centers (Sangha), with strong community support. In many of them you will find it coupled with other elements of Buddhist practice: prostrations, a bit of ritualism, chanting, and group readings of the Buddha teachings. Some people will like this, others won’t. Personally, I practiced zazen in a Buddhist group for 3 years, and I found that those elements and a bit of formality can also help create a structure for the practice, and in themselves they are also meditative. Vipassana Meditation Origin & Meaning “Vipassana” is a Pali “insight” or “clear seeing”. It is a traditional Buddhist practice, dating back to 6th century BC. Vipassana-meditation, as taught in the last few decades, comes from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, and was popularized by S. N. Goenka and the Vipassana movement. Due to the popularity of Vipassanā-meditation, the “mindfulness of breathing” has gained further popularity in the West as “mindfulness”. How to do it [There is some conflicting information on how to practice Vipassana. In general, however, most teachers emphasize starting with mindfulness of breath in the first stages, to stabilize the mind and achieve “access concentration.” This is more like focused attention meditation. Then the practice moves on to developing “clear insight” on the bodily sensations and mental phenomena, observing them moment by moment and not clinging to any. Here goes an introduction, aimed for beginners. To know more I’d suggest following up the links provided or learning from a teacher (perhaps in a Vipassana retreat).] Ideally, one is to sit on a cushion on the floor, cross-legged, with your spine erect; alternatively, a chair may be used, but the back should not be supported. The first aspect is to develop concentration, through samatha practice. This is typically done through breathing awareness. Focus all your attention, from moment to moment, on the movement of your breath. Notice the subtle sensations of the movement of the abdomen rising and falling. Alternatively, one can focus on the sensation of the air passing through the nostrils and touching the upper lips skin – though this requires a bit more practice, and is more advanced. As you focus on the breath, you will notice that other perceptions and sensations continue to appear: sounds, feelings in the body, emotions, etc. Simply notice these phenomena as they emerge in the field of awareness, and then return to the sensation of breathing. The attention is kept in the object of concentration (the breathing), while these other thoughts or sensations are there simply as “background noise”. The object that is the focus of the practice (for instance, the movement of the abdomen) is called the “primary object”. And a “secondary object” is anything else that arises in your field of perception – either through your five senses (sound, smell, itchiness in the body, etc.) or through the mind (thought, memory, feeling, etc.). If a secondary object hooks your attention and pulls it away, or if it causes desire or aversion to appear, you should focus on the secondary object for a moment or two, labeling it with a mental note, like “thinking”, “memory”, “hearing”, “desiring”. This practice is often called “noting”. A mental note identifies an object in general but not in detail. When you’re aware of a sound, for example, label it “hearing” instead of “motorcycle,” “voices” or “barking dog.” If an unpleasant sensation arises, note “pain” or “feeling” instead of “knee pain” or “my back pain.” Then return your attention to the primary meditation object. When aware of a fragrance, say the mental note “smelling” for a moment or two. You don’t have to identify the scent. When one has thus gained “access concentration”, the attention is then turned to the object of practice, which is normally thought or bodily sensations. One observes the objects of awareness without attachment, letting thoughts and sensations arise and pass away of their own accord. Mental labeling (explained above) is often use as a way to prevent you from being carried away by thoughts, and keep you in more objectively noticing them. As a result one develops the clear seeing that the observed phenomena is pervaded by the three “marks of existence”: impermanence (annica), insatisfactoriness (dukkha) and emptiness of self (annata). As a result, equanimity, peace and inner freedom is developed in relation to these inputs. Learn more: Types of Vipassana (read the answer from Anh-Minh Do) Vipassana Dhura (very in-depth article) Vipassana for beginners (Goenka style) Mindfulness in Plain English (free eBook) Visit a Vipassana center near you Is it for me? Vipassana is an excellent meditation to help you ground yourself in your body, and understand how the processes of your mind work. It is a very popular style of meditation. You can find plenty of teachers, websites, and books about it, as well as 3~10 days retreats (donation based). The teaching of it is always free. There are no formalities or rituals attached to the practice. If you are completely new to meditation, Vipassana or Mindfulness are probably good ways for you to start. Mindfulness Meditation Origin & Meaning Mindfulness Meditation is an adaptation from traditional Buddhist meditation practices, especially Vipassana, but also having strong influence from other lineages (such as the Vietnamese Zen Buddhism from Thich Nhat Hanh). “Mindfulness” is the common western translation for the Buddhist term sati. Anapanasati, “mindfulness of breathing”, is part of the Buddhist practice of Vipassana or insight meditation, and other Buddhist meditational practices, such as zazen (source: Wikipedia). One of the main influencers for Mindfulness in the West is John Kabat-Zinn. His Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) – which he developed in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – has been used in several hospitals and health clinic on the past decades. How to do it Mindfulness meditation is the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment, accepting and no3n-judgmentally paying attention to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise. For the “formal practice” time, sit on a cushion on the floor, or on a chair, with straight and unsupported back. Pay close attention to the movement of your breath. When you breath in, be aware that you are breathing in, and how it feels. When you breath out, be aware you are breathing out. Do like this for the length of your meditation practice, constantly redirecting the attention to the breath. Or you can move on to be paying attention to the sensations, thoughts and feelings that arise. The effort is to not intentionally add anything to our present moment experience, but to be aware of what is going on, without losing ourselves in anything that arises. Your mind will get distracted into going along with sounds, sensations, and thoughts. Whenever that happens, gently recognize that you have been distracted, and bring the attention back to the breathing, or to the objective noticing of that thought or sensation. There is a big different between being inside the thought/sensation, and simply being aware of it’s presence. Learn to enjoy your practice. Once you are done, appreciate how different the body and mind feel. There is also the practice of mindfulness during our daily activities: while eating, walking, and talking. For “daily life” meditation, the practice is to pay attention to what is going on in the present moment, to be aware of what is happening – and not living in “automatic mode”. If you are speaking, that means paying attention to the words you speak, how you speak them, and to listen with presence and attention. If you are walking, that means being more aware of your body movements, your feet touching the ground, the sounds you are hearing, etc. Your effort in seated practice supports your daily life practice, and vice-versa. They are both equally important. Learn more: Psychology Today (more details on how to practice) Palouse Mindfulness (MBSR free online course) Mindfulness exercises Mindful Schools Is it for me? For the general public, this is perhaps the most advisable way to get started with meditation. It is the type of meditation that is most taught at schools and hospitals, as far as I am aware. The “mindfulness movement” as practiced nowadays in society at large, is not Buddhism, but an adaptation of Buddhist practices due to their benefits in good physical and mental health and general wellbeing. For most people, Mindfulness Meditation may be the only type of meditation they will like, especially if their focus is only the physical and mental benefits of meditation, as it is usually taught dissociated from several of the eastern concepts and philosophies that traditionally accompanied the practice. And for that it is great – it will bring many good things to your life. If your focus is a deeper transformation and spiritual development, however, then mindfulness meditation may be just an initial step for you. From here you can then move into Vipassana, Zazen, or other types of meditation. Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation) Origin & Meaning Metta is a Pali word that means kindness, benevolence, and good will. This practice comes from the Buddhist traditions, especially the Theravada and Tibetan lineages. “Compassion meditation” is a contemporary scientific field that demonstrates the efficacy of mettaand related meditative practices. Demonstrated benefits include: boosting one’s ability to empathize with others; development of positive emotions through compassion, including a more loving attitude towards oneself; increased self-acceptance; greater feeling of competence about one’s life; and increased feeling of purpose in life (read more in our other post). How to do it One sits down in a meditation position, with closed eyes, and generates in his mind and heart feelings of kindness and benevolence. Start by developing loving-kindness towards yourself, then progressively towards others and all beings. Usually this progression is advised: oneself a good friend a “neutral” person a difficult person all four of the above equally and then gradually the entire universe The feeling to be developed is that of wishing happiness and well-being for all. This practice may be aided by reciting specific words or sentences that evoke the “boundless warm-hearted feeling”, visualizing the suffering of others and sending love; or by imagining the state of another being, and wishing him happiness and peace. The more you practice this meditation, the more joy you will experience. That is the secret of Mathieu Richard’s happiness. “For one who attends properly to the liberation of the heart by benevolence, unarisen ill will does not arise and arisen ill will is abandoned.” – The Buddha9 In this article, Emma Seppälä, Ph.D explores the 18 scientifically proven benefits of Loving-Kindness meditation. Learn more: Wikipedia on Metta Meditation Metta Institute (Buddha’s word on metta) Huffington Post article on the benefits of metta Is it for me? Are you sometimes too hard on yourself or on others? Or feel like you need to improve your relationships? Loving-kindness meditation will help you. It is beneficial both for selfless and self-centered people, and it will help increase your general level of happiness. You cannot feel loving-kindness and depression (or any other negative feeling) at the same time. It is also often recommended, by Buddhist teachers, as an antidote to insomnia, nightmares, or anger issues. 2) HINDU MEDITATION (Vedic & Yogic) Mantra Meditation (OM Meditation) A mantra is a syllable or word, usually without any particular meaning, that is repeated for the purpose of focusing your mind. It is not an affirmation used to convince yourself of something. Some meditation teachers insist that both the choice of word, and its correct pronunciation, is very important, due to the “vibration” associated to the sound and meaning, and that for this reason an initiation into it is essential. Others say that the mantra itself is only a tool to focus the mind, and the chosen word is completely irrelevant. Mantras are used in Hindu traditions, Buddhist traditions (especially Tibetan and “Pure Land” Buddhism), as well as in Jainism, Sikhism and Daoism (Taoism). Some people call mantra meditation “om meditation”, but that is just one of the mantras that can be used. A more devotion oriented practice of mantras is called japa, and consists of repeating sacred sounds (name of God) with love. How to do it As most type of meditations, it is usually practiced sitting with spine erect, and eyes closed. The practitioner then repeats the mantra in his mind, silently, over and over again during the whole session. Sometimes this practice is coupled with being aware of the breathing or coordinating with it. In other exercises, the mantra is actually whispered very lightly and softly, as an aid to concentration. As you repeat the mantra, it creates a mental vibration that allows the mind to experience deeper levels of awareness. As you meditate, the mantra becomes increasingly abstract and indistinct, until you’re finally led into the field of pure consciousness from which the vibration arose.Repetition of the mantra helps you disconnect from the thoughts filling your mind so that perhaps you may slip into the gap between thoughts. The mantra is a tool to support your meditation practice. Mantras can be viewed as ancient power words with subtle intentions that help us connect to spirit, the source of everything in the universe. (Deepak Chopra) Here are some of the most well-known mantras from the Hindu & Buddhist traditions: om so-ham om namah shivaya om mani padme hum rama yam ham You may practice for a certain period of time, or for a set number of “repetitions” – traditionally 108 or 1008. In the latter case, beads are typically used for keeping count. As the practice deepens, you may find that the mantra continues “by itself” like the humming of the mind. Or the mantra may even disappear, and you are left in a state of deep inner peace. Learn more: Wikipedia article on Mantra Seven Ways to Meditate with OM Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound (book) Mantras: Words of Power (book) Is it for me? People usually find that it is easier to focus with a mantra than with the breathing. Because a mantra is a word, and thoughts are usually perceived as words, it can be easier to keep the focus on a mantra rather than on the breathing. It is useful especially when the mind is racing with many thoughts, since it mantra meditation demands constant attention. Meditating with a mantra can also make it simpler to integrate your meditative state into your daily life. In whatever activity you find yourself into, it can be as simple as repeating the mantra in your mind. Transcendental Meditation (TM) Origin & Meaning Transcendental Meditation is a specific form of Mantra Meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1955 in India and the West. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Maharishi achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles, The Beach Boys and other celebrities. It is a widely practiced form of meditation, with over 5 million practitioners worldwide, and there is a lot of scientific research, many sponsored by the organization, demonstrating the benefits of the practice. There are over 600 scientific papers, many of them peer-reviewed, and I have used part of their research when composing my benefits of meditation page. However, there are also critics of the Maharishi and his organization, and some accusation of cultish behavior and doubtful research practices.[Image from NurseTalkSite.com] How to do it Transcendental meditation is not taught freely. The only way of learning it is to pay to learn from one of their licensed instructors. The support given seems to be good, though. In general, however, it is known that TM involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one’s eyes closed. The mantra is not unique, and is given to the practitioner based on his gender and age. They are also not “meaningless sounds” – rather, they are Tantric names of Hindu deities. This probably is irrelevant for most people. This is the official site of the movement: TM site. There is another similar technique, called Natural Stress Relief, which was created in 2003 by a former TM Teacher, and is much cheaper to learn (47 USD instead of 960 USD), and has stripped out some mystical elements of the practice of TM, such as the initiation (puja) and yogic flying (part of TM-Siddhi). You can learn more about NSR in comparison to TM here and here. Is it for me? Personally I don’t feel comfortable advising anyone to try Transcendental Meditation anymore, especially if you are looking to go deep into meditation. To know more, check out this answer I wrote in Quora. If you wish to try something similar, for a fraction of the cost or for free, have a look at NSR (above), or Mantra Meditation. Yoga Meditations Origin & Meaning There is not one type of meditation which is “Yogic Meditation”, so here it is meant the several meditation types taught in the yoga tradition. Yoga means “union”. Tradition goes as far as 1700 B.C, and has as its highest goal spiritual purification and Self-Knowledge. Classical Yoga divides the practice into rules of conduct (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and contemplative practices of meditation (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi). The Yoga tradition is the oldest meditation tradition on earth, and also the one with the widest variety of practices. How to do it Here are some types of meditation practiced in Yoga. The most common and universal Yoga meditation one is the “third eye meditation”. Other popular ones involve concentrating on a chakra, repeating a mantra, visualization of light, or gazing meditations. Third Eye Meditation — focusing the attention on the “spot between the eyebrows” (called by some “the third eye” or “ajna chakra”). The attention is constantly redirected to this point, as a means to silence the mind. By time the “silent gaps” between thoughts get wider and deeper. Sometimes this is accompanied by physically “looking”, with eyes closed, towards that spot. Chakra Meditation — the practitioner focuses on one of the seven chakras of the body (“centers of energy”), typically doing some visualizations and chanting a specific mantra for each chakra (lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, om). Most commonly it is done on the heart chackra, third eye, and crown chackra. Gazing Meditation (Trataka) — fixing the gaze on an external object, typically a candle, image or a symbol (yantras). It is done with eyes open, and then with eyes closed, to train both the concentration and visualization powers of the mind. After closing the eyes, you should still keep the image of the object in your “mind’s eye”. This meditation is so important and powerful, that I wrote this post on the subject. Kundalini Meditation — this is a very complex system of practice. The goal is the awakening of the “kundalini energy” which lies dormant on the base of the spine, the development of several psychic centers in the body, and, finally, enlightenment. There are several dangers associated with this practice, and it should not be attempted without the guidance of a qualified yogi. Kriya Yoga — is a set of energization, breathing, and meditation exercises taught by Paramahamsa Yogananda. This is more suited for those who have a devotional temperament, and are seeking the spiritual aspects of meditation. To learn it, you can apply to receive the Self-Realization lessons, free of charge. Sound Meditation (Nada Yoga) — focusing on sound. Starts with meditation on “external sounds”, such as calming ambient music (like Native American flute music), whereby the student focuses all his attention on just hearing, as a help to quieten and collect the mind. By time the practice evolves to hearing the “internal sounds” of the body and mind. The ultimate goal is to hear the “Ultimate Sound” (para nada), which is a sound without vibration, and that manifests as “OM”. Tantra — unlike the popular view in the West, most Tantra practices have nothing to do with ritualized sex (this was practiced by a minority of lineages. Tantra is a very rich tradition, with dozens of different contemplative practices. The text Vijnanabhairava Tantra, for instance, lists 108 “meditations”, most of them more advanced (already requiring a certain degree of stillness and mind control). Here are some examples from that text: Merge the mind and the senses in the interior space in the spiritual heart. When one object is perceived, all other objects become empty. Concentrate on that emptiness. Concentrate on the space which occurs between two thoughts. Fix attention on the inside of the skull. Close eyes. Meditate on the occasion of any great delight. Meditate on the feeling of pain. Dwell on the reality which exists between pain and pleasure. Meditate on the void in one’s body extending in all directions simultaneously. Concentrate on a bottomless well or as standing in a very high place. Listen to the Anahata [heart chakra] sound. Listen to the sound of a musical instrument as it dies away. Contemplate on the universe or one’s own body as being filled with bliss. Concentrate intensely on the idea that the universe is completely void. Contemplate that the same consciousness exists in all bodies. Pranayama — breathing regulation. It is not exactly meditation, but an excellent practice to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. There are several different types of Pranayama, but the simplest and most commonly taught one is the 4-4-4-4. This means breathing in counting up to 4, holding for 4 seconds, breathing out for 4 seconds, and holding empty for 4 seconds. Breathe through your nose, and let the abdomen (and not the chest) be the one that moves. Go through a few cycles like this. This regulation of breathing balances the moods and pacifies the body, and can be done anywhere. Yoga is a very rich tradition, with different lineages, so there are many other techniques. But the ones above are the most well-known; the others are more specific or complex. For a start, this video is an excellent resource on how to do Yoga style meditation, and it combines breathing, body awareness, mantra, and chakra meditation. Learn more: Meditations from the Tantras (book) Chakras: Seven Chakras, Mind Body Green, Wikipedia article, Chakra Meditation Trataka (LiveAndDare post) Meditation and Mantras (book) Raja Yoga (book) Kriya Yoga (Self-Realization Fellowship) Nada Yoga: Spirit Sound, The Practice of Nada Yoga (book), Wikipedia, Bindu Magazine (compreenshive article) The Science of Pranayama (book) Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy (book) List of meditation objects in Yoga (George Feuerstein) Is it for me? With all these types of meditation in Yoga, you are likely to find one that you like. If you are a musician, perhaps nada yoga is something that will attract you. If you are a devotional person, kriya yoga is a good option. Kundalini and Chakra meditation should only be attempted with a teacher. Probably the simplest one to try is the “third eye meditation”, which is simple and yields results fairly quickly. For the other types you would probably need more instruction, either of a teacher or a good book (see references above). Besides, Pranayama is definitely something anyone can benefit from. Self-Enquiry and “I Am” Meditation Origin & Meaning Self-Enquiry is the English translation for the Sanskrit term atma vichara. It means to “investigate” our true nature, to find the answer to the “Who am I?” question, which culminates with the intimate knowledge of our true Self, our true being. We see references to this meditation in very old Indian texts; however, it was greatly popularized and expanded upon by the 20th-century Indian sage Ramana Maharshi (1879~1950). The modern non-duality movement (or neo-advaita), which is greatly inspired in his teachings – as well as those of Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897~1981) and Papaji – strongly uses this technique and variations. Many contemporary teachers to employ this technique, the most famous ones being Mooji (whom I’ve personally been with and recommend), Adyashanti, and Eckhart Tolle. How to do it This practice is very simple, but also very subtle. When explaining it, however, it may sound very abstract. Your sense of “I” (or “ego”) is the center of your universe. It is there, in some form or another, behind all your thoughts, emotions, memories, and perceptions. Yet we are not clear about what this “I” is – about who we truly are, in essence – and confuse it with our body, our mind, our roles, our labels. It’s the biggest mystery in our lives. With Self-Enquiry, the question “Who I am?” is asked within yourself. You must reject any verbal answers that may come, and use this question simply as a tool to fix your attention in the subjective feeling of “I” or “I am”. Become one with it, go deep into it. This will then reveal your true “I”, your real self as pure consciousness, beyond all limitation. It is not an intellectual pursuit, but a question to bring the attention to the core element of your perception and experience: the “I”. This is not your personality, but a pure, subjective, feeling of existing – without any images or concepts attached to it.Whenever thoughts/feelings arise, you ask yourself, “To whom does this arise?” or “Who is aware of _____ (anger, fear, pain, or whatever)?” The answer will be “It’s me!”. From then you ask “Who am I?”, to bring the attention back to the subjective feeling of self, of presence. It is pure existence, objectless and choice-less awareness. Another way of explaining this practice is to just focus the mind on your feeling of being, the non-verbal “I am” that shines inside of you. Keep it pure, without association with anything you perceive. On all other types of meditation, the “I” (yourself) is focusing on some object, internal or external, physical or mental. In self-enquiry, the “I” is focusing on itself, the subject. It is the attention turned towards its source.There is no special position to practice, although the general suggestions about posture and environment are helpful for beginners. Learn more: Guided “I am” Meditations with Mooji: Teachings of Ramana Maharishi: Happiness of Being, David Godman’s blog, Sri Ramanasram official site Nisargadatta Maharaj: Enlightened-Spirituality Quotes apps (iOS) Be As You Are (book or Ramana’s teachings) I Am That (book of Nisargadatta Maharaj, a modern spiritual classic) Is it for me? This meditation is very powerful in bringing inner freedom and peace; yet, if you don’t have previous experience with meditation, you may find it very hard to follow through. As an initial aid to give you a feeling for it, I would advise following some guided meditations from Mooji, in YouTube. 3) CHINESE MEDITATION Taoist Meditations Origin & Meaning Daoism is a Chinese philosophy and religion, dating back to Lao Tzu (or Laozi). It emphasizes living in harmony with Nature, or Tao, and it’s main text is the Tao Te Ching, dating back to 6th century B.C. Later on some lineages of Taoism were also influenced by Buddhist meditation practices brought from India, especially on the 8th century C.E.. The chief characteristic of this type of meditation is the generation, transformation, and circulation of inner energy. The purpose is to quieten the body and mind, unify body and spirit, find inner peace, and harmonize with the Tao. Some styles of Taoist Meditation are specifically focused on improving health and giving longevity. Image from InternalArtsInternational.com How to do it There are several different types of Taoist meditation, and they are sometimes classified in three: “insight”, “concentrative”, and “visualization”. Here is a brief overview: Emptiness meditation — to sit quietly and empty oneself of all mental images (thoughts, feelings, and so on), to “forget about everything”, in order to experience inner quiet and emptiness. In this state, vital force and “spirit” is collected and replenished. This is similar to the Confucius discipline of “heart-mind fasting”, and it is regarded as “the natural way”. One simply allows all thoughts and sensations arise and fall by themselves, without engaging with or “following” any of them. If this is found to be too hard and “uninteresting”, the student is instructed with other types of meditation, such as visualization and Qigong Breathing meditation (Zhuanqi) — to focus on the breath, or “unite mind and qi”. The instruction is “focus your vital breath until it is supremely soft”. Sometimes this is done by simply quietly observing the breath (similar to Mindfulness Meditation in Buddhism); in other traditions it is by following certain patterns of exhalation and inhalation, so that one becomes directly aware of the “dynamisms of Heaven and Earth” through ascending and descending breath (a type of Qigong, similar to Pranayama in Yoga). Neiguan (“inner observation; inner vision”) — visualizing inside one’s body and mind, including the organs, “inner deities”, qi (vital force) movements, and thought processes. It’s a process of acquainting oneself with the wisdom of nature in your body. There are particular instructions for following this practice, and a good book or a teacher is required. These meditations are done seated cross-legged on the floor, with spine erect. The eyes are kept half-closed and fixed on the point of the nose.Master Liu Sichuan emphasises that, although not easy, ideally one should practice by “joining the breath and the mind together”; for those that find this too hard, he would recommend focusing on the lower abdomen (dantian). Learn more: 1stHolistic.com (detailed practical information) Wikipedia article (Overview of historical development of different Taoist meditation practices) Is it for me? People that are more connected with the body and nature may like to try Taoist meditation, and enjoy learning a bit about the philosophy behind it. Or if you are into martial arts or Tai Chi, this might be of your interest. However, Taoist centers and teachers are not as easy to find as Buddhist and Yoga ones, so it might be a challenge to follow through. Qigong (Chi kung) Origin & Meaning Qigong (also spelled chi kung, or chi gung) is a Chinese word that means “life energy cultivation”, and is a body-mind exercise for health, meditation, and martial arts training. It typically involves slow body movement, inner focus, and regulated breathing. Traditionally it was practiced and taught in secrecy in the Chinese Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist traditions. In the 20th century, Qigong movement has incorporated and popularized Daoist meditation, and “mainly employs concentrative exercises but also favors the circulation of energy in an inner-alchemical mode” (Kohn 2008a:120). For a deep study on Qigong history, theory, and philosophy, I recommend The Root of Chinese Qigong. Daoist practices may also employ Qigong, but since Qigong is also applied in other Chinese philosophies, I decided to treat it as a separate subject. How to do it There are thousands of different Qigong exercises cataloged, involving over 80 different types of breathing. Some are specific to martial arts (to energize and strengthen the body); others are for health (to nourish body functions or cure diseases); and others for meditation and spiritual cultivation. Qigong can be practiced in a static position (seated or standing), or through a dynamic set of movements – which is what you typically see in YouTube videos and on DVDs. The exercises that are done as a meditation, however, are normally done sitting down, and without movement. To understand more about Qigong and learn how to do it, I’d recommend getting a book or DVD set from Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, such as this one. But here goes an introductory overview of the practice of seated Qigong meditation: Sit in a comfortable position. Make sure your body is balanced and centered. Relax your whole body – muscles, nerves, and internal organs Regulate your breathing, making it deep, long, and soft. Calm your mind Place all your attention in the “lower dantien”, which is the center of gravity of the body, two inches below the navel. This will help accumulate and root the qi (vital energy). Where your mind and intention is, there will be your qi. So, by focusing on the dantien, you are gathering energy in this natural reservoir. Feel the qi circulating freely through your body. Other famous Qigong exercises are: Small Circulation (also called “microcosmic circulation”) Embryonic Breathing Eight Pieces of Brocade (see this book excerpt & Wikipedia article) Muscle Tendon Changing (or “Yi Jin Jing”, taught by Bodhidharma) The first two are seated meditation, while the latter two are dynamic Qigong, integrating body stretches. Learn more: Wikipedia article Yang Jwing Ming DVDs (YouTube) The Qigong Institute Qigong Forum Is it for me? Qigong meditation may be more attractive to people that like to integrate a more active body and energy work into the practice. If seated meditation is unbearable for you, and you prefer something a bit more active, try some of the more dynamic forms of Qigong. Again, there are several styles of Qigong out there, and you may need to try with different teachers or DVDs to find the one that suits you.Some people have a taste of dynamic Qigong through the practice of Tai Chi. 4) CHRISTIAN MEDITATION In Eastern traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism) meditation is usually practiced with the purpose of transcending the mind and attaining enlightenment. On the other hand, in the Christian tradition the goal of contemplative practices is, one may say, moral purification and deeper understanding of the Bible; or a closer intimacy with God/Christ, for the more mystic stream of the tradition. Here are some forms of Christian contemplative practice: contemplative prayer — which usually involves the silent repetition of sacred words or sentences, with focus and devotion contemplative reading — or simply “contemplation”, which involves thinking deeply about the teachings and events in the Bible. “sitting with God” — a silent meditation, usually preceded by contemplation or reading, in which we focus all our mind, heart and soul on the presence of God To read more about this, check out our post on Contemplative Prayer and Christian Meditation. 5) GUIDED MEDITATIONS Origin & Meaning Guided Meditation is, in great part, a modern phenomenon. It is an easier way to start, and you will find guided meditations ba sed on several of the above traditions. The practice of meditation requires some dose of determination and will-power. In the past, people that were into meditation were more committed to it, and also had strong ideals fuelling their motivation. Their life was more simple, with less distractions. We live in very different times now. Our life is busier. Will power is a less common personal asset. Distractions are everywhere, and meditation is often sought as a means to develop better health, enhance performance, or improve oneself. For these reasons, guided meditation can indeed be a good way to introduce you to the practice. Once you get the hang of it, and wish to take your practice to the next level, I would urge you to try meditation unassisted by audio. It is up to you to decide when you feel like taking this step. Guided Meditation is like cooking with a recipe. It’s a good way to start, and you can eat the food you make like this. But once you understand the main principles and flavors, you can cook your own dish. It will have a different, unique taste; it will be tailored for you, and more powerful. And then you will not want to use the recipe anymore – unless if you are trying a dish of another cuisine. [Image from BinauralBeatsMeditation.com] How to do it Guided meditation usually comes in the form of audio (file, podcast, CD), and sometimes audio and video. You will find that any guided meditation will fall in one of below categories (with some overlap, obviously). Traditional Meditations — With these types of audios, the voice of the teacher is simply there to “illustrate” or “guide” the way for your attention, in order to be in a meditative state; there is more silence than voice in it, and often no music. Examples are the ones offered by Thich Nhat Hanh and Tara Brach, which are rooted in authentic Buddhist practices. The purpose is to develop and deepen the practice itself, with all the benefits that come with it. Guided Imagery — Makes use of the imagination and visualization powers of the brain, guiding you to imagine an object, entity, scenery or journey. The purpose is usually healing or relaxation. Relaxation & Body Scans — Helps you achieve a deep relaxation in your whole body. It’s usually accompanied by soothing instrumental music or nature sounds. In Yoga these are called yoga nidra. The purpose is relaxation and calmness. Affirmations — Usually coupled with relaxation and guided imagery, the purpose of these meditations is to imprint a message in your mind. Binaural Beats — Binaural beats were originally discovered in 1839 by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. He discovered when signals of two different frequencies are presented separately, one to each ear, your brain detects the phase variation between the frequencies and tries to reconcile that difference. This is used to generate alpha waves (10 Hz), which is the brain wave associated with initial levels of meditation. There is scientific research into why and how binaural beats work. While they all have their merits, it is the first type that most naturally evolves into individual unguided practice. Learn more: UCLA Free Guided Meditations Head In The Clouds (big collection of free guided meditations) Free Binaural Beats Yoga Nidra (YouTube) Headspace app (Guided meditations on your phone!) Is it for me? If you feel traditional meditation is a bit too hard, or you are unsure where to start, then guided meditations can be the way for you to begin. Or if you are seeking some very specific experience or benefit – like improving self-esteem, working through a trauma, or just letting go of some tension in your body – you can also find some guided meditation that suits you.
Talks with Ramana Maharshi (14 – 17) – Audio Talks 14 – 17. English. Audio and Video. Lucid, Melodious Narration and Beautiful Video by Vasundhara. Great Guidance for Life, Meditation and Self-Enquiry. The post Talks with Ramana Maharshi (14 – 17) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Talks with Ramana Maharshi (1 – 13) – Audio Talks 1 – 13. English. Audio and Video. Lucid, Melodious Narration and Beautiful Video by Vasundhara. Great Guidance for Life, Meditation and Self-Enquiry. The post Talks with Ramana Maharshi (1 – 13) – Audio appeared first on Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Ponder deep questions in this philosophical meditation. • Quiet your mind through deep breathing • Explore the true nature of your being • Release ego attachment to your body and its functions • Connect with your eternal Self
Self Enquiry - Swami Sarvapriyananda
The Myth of Self Enquiry
Self Enquiry How do we go from consistently living in the victim mindset to living from an empowered internal state? Listen to the audio here: Download the Podcast here CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND SUBSCRIBE ON iTunes The first obstacle here is the victim state! Often it is not something […]
Author of 'The Joy Of No Self' talks about her complete turn around of her belief that there is nothing you can do to awaken ... to "YES" there is something you can do......Mandi found lasting freedom through the method of "Self Enquiry" by Ramana Maharshi.
Mandi Solk lives in the town of Huddersfield in Yorkshire, England, UK. Mandi teaches Self-Enquiry based on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and following in the footsteps of Papaji and Mooji and is dedicated to guiding all who are drawn to Truth to the recognition of who they truly are - FREE right now! She has written a book: ‘The Joy of No Self’, endorsed by Scott Kiloby and Jeff Foster, and she will soon be working on another, which will focus on Self-Enquiry. On her website, you can book individual Skype sessions with her or arrange for her to lead Satsangs in your area. Mandi's book: The Joy of No Self Website: nonduality-mandi.blogspot.com Interview recorded 12/15/2012 First interview with Mandi. Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
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