Transcendental Meditation (TM): One of the two most important techniques of Maharishi Ayur-Ved. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi founded TM in 1957 and introduced it in the United States in 1959.

Transcendental Meditation is a means of experiencing pure awareness. It involves sitting comfortably, with eyes closed, for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day while one mentally repeats a mantra.

In Transcendental Meditation, a mantra is a thought-sound that has a known vibratory effect but does not have a designative meaning. The TM teacher chooses a mantra suitable for the initiate.

(See also: Transcendental Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Meditation The attempt to raise the self-conscious mind to the level of its spiritual counterpart, to unite manas with a ray from buddhi. It is a positive attitude of mind, a state of consciousness rather than a system or a time period of intensive thinking.

It corresponds in its more perfect form to the ecstasy of Plotinus, which he defines as "the liberation of the mind from its finite consciousness, becoming one and identified with the Infinite."

It is silent prayer in one real sense, for the heart aspires upwards to become freed from all desire for personal benefit, and the mind frames no specific object, but both unite in the aspiration; not my will, but thine, be done. When engaged in at the outset of the day, or on retiring to sleep, it often takes the form of reflecting profoundly and impersonally on spiritual teachings, as well as self-examination, attuning of the mind and heart to calm and unselfish thought and feelings, as well as the endeavor to realize in consciousness one's highest ideals of duty, purity, and truth, and inducing thereby a general harmonizing and one-pointed adjustment of the whole nature.

"Meditate all the time -- nothing is so easy and so helpful. Far better is this for most students than to have a set period: quiet, unremitting thought on the questions you have, continuing even when the hands are busy with the tasks of the day, and the mind itself quite absorbed by other duties. In the back of the consciousness there can still be this steady undercurrent of thought. It is likewise a protecting shield in all one's affairs, for it surrounds the body with an aura drawn forth from the deeper recesses of the auric egg . . ." (FSO 39).

(See also: Meditation, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Color Meditation (CM, Color Magick): Variation of color therapy developed by occultist Ray Buckland. It includes sequentially visualizing cones of different colors pointing toward the seven major chakras ( psychic centers that are etheric yet glandular). According to CM theory, each of these chakras has a governing color. The principle of CM is that meditation and the use of colored light together increase the opening of chakras and reinforce them.

(See also: Color Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

meditation: 1. Continuous and profound contemplation or reflection on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or impenetrable nature

2. A long and thoughtful observation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects)

Also See: chi

(See also: meditation, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Mantra Yoga Meditation (MYM, Mantra Yoga Meditation technique): Form of silent meditation introduced to the West by Swami Guru Devanand and promoted by the Dr. Guervaz Ayurveda Center, in New York City. MYM guides one toward experience with the innermost part of one's cosmic existence.

(See also: Mantra Yoga Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Primordial Sound Meditation: Ancient form of mantra (or sound) meditation revived by Deepak Chopra, M.D. It involves selection of a mantra (primordial sounds) based on the date, time, and place of the prospective meditator's birth.

(See also: Primordial Sound Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Microcosmic Orbit Meditation (Microcosmic Orbit, Taoist Microcosmic Orbit Meditation): A foundational component of the Healing Tao System. It awakens and channels cosmic, universal, and earthly forces.

(See also: Microcosmic Orbit Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Possibility Thinking Meditation (PTM): Component of Possibility Thinking. According to PTM theory, mantras with the m sound facilitate clearing the mind.

(See also: Possibility Thinking Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Kinetic Trance-Meditation (KTM): Technique that allows one to tap into the unconscious for information and energy. Teodoro (Teo) Cordova, a hypnotherapist, developed the method.

(See also: Kinetic Trance-Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Healing Heart Meditation: Healing tool that re-connects people with their spiritual roots. It includes guided meditation. one of its principles is that people are unconditional love.

(See also: Healing Heart Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

WooJangJu Power Meditation (WooJangJu Power Chant): Variation of TaeUIJu Healing Meditation. Its design is to protect meditators, while they are healing, from vengeful spirits.

(See also: WooJangJu Power Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Chi Kung Meditations: Group of three meditations based on chi kung (Qigong), advanced by Kenneth S. Cohen, M.A. (see Taoist Healing Imagery), author of The Way of Qigong. it is a way to learn how to control the flow of energy through one's body for mental clarity, inner-peace, and spiritual awareness.

(See also: Chi Kung Meditations, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Radiance Breathing Meditation: Component of Radiance Breathwork described by university professor Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., and dance therapist Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D., in Radiance! Breathwork, Movement and Body-Centered Psychotherapy (Wingbow Press, 1991).

It fills the body with waves of energy, and the mind with clear light.

(See also: Radiance Breathing Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

MEDITATION

Meditation is at least a three-step process that leads to a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity, and bliss. Our "normal" state of mind is actually quite abnormal. We receive sensory stimuli and react in a completely uncontrolled way (although we tell ourselves we have great control). We bounce from one thought to another and follow with our emotional and physical reactions.

Concentration is the first step in meditation and is the beginning of gaining control over the mind and thereby life. The procedure is deceptively simple and seems like it would be very easy to do, but there are few tasks more difficult to master. The idea is to pick an object/subject/music to place your attention on and then to focus exclusively on it without diversion.

Meditation is unbroken attention. The classic description of the difference between concentration and meditation is given in the example of pouring oil from a bottle into a bowl. At first the oil drips out a drop at a time. This is concentration. Then the oil comes out in a steady stream. This unbroken pouring out is meditation. If you really examine the process closer, you would notice that when the oil was coming out drop by drop, each drop caused a splash and the droplets of the splashing can be considered analogous to the distractions that interrupt our concentration. Once the stream starts becoming steady it flows effortlessly. Similarly, when concentration flows into meditation, the attention paid to the object of meditation becomes deeper and deeper effortlessly and spontaneously, true knowledge about the object presents itself.

As Albert Einstein tells us, everything in the universe is relative to everything else, ultimately your meditation will connect you to everything. At this point, the unity of the object of your meditation and your mind occurs. This is the state of contemplation and is the ultimate state of consciousness. Where we usually are only conscious of our body and ego and consider ourselves apart from the rest of the universe, with the experience of contemplation we become conscious of the cosmos and know ourselves to be a part of it and realize our unity with all of it.

The above definition of meditation was obtained from The Meditation Society of America.

(See also: MEDITATION, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

MEDITATION

The concept of meditation originated in the East, primarily in India, where formal techniques are taught and learnt. In the West this word seems to have a generic meaning, whereby it can almost mean anything. However there are several types of this practice.

One is the technique of concentration, which can best described as focussing the mind on a particular value in a constant manner, with extreme intent. This can be illustrated by the chanting of monks, where a phrase or refrain is repeated for long periods of time. This technique appears to have been adopted by those who are usually in a monastic way of life, and who spend long hours in this practice. It does actually work by the mind being released from such control after a period of time, and then transcends itself to experience the transcendent. The same applies to extreme concentration techniques, like clearing the mind of thoughts, or staring at a candle.

Then there is the technique of contemplation, which seems to be the most common technique in the West. This practice keeps the mind on the conscious thinking level, but at times there is an experience of the transcendent, but can be short-lived, as the conscious mind is so active, and is encouraged to stay with those thoughts. There are many variations to this type of mindfulness, and many different visualizations can be adopted, including and not limited to breathing techniques. The intent is for union with one’s source (the Transcendental Nature of Existence), and is highly recommended.

See TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION and YOGA, and QI GONG/CHI KUNG, TAI CHI CHUAN.

(See also: MEDITATION, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Golden Light Solar Meditation: Part of Taoist Healing Imagery that is a means of absorbing life energy from nature.

(See also: Golden Light Solar Meditation, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Meditation

Steady, close and consecutive reflection, and attention on one's own inner thoughts, or perhaps on a religious, or spiritual theme; continuous, and patient application of separating oneself from one's own thoughts, and simply watching the mind without any expectation. There are many ways to meditate, but the effect is the same: a centeredness, and stillness within.

(See also: Meditation, Alternative Health, Healing, Body Mind and Soul)

TM-Sidhi (TM-Sidhi program, Transcendental Meditation Sidhi program, yogic flying): A natural extension of Transcendental Meditation. TM-Sidhi is one of the two most important techniques of Maharishi Ayur-Ved. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi founded TM-Sidhi in 1976. It promotes the ability to think and act from the Unified Field of Natural Law (the transcendental consciousness of everyone).

(See also: Transcendental Meditation Sidhi program, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

MEDITATION

Discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. Employed since ancient times in various forms by all religions, the practice gained greater notice in the postwar U.S. as interest in Zen Buddhism rose. Meditation is now used by many nonreligious adherents as a method of stress reduction; known to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Enhances recuperation and improves the body’s resistance to disease.

(See also: MEDITATION, Alternative Health, Healing, Body Mind and Soul)

7 Keys Meditation Program: System based on seven spiritual tools revealed to David Wheeler. The Keys can unlock one's potential for transformation and healing. During Initiation, students receive them and access the Universal Energy or Divine Energy inside themselves. , this energy is transmittable.

(See also: 7 Keys Meditation Program, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

meditation: Dhyana. Sustained concentration.

Meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought.

See: internalized worship, raja yoga, Satchidananda, mantra, mantra yoga.

(See also: Meditation, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)