Meditation - Revision history

Morningstar2651: Added information relevant to Thelema

2005-08-05T17:15:37Z

Added information relevant to Thelema

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:15, 5 August 2005
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	From the point of view of psychology, meditation can induce — or is itself — an altered state of consciousness.		From the point of view of psychology, meditation can induce — or is itself — an altered state of consciousness.

			== Meditation & Thelema ==
			From Chapter 48 (titled MOME RATHS) of ''The Book of Lies'':
			:''The early bird catches the worm; and the twelve-''
			:''year-old prostitute attracts the ambassador.''
			:''Neglect not the dawn-meditation!''

			:''The first plovers' eggs fetch the highest prices; the''
			:''flower of virginity is esteemed by the pandar.''
			:''Neglect not the dawn-meditation!''

			:''Early to bed and early to rise''
			:''Makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise:''
			:''But late to watch and early to pray''
			:''Brings him across [[Abyss\|The Abyss]], they say.''
			:''Neglect not the dawn-meditation!'' (The Book of Lies)

			According to Crowley, this chapter needs no commentary because it is perfectly simple.(The Book of Lies)

	== Strategies common to many forms ==		== Strategies common to many forms ==
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	==References==		==References==
	*Austin, James. ''Zen and the Brain'', Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999, ISBN 0262511096.		* Austin, James. ''Zen and the Brain'', Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999, ISBN 0262511096.
	*Buksbazen, John Daishin and Matthiessen, Peter (Foreword) (2002). <i>Zen Meditation in Plain English</i>. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171316-8.		* Buksbazen, John Daishin and Matthiessen, Peter (Foreword) (2002). <i>Zen Meditation in Plain English</i>. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171316-8.
	*Flickstein, Matthew and Gunaratana, Bhante Henepola (1998). ~~<i>~~Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook~~</i>~~. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171141-6.		* Crowley, Aleister. (1978). ''The Book of Lies''. New York: S. Weiser.
	*Kamalashila, ''Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight'', Windhorse Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-899579-05-2.		* Flickstein, Matthew and Gunaratana, Bhante Henepola (1998). ''Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook''. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171141-6.
	*Osho. ''Meditation The First And Last Freedom''.		* Kamalashila, ''Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight'', Windhorse Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-899579-05-2.
	*Wikipedia (2004). [http://www.wikipedia.org/Meditation Meditation]. Retrieved Oct. 19, 2004.		* Osho. ''Meditation The First And Last Freedom''.
			* Wikipedia (2004). [http://www.wikipedia.org/Meditation Meditation]. Retrieved Oct. 19, 2004.

	==External links==		==External links==

Frater C.U.G.: spelling

2005-08-02T02:48:22Z

spelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:48, 2 August 2005
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	== [[Christian]] meditation ==		== [[Christian]] meditation ==

	[[Jesus]], according to the [[The Holy Bible\|New Testament]], often left his apostles and the crowds to distance himself in the wilderness areas of Palestine to engage in long periods of spiritual meditation and fasting wherein he is reported to have communicated with God. The 40 days following his [[baptism]] were spent in such a manner. Christian traditions have varying approaches to the subject of meditation, but they are especially to be found in the Eastern Orthodox and [[Roman Catholic]] traditions, often associated with monastic ~~practises~~.		[[Jesus]], according to the [[The Holy Bible\|New Testament]], often left his apostles and the crowds to distance himself in the wilderness areas of Palestine to engage in long periods of spiritual meditation and fasting wherein he is reported to have communicated with God. The 40 days following his [[baptism]] were spent in such a manner. Christian traditions have varying approaches to the subject of meditation, but they are especially to be found in the Eastern Orthodox and [[Roman Catholic]] traditions, often associated with monastic practices.

	== Health applications of meditation ==		== Health applications of meditation ==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*[http://home.thirdage.com/Spirituality/rainbowbridge1/ Agni Yoga 101: Link to the Soul and Purify the Vehicles by Using the Solar Fire of the Soul Star]		*[http://home.thirdage.com/Spirituality/rainbowbridge1/ Agni Yoga 101: Link to the Soul and Purify the Vehicles by Using the Solar Fire of the Soul Star]
	*[http://www.stephaniedavies.com/ Free recorded guided meditations, with telephone meditation ~~consulatations~~]		*[http://www.stephaniedavies.com/ Free recorded guided meditations, with telephone meditation consultations]
	*[http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/meditation.html 40 meditation practices in four positions]		*[http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/meditation.html 40 meditation practices in four positions]
	*[http://www.meditation.org.au/online.asp Free meditation classes online - Meditation Society of Australia]		*[http://www.meditation.org.au/online.asp Free meditation classes online - Meditation Society of Australia]

Ash at 20:16, 17 January 2005

2005-01-17T20:16:27Z

New page

{{thelema}}

{{MTP}}

'''Meditation''' usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin.

Another form of meditation is more closely akin to [[prayer]] and worship, wherein the practitioner turns spiritual thoughts over in the mind and engages the brain in higher thinking processes. The goal in this case is the receipt of spiritual insights and new understanding.

From the point of view of psychology, meditation can induce — or is itself — an altered state of consciousness.

== Strategies common to many forms ==

Meditation generally involves discounting wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming and focusing the mind. Meditation does not necessarily require effort and can be experienced as "just happening". Physical postures include sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and walking (sometimes along designated floor patterns). Quiet is often desirable, and some people use repetitive activities such as deep breathing, humming or chanting to help induce a meditative state.

Meditation can be done with the eyes closed (as long as one does not fall asleep), or with the eyes open: focusing the eyes on a certain point of an object or image, and keeping the eyes constantly looking at that point.

== Purposes of meditation ==

The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. It may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a busy daily routine, or even as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality or of communing with one's [[God]]. Many have found improved concentration, awareness, self-discipline and equanimity through meditation. The disciplined self-cultivation aspect of meditation plays a central role in [[Taoism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]]. Generally, there is ''religious meditation'', where one meditates to commune with or on the [[Divine]], and ''focus meditation'', where one meditates to improve health or mental faculties. Very often there is significant overlap between these two positions in many meditative traditions.

== Samadhi ==

In the ''Samadhi'' or ''[[Samatha|Shamatha]]'', or concentrative, techniques of meditation, the mind is kept closely focused on a particular word, image, sound, person, or idea. This form of meditation is often found in Hindu and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] traditions (especially the [[Pure Land]] school), as well as in [[Christianity]] (Gregorian chant, for example), Jewish [[Qabalah|Kabbalah]], and in some modern [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] schools.

== Mindful awareness traditions ==

[[Vipassana]] and [[anapanasati]] are parts of the broader notion of mindful awareness, which is part of the [[Noble Eightfold Path]], the ultimate goal in Buddhism that leads to [[Enlightenment]], and expounded upon in the [[Satipatthana]] [[sutra|sutta]]. While in anapanasati meditation the attention is focused on the breath, in vipassana the mind is instead trained to be acutely aware of not only breathing, but all things that one comes to experience.

The concept of vipassana works in believing that the meditator's mind will eventually take note of every physical and mental experience "real-time" or as it happens, the goal being that it will gradually reveal to the practitioner how one's mind unknowingly attaches itself to things that are impermanent in nature. Thus, when such things cease to exist, one experiences the suffering from its loss. This in turn can gradually free one's mind from the attachment to the impermanent that is the root of suffering. In other words, in vipassana (insight, or seeing things as they are) meditation, the mind is trained to notice each perception or thought that passes without "stopping" on any one. This is a characteristic form of meditation in Buddhism.

However, in at least some forms of vipassana, one does not attend to whatever perceptions arise, but purposely moves one's attention over their body part by part, checking for perceptions, being aware and equanimous with them, and moving on. This form of meditation has some resemblance with "choiceless awareness" — the kind of meditation that [[J. Krishnamurti]] addressed.

== [[Christian]] meditation ==

[[Jesus]], according to the [[The Holy Bible|New Testament]], often left his apostles and the crowds to distance himself in the wilderness areas of Palestine to engage in long periods of spiritual meditation and fasting wherein he is reported to have communicated with God. The 40 days following his [[baptism]] were spent in such a manner. Christian traditions have varying approaches to the subject of meditation, but they are especially to be found in the Eastern Orthodox and [[Roman Catholic]] traditions, often associated with monastic practises.

== Health applications of meditation ==

Meditation has entered the mainstream of health care as a method of stress and pain reduction. For example, in an early study in 1972, transcendental meditation was shown to effect the human metabolism by lowering the biochemical byproducts of stress, such as lactate (lactic acid), and by decreasing heart rate and blood pressure and inducing favorable brain waves. (Scientific American 226: 84-90 (1972))

As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. There is a growing consensus in the medical community that mental factors such as stress significantly contribute to a lack of physical health, and there is a growing movement in mainstream science to fund and do research in this area (e.g. the establishment by the NIH in the U.S. of 5 research centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease.)

Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist at the University of Colorado, reported that Zen meditation rewires the circuitry of the brain in his landmark book ''Zen and the Brain''. This has been confirmed using sophisticated imaging techniques which examine the electrical activity of the brain.

Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response." The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and brain chemistry.

The meditative aspects of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and some forms of yoga have also become increasingly popular as means of healthful stress management in recent years.

==Specific traditions==

* [[Hinduism]]'s two major meditative traditions evolved with the schools of Yoga and [[Vedanta]], two of the six limbs of Hindu philosophy.
* [[Theravada]] Buddhist practice involves both Samadhi and Vipassana, as well as the developing of "loving kindness" (Metta).
* [[Mahayana]] Buddhism practices various forms of [[Dhyana]] ([[Chan]] or Zen), visualizations, prayer and chanting.
* There are religious meditations associated with [[Judaism]], Christianity and [[Islam]].
* [[Taoism]] has a long history of meditative studies.
* Many martial arts schools teach forms of meditation, especially based on Buddhist or Taoist models.

==See also==
*[[Yoga]]
*[[mantra]]
*[[Sufism]]
*[[Whirling Dervishes]]

==References==
*Austin, James. ''Zen and the Brain'', Cambridge: MIT Press, 1999, ISBN 0262511096.
*Buksbazen, John Daishin and Matthiessen, Peter (Foreword) (2002). <i>Zen Meditation in Plain English</i>. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171316-8.
*Flickstein, Matthew and Gunaratana, Bhante Henepola (1998). <i>Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook</i>. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86-171141-6.
*Kamalashila, ''Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight'', Windhorse Publications, 1996. ISBN 1-899579-05-2.
*Osho. ''Meditation The First And Last Freedom''.
*Wikipedia (2004). [http://www.wikipedia.org/Meditation Meditation]. Retrieved Oct. 19, 2004.

==External links==
*[http://home.thirdage.com/Spirituality/rainbowbridge1/ Agni Yoga 101: Link to the Soul and Purify the Vehicles by Using the Solar Fire of the Soul Star]
*[http://www.stephaniedavies.com/ Free recorded guided meditations, with telephone meditation consulatations]
*[http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/meditation.html 40 meditation practices in four positions]
*[http://www.meditation.org.au/online.asp Free meditation classes online - Meditation Society of Australia]
*[http://www.dhamma.org/ Vipassana meditation website]
*[http://www.nilgiri.org/ Blue Mountain Center of Meditation]
*[http://www.kadampa.org/english/index.php/ Kadampa Buddhism]
*[http://www.sacredspaceyogasanctuary.com/ Kundalini Meditation]
*[http://www.religiousbook.net/Books/Online_books/Pr/Practices_44.html Meditative Running]
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/kr/meditate.htm Jiddu Krishnamurti on meditation]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/health/112399hth-cancer-meditation.html New York Times Article on the increasing use of meditation in hospitals]
*[http://www.zen-azi.org/ International Zen Association]
*[http://homepage.mac.com/nhpfister A personal account of and help with inquisitive meditation on 'Who am I']
*[http://www.wildmind.org Wildmind on-line meditation teaching and resource]
*[http://www.geocities.com/derekacameron Instructions for concentration and mindfulness]
*[http://www.mindpowerwinners.com/didyou.html Mind Power]
*[http://www.energydynamicstraining.com/default.htm Energy Dynamics]
*[http://www.atmashakti.org/ Atmashakti]
*[http://www.wustyle.com/ Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan]
*[http://www.buqi.net/gb/index.html Wuxi Meditation - Dao of the Golden Light Meditation from Dr Shen Hongxun]

[[Category:Meditation]]
[[Category:Magick]]