Meditation

Qigong and Tai Chi: Are They Different Forms of Meditation?

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Many individuals simply feel that Tai Chi is a type of exercise that is done in parks, but this is based partially around a misunderstanding. The discipline that surrounds the alignment of movements, awareness and breath is referred to as Qigong. This is sometimes also rendered as Chi Kung, and it refers to something that almost transcends meditative practice. Some individuals consider it a form of exercise or even a sort of alternative medicine. Naturally, it should be noted that the popular opinion of people in pre-scientific cultures did not divide these concepts in the same way that modern people do. That is one of the reasons that this disparity exists in modern meditative literature.

The idea, from a philosophical standpoint, is to aid in the development of human potential as well as help one to discover their personal true nature. It heavily relies on the concept of Chi, which is a fundamental energy flow. There are numerous versions of the practice, since they have had many millennia to be developed. Meditation in the Taoist and Buddhist doctrines has long promoted Qigong, and Confucianism has considered it to be a method to develop both personal moral character and one's longevity.

One of the reasons that they are so well known is because of the mass migration of Chinese Diaspora around the world. This allowed many people worldwide to view the practice from a first hand point of view. Increased globalization and tourism in the Far East have also played a part in the spread of Qigong, but one should not confuse genuine meditative concepts with simple gimmicks. Sadly, there are those that have developed sketchy systems and tried to profit off of ancient concepts. However, a decent level of diligence should always be used anyway when evaluating these sorts of things.

Tai chi ch'uan is slightly different, and is comprised of a specific style of internal marital arts. Naturally, this Tai Chi practice also has integrated meditative concepts that make up the fluid motions that it demands of people who engage in it. Naturally, any of these practices present unique challenges and rewards to those who use them as part of a greater part of their meditation. Indeed, despite the fact that the concept of Chi sometimes comes under fire, there is very little controversy over the benefit of properly executed relaxation and exercise motions from the art of Qigong.

The Use of Yoga in Meditation

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Just like Tai Chi and Qigong, those who seek to incorporate it into a greater level of meditative practice often misunderstand Yoga. While it is often used to improve health, yoga as a practice originally stems from a quest in ancient India to achieve spiritual understanding and a deep inner tranquility. Perhaps, in today's estranged world, an element of inner tranquility is something that people need now more than ever. This might explain the renewed interest in this important practice that has also been a powerful influence on Jain and Buddhist philosophies. Naturally, these have shaped one another since the beginning of these cultures.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali eventually spawned the eight-limbed concept of Ashtanga Yoga. These eight limbs each form the basis of important characteristics. Yama forms the five abstentions. Yama tells the individual practitioner to turn away from violence, untrue statements, covetous thoughts, sensuality and possessiveness. Niyama, or observances, are another set of five. These demand a pure heart, contentment, austerity, studiousness and surrender to a higher power. Asana, or seat, is a reference to the position used while meditating.

The suspension of breath, or pranayama, may be seen as control of the life force. Abstraction from the outside world is referred to as pratyahara. Dharana, or concentration, involves fixing one's thoughts around a single meditative object, and the actual act of meditation, or dhyana, revolves around a deep contemplation of that object. Finally, samadhi is a term referring to liberation, and should be the ultimate goal for merging the meditative object into one's consciousness.

Other schools, like Bhagavad Gita have other yoga practices. The three prominent styles that come from this come from Karma yoga, or action, Bhakti yoga, or devotion and Jnana yoga, or knowledge. These practices should be allowed to combine into a complete expression of meditative performance. Nevertheless, in western nations, people who do not have a Hindu background have often seen the practice as a form of exercise. In this respect it can be understood as a method of getting in touch with one's self. This is true since the exercise can form a portion of a more complete part of meditation as a whole, and therefore can be beneficial to one's health. Nevertheless, it is important to never overextend oneself and to avoid doing anything that could be a potential source of injury. These can be very damaging when incorrectly performing various types of meditative exercise.

Zazen: The Soul of Zen Buddhist Meditative Practices

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There is perhaps no greater symbol of meditation in western civilization than the Zen Master, though this is a bit ironic since there are many schools of meditation that are actually indigenous to the west. Regardless of history, the concept is very important but such a wide level of recognition has lead to a gross misunderstanding of the scope of real Zen meditation. The concept of zazen, which means seated meditation, is a discipline that is intended to calm both the mind and the body.

However, this practice is not only supposed to offer health benefits when used as part of an actual Buddhist regimen. The zazen discipline is supposed to allow those that have sufficient concentration to receive a level of understanding about the very nature of existence. This is designed to allow the practitioner to continue their journey on the way to enlightenment.

Someone engaged in zazen is generally seated with their legs ands hands folded. Their back is erect, but is also settled. One is not supposed to open their eyes, but they are also not supposed to have them completely closed. The goal is to avoid external distractions, but at the same time recognize that they are not completely turning away from the outside world.

The idea of concentration is often important at first, and the breath is sometimes counted to achieve a specific type of concentration. Beginners, however, might use a repeated mantra to accomplish the same. Introspective thoughts might follow, and an object of meditation may be used to establish this sort of introspective view. The object, or koan, is not a solvable equation of the rational world, but instead it might be seen as a shortcut to a reality that exists beyond thought.

This is important when one considers the third zazen aspect, which is the shikantaza sitting concept. The ideas of a specific object of meditation are totally done away with in this form, and are instead replaced with true nothingness. It is an art of observation that calls the individual meditating to simply allow themselves to remain in the here and now. It is almost a type of thought that requires one to not think about anything, and this is even more abstract than it sounds. However, for those that have mastered it, the concept of zazen promises a glimpse into a world that the human mind cannot normally understand with rational thought.

Finding Your Best Meditation Techniques

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Different things work best for different people, and finding your best meditation techniques can be very rewarding. However, at first, it can also be very confusing. There are so many different methods that it can be tempting to give up after a bit of information overload, but this is actually contradictory to the practice of meditation in the first place.

The state of mind that most people have in the waking world is actually far less normal than they would like to believe. That is because we have little control over things. Rather, we respond to sensor stimuli in a reactionary method. This practice is almost out of control, and this explains why we are so inclined to move between various thoughts and emotional states. The same sorts of things that cause happiness one moment can cause fear the next.

A level above this uncontrolled state is concentration, though it is important not to confuse concentration with meditation. If you decided to concentrate on a particular thought, it is still very easy to drift to other thoughts. These ultimately add up and can become very distracting, but it is vital that you don't give up simply because of distractions. These are something that we all have to deal with, and the fact that you recognize that they are there indicates that you are starting to realize a new level of control over your thoughts. Previously, you probably had taken distractions for granted and done very little to discourage them from bothering you, despite the fact that they do get in the way.

When you become distracted, focus once more on the particular object of meditation. After trying out a few different techniques, you will probably find out which one helps you eliminate these distractions the best. Once you are able to maintain a constant cycle of concentration on a particular object of meditation, you have achieved a truly meditative state. This is an impressive accomplishment, and though it might not seem like much, you have more than likely found the meditation technique that works the best for you.

You should not always think that a thought process is a distraction, however. Since everything is ultimately in relation to everything else, you will probably find yourself connecting a particular object of meditation to any number of things. This is actually a very encouraging sign, whether you have yet realized it. Eventually, this sort of exploration can very well lead to a higher consciousness.

What is Stress and how can Meditation Help with It?

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Some experts have defined stress as a two-sided coin where some aspects of stress are beneficial and other aspects are harmful, but with meditation one can actually make stress work for them. This might be contradictory to what most people have heard, but true stress management refers to the use of stress to your advantage. Stress, as a concept, can be positive. When you're working on something, the fact that it is eventually due can sharpen your senses and increase your productivity.

Most people are more familiar with the negative aspects of stress, and it is quite true that too much stress can cause a myriad of problems. Some commentators have used the terms eustress and distress to delineate the two classes of stress. By better recognizing what stress is, you can construct a genuine stress management program that not only reduces the negative facets of stress, but also wisely uses the positive features in your favor. Of course, a proper meditation regime is one of the tools that you have in your mental tool chest to build this program.

People have a particular stress level that is best for them. This level features just enough stress to ensure that you are performing at your peak but not enough to where it ever becomes a problem. Different causes of stress can be identified as stressors, and come from nearly every single thing in our lives. In today's modern world, things move faster than ever. There are even movements now to slow down the pace of life, because of how hectic it has become. The practice of meditation can be one of the first steps towards making sure that the pace of your life moves just right.

That being said, even those who have worked at it for a long time can continue to experience mental growth from their meditative practice. Focusing on the different areas in your life that are causing stressors to arise can help you to deal with them. It can also help you to identify which of these problems really are not worth worrying about at all. Naturally, though, there is no substitute for professional help for those that truly need it, and nothing should hold one back from seeking help when they are in need. That being said, there are many mental health experts that agree that meditation can be a helpful complimentary practice for those that do receive professional help.

Basic Meditation Techniques and Pointers

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When just starting out with the practice of meditation, it really helps to understand a few basic meditation techniques that can be used to take those first steps into the fulfilling discipline. If at first you have some difficulties with concentrating, you should not become too concerned. This is perfectly normal. The regular world is [...]

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What is Meditation and How Would it be Helpful to Me?

March 12, 2012

At first, meditation might sound like some sort of superstitious nonsense, and you might be inclined to ask what it is. This is perfectly normal. In today’s society, we’re taught to question everything, but meditation should not be thought of as some sort of absurd fallacy. In fact, there has been a fair amount of [...]

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Mindfulness: Meditation with an Element of Awareness

March 5, 2012

Mindfulness has roots that stretch back into Buddhist meditation, but the concept has been discussed in clinical psychology and psychiatry for some time now. Sadly, this naturally means that some of the discussion in relation to the practice has a questionable basis. Nevertheless, an air of criticism should not necessarily surround the idea itself, but [...]

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