What is Vipassana meditation?

Vipassana is Buddha’s original method of meditation for developing awareness. The Buddha is credited with speaking the words that form the basis of this technique in the discourse known as the Satipatthana Sutta.

To “see things as they really are” is the goal of the ancient Indian meditation technique known as Vipassana. The fundamentals of this method are typically covered in ten-day courses, after which students are given the opportunity to practice the technique under the supervision of qualified instructors.

Classes are available to people of all faiths and ethnicities of panchshil in vipassana meditation. Vipassana is not a religious practice, so it doesn’t necessitate any particular set of beliefs, and it has nothing to do with the supernatural or the mystical. Also, it works well with any worldview, whether religious or otherwise.

Vipassana is a path of introspection that allows one to test the veracity of ancient teachings for oneself. The ultimate aim of this practice is to completely cleanse the mind, cultivate positive traits like compassion and equanimity, and deepen one’s capacity to empathize with others.

But panchshil in vipassana meditation, you don’t try to influence your inner experience; you just observe it.

• Reduce regrets by not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future;
• respond to situations based on reality rather than worries or preconceived notions;
• practice mindfulness by focusing on the present and accepting thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they are.

What are the benefits?

Vipassana hasn’t been studied as extensively as other forms of meditation, but there is some evidence that it can benefit mental health and well-being. Nonetheless, studies have shown that panchshil in vipassana meditation has the following advantages:

Relieves stress

The stress response can be tamed through the practice of Vipassana and other forms of meditation. Participants in the Trusted Source study from 2014 completed a Vipassana meditation program. The participants for panchshil in vipassana meditation who took the course reported feeling less stress 6 months later compared to those who didn’t.

The study also found that those who performed Vipassana had an increase in:

• mindfulness
• self-kindness
• well-being
• A small 2001 study found similar results after a 10-day Vipassana retreat.
• Reduces anxiety
• In addition to easing stress, Vipassana meditation may also help decrease anxiety.

Similar findings were made after a 10-day Vipassana retreat in a small study conducted in 2001.

Stress relief isn’t the only benefit of practicing panchshil in vipassana meditation; it may also help reduce anxiety. As reported by Trusted Source, 14 people in 2019 underwent a 40-day mindfulness meditation training that included Vipassana. After the training of panchshil in vipassana meditation, they reported feeling less anxious and depressed. Mindfulness programs, such as Vipassana meditation, may help change regions of the brain that are responsible for anxiety, according to a review published in 2013.

Improves mental wellness

Vipassana’s stress-reducing effects may have additional positive effects on one’s mental health. After completing a 10-day Vipassana retreat in panchshil in vipassana meditation, participants in a 2013 study reported significant increases in both happiness and heart function.

Among 520 participants in a study conducted in 2018, those who engaged in Vipassana meditation reported greater gains in:

• self-acceptance
• competence
• engagement and growth
• positive relationships

However, it’s important to note this latter study was conducted as part of a research paper and wasn’t published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Promotes brain plasticity

Meditation, especially panchshil in vipassana meditation, has been linked to enhanced brain plasticity.

The term “brain plasticity” describes the brain’s innate ability to adapt to new circumstances by reorganizing its own neural circuits. That is to say, even as you age, your brain is still capable of forming new connections that can boost your cognitive abilities and overall happiness. Regular Vipassana practice in panchshil in vipassana meditation was associated with increased brain plasticity in a small study published in 2018 (Reliable Source). This finding was reached by analysing the neural connections in the brains of meditators who regularly practice Vipassana meditation.

Helps treat addiction

An older study from 2006 suggested that practitioners of panchshil in vipassana meditation might see improvements in their substance use. The study authors said they thought it could be used in place of standard care for addicts.

A 2018 review published in Trusted Source suggests that mindfulness-based training programs that include panchshil in vipassana meditation may improve self-control over habits, decision-making, and response inhibition.

Additionally, stress is a known contributor to substance abuse, and meditation has been shown to reduce that. However, more study is required to learn how Vipassana can help with addiction management.

How to do it?

You can only learn panchshil in vipassana meditation by attending a retreat and taking a course taught by meditators who specialize in the practice. The good news is that many of these classes are now available online, and many of them are offered at no cost to the student because they are funded primarily through donations.

Here are the steps to take if you want to practise Vipassana meditation at home

• Dedicate at least ten to fifteen minutes to drills. Vipassana is best practised first thing in the morning.
• Go somewhere peaceful with few interruptions. You can find peace and quiet in an empty room or in a remote outdoor area.
• Put your feet on the floor. Sit back and relax with your legs crossed. Relax your body while keeping your core engaged.
• Relax, close your eyes, and take some deep breaths. Pay attention to your body and how you feel as you breathe normally.
• Think about each breath you take and release. Try to keep an open mind and observe your inner experience without attaching any meaning to it.
• When you find yourself getting side-tracked, just notice it and come back to your breath.
• When you first get started, try to do this for at least 5–10 minutes. Increase the length of your panchshil in vipassana meditation sessions as you gain experience, aiming for at least 15 minutes.

The bottom line

The practise of Vipassana meditation is thousands of years old. Mindfulness entails taking note of mental and emotional processes as they occur, without attaching meaning to or dwelling on them. Though more research is needed, preliminary findings suggest that Vipassana’s ability to alleviate stress and anxiety may have positive effects on substance abuse. It could also increase neural flexibility.

Panchshil in vipassana meditation is best practised in a quiet, undistracted environment, and initial sessions should only last 5-10 minutes. As you grow accustomed to sitting in this manner for meditation, you can gradually extend the time to 15 minutes or more. Guided meditation is also available in the form of audio recordings and in-person classes.

The mind, ego, and consciousness are all discussed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, among other facets of yoga. They explore aspects of the self that most of us tend to ignore. The term “yoga” refers to the practice of stilling the fluctuations of the states of mind as described in the Yoga Sutras.

That is to say, the states of mind devoid of the constant stream of distracting thoughts and mental clutter. Despite the seeming ease of the term “yoga,” actualizing its benefits is a challenging endeavor. Mindsets described in the yoga sutras:

1. Kshipta – Chaotic or most fickle state of mind
2. Mudha – Dull or Lazy state of mind
3. Vikshipta – Partially focused mind
4. Ekagra – One-pointed mind
5. Niruddha – Fully absorbed mind

6. Kshipta – The Monkey Mind

A state of mind known as kshipta, or dispersed thinking, is the most common and least desirable way to go through the day. Because of the high proportion of waking time spent actively engaged in some form of thought or action, the “rajas” guna predominates in this condition.

A person in this mental state experiences rapid swings between positive and negative emotions, such as love and hate, liking and disliking, pain and pleasure, excitement and boredom. The states of mind is restless and easily distracted, always racing from one idea to the next. It’s possible that your eyesight will get blurry, causing you to feel uncomfortable, confused, and difficult to understand and get along peacefully with others in your relationships.

Symptoms of Ksipta State

1. Having no ability to make decisions
2. being restless
3. Confusion and absolute lack of clarity
4. Anxiety

How To Handle Monkey Mind

You can learn to handle your monkey states of mind by practicing yoga, which teaches you that you, the knower, are separate from your thoughts. By taking on the role of an objective observer, you can train yourself to focus only on positive, useful thinking patterns while letting go of the negative ones.

2. Mudha – The Donkey mind

Mental lethargy, drowsiness, and a lack of energy characterize the Mudha, or Dull, state of mind, which is governed by the ‘tamas’ guna. As a result of the mental lethargy, it is difficult to address the complexities of life.

During our waking hours, most of us move back and forth between Kshipta and Mudha. As a result of our rajasic nature, we are drawn to an object of sense. However, if the desired outcome is denied to us or additional work is required, the dull mind owing to lack of focus, finds excuses, and we are trapped in a state of dissatisfaction.

Symptoms of Mudha State

• Lack of energy and vitality
• Poor concentration
• Distorted connection with the inner self
• Depression /Sadness

How To Handle Donkey Mind

When you have to adjust to a dramatic change in your life, you may find that your sense of self begins to fade.

To calm the states of mind in this condition, one must let go of all thoughts and re-establish contact with one’s inner world, which can be accomplished through practices like yoga and meditation. This will allow one to discover their ultimate true self, which will serve them well in any circumstance.

3. Vikspita – The Butterfly mind

There are moments in life where sattva guna starts to dominate, and the states of mind can focus and concentrate. We feel balanced, happy, and clear in all spheres, and life appears to be a beautiful flow.

Symptoms of Vikspita State

• A calm mind, however, gets easily distracted
• Better concentration
• The mind is sometimes stable and other times confused.

4. Ekagra – One-pointed mind

The mind is at rest; all thoughts and feelings have subsided, and it is now ready for concentration. When in an Ekagra state of mind, a person can focus their entire being on a single task for as long as they choose without being distracted by anything outside of themselves.

Symptoms of Ekagra Mind

• Better focus
• More awareness and clarity
• Thinned ego
• Awakening of intuition

Mind In Ekagra State

When the states of mind reach this point, it is said to be in yoga, or it can be seen as the beginning of one’s yogic journey. You’ve found a singular focus in life that will allow you to sort through information, let go of your ego, develop your intuition, and gain access to extrasensory perception. In this Ekagra state of mind, you can focus on detailed parts of everything that you tried to have concentration.

5. Niruddha – fully-focused mind

After experiencing Ekgrah (single-mindedness), one can maintain concentration on a single task at hand. In this case, one’s focus is singularly fixed and undivided.

By this point, the states of mind has been cleared of all impressions, both old and new, and is completely at rest. One can move through life with effortless elegance. The ever-evolving circumstances of life elicit no response.

Symptoms

• Single-pointed focus
• Stable mind
• Grace in the overall aura
• The complete stillness of thoughts

Mind in Niruddha State

Even though attaining a Niruddha state of mind (Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha) is the pinnacle of yoga, you must maintain your yoga practice and conduct in-depth self-examination on a regular basis to get there. Look for fresh methods to keep your awareness fresh and expanding.

Conclusion

Most of us spend most of our waking hours in one of the first three mental states of mind. Our connections to the outside world are maintained by these three mental states.

Keeping focus and equilibrium is difficult for a Kishipta’s restless mind. The Mudha states of mind is too exhausted to concentrate.

Inconsistency and a lack of concentration are hallmarks of the Vikshipta mind. The yogi can internalize their awareness through the last two states of mind (Ekagra and Niruddha). Therefore, it facilitates increased levels of concentration.

The above categorization of mental states aids in self-awareness, which in turn promotes spiritual and material development.

Meditation is a process or technique that all know about. Most of us have at least heard meditation at one point in our lives. Be it through social media, advertisements, texts, and books we have seen or heard the word. But what exactly is meditation, and why it can be found in every part of the world? There are even many of its types that have been classified along with their natures and characteristics.

Mindfulness meditation, Transcendental meditation, loving-kindness meditation, spiritual meditation is some of the several types of meditation. These meditations each have a distinctive character, history, and origin which may differ as they came into existence at various times, through various regions and various civilizations.

In the basic form, meditation is the process of focusing and channeling their spirituality to a center by calming the mind and making the body still. However, many meditation practices do not follow this standard definition of yoga. There is walking meditation which does not follow the typical staying still while performing meditation.

There are other forms also which do not follow the standard format or extend the boundaries of the practices. People have integrated meditation into their own culture. This further was widened when in the late century people became more conscious about their health and accepted healthy living practices. More became immersed in meditation, more gurus came into the field and more techniques of meditation were invented.

Transcendental meditation

Transcendental meditation is a form of meditation where the mantra is used silently. Looking at the core of the technique this is what transcendental meditation is. This technique became more popular when the transcendental meditation movement occurred.

Transcendental meditation was invented by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s. He first introduced the technique in India and along with the technique also introduced the transcendental meditation movement.

Transcendental meditation is practiced 15 to 20 minutes a day once or twice depending upon you and your timetable. However, the standard practice is twice a day which if one can complete that is good.

Hearing the mention of mantra people get the idea that Transcendental meditation is a type of religious meditation because the standard definition of mantra is a religious one. Despite the look, however, that is not the case. Transcendental meditation does not walk either of the paths. It can be said that it walks the middle path of those two options.

Transcendental meditation is a religious activity for those who believe in Hinduism as it is based on or attached to the religious techniques of Hinduism. You believe the process and mantras than a religious meditation for you.

However, if you are a nonreligious person also then also transcendental meditation is for you. One can exclude the religious part and make it a path of self-development. Some take it as a religious path or some take it as a path of self-development, it does not matter, and taking either part is fine.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a great Indian guru who is famous for inventing Transcendental meditation. He was born on January 12, 1918, in India. The date is filled with a few mysteries as it is used mostly to define his birthday, but many have doubts about the authenticity of this date. This is due to the fact when an individual moves on the way to becoming a yogi, they sever their connection with the family and society.

It is the basic rule of becoming a yogi and monk. To be one on that path one must leave all their belongings, materials, and relations also. This is the very reason that the name given to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is also not certain and is varied with sources.

The early life of Maharishi

Mahesh Yogi was a student of Physics in the days of his university. Reports say that he earned a degree in physics from Allahabad University in 1942. Before landing into the spiritual life and path of a yogi he tried his life in one or two things here and there.

However, his destiny and his true passion lie elsewhere, he had not realized that till now. He became an administrative secretary to Shankaracharya of Jyotir math. Then he took a new name for himself evoking his spiritual journey. He started calling himself Bal Brahmachari Mahesh (Bal Brahmachari in Hinduism is the term to call those who have been away from the world of lust and pleasure from their birth and walked the path of truth and spirituality).

He then became a student of Brahmananda Sarswati to begin his ascetic life. It is also said that it took more than two years to consider Brahmananda Saraswati to take Maharishi as the disciple of his path.

Maharishi says that his life truly began in 1940 when he met his master. He was with his master till the death of Sarswati in 1953. Despite the closeness Maharishi could not become the successor of Sarswati due to distinct reasons. Brahmananda Sarswati was succeeded by Shanta Nanda Saraswati.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and transcendental meditation

Maharishi after the death of his guru thought of teaching his learning to the world. He wanted to disperse the knowledge he had amassed to the world. He started teaching a technique called Transcendental deep meditation. This was the traditional meditation technique that he learned from his master.

Around that time, he took on his shoulders what he learned from his teacher to disperse into the world. He goes to the title of Maharishi. (Maharishi is the title given to the sages who have achieved great spiritual capacity as a sage, it is a level of spirituality that the holy men receive in Hinduism).

Process of Transcendental meditation

Transcendental meditation involves simple steps of 7 to 8, which collectively completes the meditation. The process is easy, however, the best approach to get involved in this meditation is to find a certified yoga teacher. Certified teachers are experienced people who have the amount of knowledge that can guide you efficiently through the journey of transcendental meditation. Various places give the certification of this meditation, however the most prominent and widely recognized one of the maharishi foundations of the USA.

Steps for Transcendental meditation are as follows:

1. Sit in a comfortable position

The first step of transcendental meditation is to sit comfortably. People vary according to their bodies, so it is also quite common that the resting position and the postures of the body also vary with the individual. The first step is to make the sitting place that is best for your body and will not put any strain on it. Quite an amount of time will be spent sitting here a day, so it is best to put a significant amount of time to get the perfect sitting place for transcendental meditation.

Sit in the comfortable spot with legs firmly on the ground and staying straight comfortably. Put your arms in the crossed position.

2. Relax the body

After settling down in a comfortable position the second step of transcendental meditation begins. Now, try to relax your body and mind. Easing up the mind and body at the beginning of transcendental meditation will help your body to go through the meditation period efficiently. Try to breathe deeply and slowly. Getting enough of the air inside of the lungs will aid the body and mind to relax. Continue long breathe for some period and the process of relaxation is complete.

3. Closing the eyes

One compulsory thing about transcendental meditation is that during the whole period the eyes remain closed. After the second step of relaxation a few moments eyes are closed. The eyes once closed should not be opened till the end of meditation. It may be difficult for beginners of transcendental meditation. However, it becomes easy with the passage of time as the body adapts to it.

4. Repeat the mantra

Repeating the mantra is the core action of transcendental meditation. After closing your eyes, the repetition of the mantra starts. A mantra is a phrase that is mostly a few Sanskrit words that the students receive from the teachers. Keep chanting the mantra without focusing on anything else. Let go of all the things, the external world, the body, all the other things than the mantra itself. This repetition of the mantra continues for 15 to 20 minutes, which nearly completes the transcendental meditation.

5. Letting go of the thoughts

Mostly the meditation techniques are taught to make the mind blank and calm the mind by not thinking of anything. It is like cancelling the thoughts that arise in the mind during the time of the meditation. However, this does not happen in transcendental meditation. This form of meditation acknowledges the thoughts and events. During the transcendental meditation, during the chanting of the mantras ( mantras are given below in last section)  if thoughts arise in your mind if you recall a moment that is disturbing try not to cancel or disperse it but try to let it go and pass. Let the thoughts pass without disturbing you.

6. Back to the world

After 15 to 20 minutes of mantra chanting now it is time to return to the world. This too involves process and techniques. Simply opening your eyes and doing other things is not the process. Not stop the chanting without opening your eyes. Take a deep breath and start slowly moving your feet and palms. Gently rotating them in the clockwise and the anti-clockwise directions.

7. Opening eyes

After this gently and slowly open your eyes. It is the penultimate process of transcendental meditation.

8. Relax and rest for a few minutes

Do not immediately stand up and get involved in other activities. Try to soak in the effects of the mantra and meditation now. Sit in a relaxing and comfortable position for a few minutes. Relax and calm your mind. One can take deep and long breaths to relax. Be in a relaxed position as much as you need. The time depends on yourself, be there until you feel you are ready to let go of the relaxation and continue other activities. Now, gently stand up for the position. This concludes transcendental meditation.

Mantra for Transcendental meditation

Mantra selection can be a complicated process for some people, as there are thousands and thousands of mantras here. Now, one can wonder which among them can be the right mantra for them. If one is receiving the knowledge of transcendental meditation from the certified teachers there is no need to worry as they will give you the suitable mantra or help you to find the one depending upon what you hope to achieve through the practice of transcendental meditation.

There is a very efficient way to choose the mantra for the practitioners. They can choose at first the widely used mantras for transcendental meditation. There are few which are believed to have massive spiritual and deity powers. Those who practice transcendental meditation for religious approaches also can use it. Om, Om Nama Shivaya, Om Gan Gana Pattye Nama, Om Namo Narayan Aaya, Surya Namaha, etc.

There are many to choose from, you can choose one, no need to think hard about it more than necessary. Also, if you have the knowledge of the deities of Hinduism and want to chant the mantra to please the deities. This can also be done as the Sanskrit mantras of the deities are believed to possess mystical abilities to please that deity. They if want can use the religious side of transcendental meditation for this.

There are other ways to select the mantra in transcendental meditation. Those who are into transcendental meditation for self-development and are not religious can create their own mantra if they like. Even religious people can do so if they like, the options are open and wide. To create a mantra first go through yourself to find out what you want from transcendental meditation.

Your goal can be lots of things like inner peace, confidence, clarity of the world, spiritual strength, mental strength. First, figure out what you want through your meditation and make it your mantra. “Inner peace” something as small as this also can be the mantra you created yourself as it reflects the inner peace you want to achieve through transcendental meditation. It can be also something like I am becoming spiritually fulfilled. Whatever you do can be your mantra.

Meditation, yoga, and mental health are the most talked topics in today’s time. However, many people struggle for Longer meditation. For the meditation to be effective, a fair amount of time and dedication should be given to the process. Instead of doing haphazardly, and unknowingly they need to understand what meditation is. How to meditate longer is not the question of one or two people but of majority of people who are practicing yoga. However, before learning How to meditate longer let us learn what meditation is.

The act of immersing in a certain activity using various technique, which provides a mental, spiritual, and emotional peace. Meditation is a remarkably diverse field and can be unique to every individual that practice it. Meditation is so widespread that most of the civilization and religion practice meditation. If someone were to look all the meditation techniques and practices found around the world one can find they are all different and diverse in their own way. All the methods are so well integrated with their religion or their culture.

Looking at the history of meditation. The earliest and oldest mention of meditation is found in Vedas. In both Yoga and Ayurveda, the use of meditation for various purposes can be seen. Buddhism was also using various meditation techniques and had an extraordinarily rich culture practicing spirituality, mental and psychological well-being. After the 19^th century where world was busy connecting con civilization with other. Due to globalization the Asian meditation made its way to the western society and other parts of the world. After this meditation integrated into various cultures giving birth to various variations of meditation itself.

Some Popular Meditation Techniques

There are distinct types of meditation in the world today. Some of the most popular meditation techniques that are practiced are mentioned below:

-Mantra Meditation
–Mindfulness Meditation
-Zen Meditation
-Kundalini Meditation
-Reflection Meditation
-Transcendental Meditation
-Vipassana Meditation
-Yoga Meditation
-Chakra Meditation
–Sound Meditation
-Loving Kindness Meditation

–Candle gaze meditation

These are some of the most popular forms of meditation practiced today in the world. All these forms and techniques are not native to single place or even single religion. Some are from Hindu religion; some are from Buddhist and some are based on location or country rather than the religion.

All these fame, popularity and people’s inclination to meditation is due to its benefits and positive impact on their lives. Some most notable benefits of meditation are mentioned below:

Better concentration

Increasing focus and enhancing concentration is one of the biggest benefits of meditation. If you are lacking concentration in your life and unable to focus on your life. Then, meditation is your answer.

Reduce Stress

Cortisol is the stress hormone produced in our body, which in high amount is very harmful. Meditation is proved to reduce the cortisol amount and provide stressless environment.

Confidence and self-esteem

Confidence and self-esteem are especially important things in life of humans. Confidence and belief in yourself are very much needed to perform every task. Daily meditation practice can improve your confidence and self-esteem.

Improve mental health

One of the greatest perks of yoga is mental health improvement. People who are going through mental health problems have time and time claimed how meditation helped them.

Promote calmness

Every time a person practice meditation he/she are teaching their mind to be calmer. Cam mind is the one that emerges victorious in every situation. If you are having problem to remain calm and are state in turmoil meditation may be the thing you need.

Victory over addiction

Meditation also helps to get over addiction. Addiction is the uncontrollable desire over a specific substance. Meditation helps your mind to gain control over the substance.

Help with emotional imbalance

sometimes people get emotionally disbalanced. Either they have too much empathy or too less. Meditation also can help people to get their emotion balanced.

Despite all these benefits, there is one thing all the mediation practitioners go with in their beginning or even after. How to meditate Longer is the question of many meditation practitioners. Meditation time can range variously depending on the individual. From minutes of normal peoples to the decades of meditation practiced, by the great sages and Tapasvi’s the difference is too great.

Following are the ways to meditate longer and answer to the question how to meditate longer:

• Know what you want

If you know something about yoga, meditation, spirituality, you must know meditation is a vast field and term. The range of meditation is too huge. At what point you will think you have meditate longer?

Your time period and definition of longer meditation depend on what are you trying to achieve. If you are aiming to be sages then years and years of continuous meditation is what you would call a longer meditation. However, if your goal is mental health promotion, getting rid of addiction, gaining control in life. Then your meditation time can range from minutes to hours.
At first you have to be clear why you want to meditate longer.

For your goal how much time meditation is needed, how much is enough and how much are too much. If you have researched enough and still cannot get enough focus to mediate longer then you have some problem. Therefore, you need to learn and know certain things about how to meditate longer.

• Clear mind

Meditation is more a mental and spiritual technique rather than a physical one. Not just your body need to be in the mediation position but also your mind and spirit. If you are sitting in a meditation posture but thinking about other things you cannot meditate longer.

Before meditation try to clear your mind as much as you can then only start meditating. Yes, people have problems life is not perfect however your mediation period is not time or place for that. Clear your mind and detach yourself from all the problems and thought and meditate. This way you can extend your meditation time and meditate longer.

• Get yourself a mantra

Mantras are the verses or texts that carry massive spiritual and mystical energy. If you are having challenging time focusing on your way to meditate longer then you should get a mantra. If you are challenging time focusing, the mantra you obtained will help with that.

During your meditation chant the mantra and focus your meditation on the verses. Various yogis and sadhus also use mantra to meditate longer Om, Om namo Shivaya are sone of the popular mantra you can use while meditating. Also, you can get your own mantra it can be anything as long as it helps you to stay focused.

• Comfortable Meditation posture

There are thousands of meditation posture that you can use to do meditation. Lotus pose or padmasana is one of the most popular meditation pose that people use for meditation. However, this meditation pose may not be for everyone. If you have spine or back problems, piles then you may have problem to meditate longer in this pose. However, you do not need to use this pose for meditation. There are hundreds of poses you can choose from, standing meditation, lying meditation are some you can use.

• Calm environment

Clam environment can do wonders to your body and help you meditate longer. Clam and peaceful environment can immediately have a positive effect on your mood. Peaceful environment is known to boost creativity, create the calming personality and other effects. For the same purpose yogis and sages choose forests and mountain for their meditation. The calmer and peaceful the environment better the results of the meditation.

The people who have access to gardens in their backyards or in countryside it is easy to find such environment. However, if you are living in a city and have no access to these then you can create yourself a calm environment. You can make your living space a calm environment. Paint calming color in your walls, make your environment tidy and clean, you can listen to calming music. If you are having problem to meditate longer, clam environment may be your answer to how to meditate longer.

• Start small and extend

If you are a meditation beginner you should not worry about, why cannot you mediate longer. Learning meditation and extending the time period of meditation is like how a baby learns to walk. At first it is hard and looks impossible, then with persistence the baby slowly starts to take a step and with lot of experience baby will be able to walk. Likewise start slow, at beginning even meditating for few minutes is an exceptionally good achievement.

With every session you are teaching your body to be more and more immersed into meditation. Then slowly start to extend your time period. In this also you do not need to jump to hours from minutes. Take slow steps, even slow steps are incredibly good than no step. Start 2-3 minutes extension with few sessions. Also, you can research, read books, search on the internet for various things about hot to meditate With persistence and calm mind at a point you will be able to meditate longer without any problem.

• Start in the morning

You can meditate at the time you are comfortable and afford. However, people still believe there is no better time to meditate than in the morning. At morning after a whole night rest your body is completely recharged. Also, more than body your mind is fresh and without stress. Due to this fact if you practice meditation in the morning, you will have no problem focusing the mind. The calm mind and energetic body get highly creative in the morning period. If you are having problems to meditate longer then you should give it a try in the morning. It may be the answer to how to meditate longer.

• Calming music and scents

If you have visited monasteries or some meditation center in your life you may have noticed a distinct scent and music. The music and scent when smelled invoke a certain peaceful and calm feeling to the person who smell it. They are made in such a way that that trigger something comforting and friendly inside our mind. One can use these things to meditate longer You can buy the scents and music also if you want from the markets. Not, just music and scents there are various things you can use to meditate longer. You can use beads string to chant mantra and channel your energy, hang peaceful pictures in wall to invoke calmness in your mind.

• Eat right

Food is the main source of energy to your body. Technically you are made by the things that you eat. It is also true that the food that you eat have direct impact in your mood and attitude. This is the same reason yogis and sages eat only purely vegetarian food. Even in the vegetarian food they avoid the foods like garlic, onion, ginger etc. Your unbalanced diet also may be the reason why you are not able to meditate longer. If possible, eat simple light foods instead of high calorie diet. Your thinking, mood, concentration will severely improve if you eat balanced and healthy diet.

• Find yourself a teacher

Meditation teacher are the experts that teach you how to meditate. There are thousands of meditation and yoga teaching centers where we can find expert teachers. They are those individuals who have years of experience as a teacher and as a meditation practitioner. If you have done all the things, you can meditate longer and properly.

However, for some reason if sill cannot meditate properly. Then finding yourself a well experienced meditation teacher is what you can do ultimately. With years of experience under their belt and being the meditation practitioner themselves. They can find why are you not able to do so and help you to meditate longer in the most proper way possible. Finding a reliable and well experienced teacher is the ultimate answer to How to meditate longer?

We all live on our beautiful blue planet. We all hold some value, purpose, or some sort of goal in our life. Looking individual’s life in a close not specific but of any individual. You will find all sort of things in their life. They want something, they have some problem and they want to be aware. But the question is how to live in awareness?

Awareness dictionary meaning is to have right perception about a thing, situation, or a topic. The dictionary definition cannot cover this vague and multi-dimensional topic. What would you call awareness? Knowing what is awareness? Also, awareness is limited to the thinking capacity of the person.

What makes a person reach awareness? What makes a person more aware than others? Regardless the field and topic experience and information are the key to awareness. What may be the situation, field, subject the more information and experience you have more aware you are in the related subject. Information and experience are also not the perfect words that describe awareness but are closest thing that define it.

Take two individuals with two different professionals, like a doctor and a musician. If the topic is of medical knowledge, medicine, disease, and medical apparatus. The doctor is the one with awareness. However, if the topic is music, rhythm, song, and musical apparatus then the musician is the one who possess awareness. Awareness is an extremely diverse thing which may be impossible to bind in just one subject matter. It is not enough but completely wrong to judge awareness with only one side.

The situation gets even more complicated and disputable if instead of people of same generation you compare people of different generation. Compare an individual living today with an individual living one or two hundred years ago. The information that was only available to the elites of the late century is readily available to the today’s commoner.

Also, the information that was considered peak idea of that age may have been completely discarded today. The information that made someone more aware than others in that time got debunked toady for its hollowness.

A person with political background may think true awareness is knowing the political situation, scenario, and possible competitive. What will be his answer to How to live in awareness?
In his perception knowing the competition, gaining the ultimate authority of the region or country and other political gain. For his field, his career it is not wrong also as the goal of awareness varies from person to person.

The person who believes in learning, dedicated to a goal, lives for other’s also not for himself. One whose goal is to know himself and tries to understand others. Tries to balance his spiritual part, mental part along his physical well-being. They understand what they lack and what must be done to improve or overcome it. They know being perfect is impossible but try to be better than what they were yesterday. That is what a person living in awareness will do.

Despite the variation in meaning and depend upon person to person the concept of awareness. There are few things that need to be common for every individual to live in awareness. The individual who is walking on the path to attain awareness share some unique traits. Be it in their behavior, their calmness, their persistence for change they show some traits.

Following ways, habits may be the answer to How to live in awareness?

• Thirst for knowledge and information

The number of living species that live in our earth are roughly one trillion species. One trillion species live with us, unique in their own way. One trillion is a lot of numbers for the diversity of living beings. If you attempt to count one trillion second it would take slightly over 31,688 years.

Now, you can imagine how vast is the number? In those number there are lot of unique species with amazing abilities. Also, not just in abilities but huge diversity exists in forms and size. From unicellular organisms to massive giant whales all live here. Some can fly, some can swim, some can survive in the depth of ocean however no one is as unique as a human being.

What makes us so unique compared to other beings? What made the dominating species of the planet? The answer is information, innovation, and awareness. Our ancestor living in the cave got little bit more awakened, more aware of his surroundings. The thirst for knowledge, innovation, desire to learn habit developed by our ancestor resulted this top place on the chain of this planet. The only being in the planet that is aware of himself and the planet.

Our awareness brought us from there to here and can father lead to another place. A mind that that stops learning stops growing this is the ultimate reality. On the other hand, the mind whose goal is to peruse knowledge, to learn will always grow.

Growth and knowledge always lead the way toward the awareness. If your goal is to live in awareness try to know more, research more, study books. World is full of knowledge, technically the pursue of knowledge will never end and to know all things is impossible. Knowing everything may be impossible, but knowing all what you need to know is completely possible. If your question is How to live in awareness? Information and knowledge are your first answer.

• Meditation

Meditation is the sets of techniques and poses used to achieve peace of mind. Many of us may surfacely know what meditation is. However, only some know how vast is meditation. If one is wondering How to live in awareness? Meditation will certainly help in a lot of ways.
Meditation is a key self healing and making oneself better. First lets look why people today are so much into meditation:

                                     – It reduces the stress
                                     -It is known to boost confidence and self –esteem
                                     – Train your mind to be more calm
                                     -Help to get rid of addiction problem if any
                                     -Promoting mental health
These are some of the proven benefits of meditation. It gives many things and trains person to achieve many things.

Meditation was primarily the technique devised by sages and yogis, to attain awareness and enlightenment. Sages used to meditate for years to know the secrets of the universe, cosmic knowledge, powers to help the man kind. That is the true power of meditation. However, you don’t need to do years and years of meditation unless you are trying to become a sage yourself. For an average person, few minutes to hour of meditation per a day is more than enough.

Meditation makes you calmer, and you can perceive the things more clearly in your life. It will increase your focus in learning and increase concentration in your life. Moreover, people who had substance addition or suffered personal loss claimed that meditation helped them. Not, also helping to maintain balance but it also aids to overcome attachments. To live in awareness one need to overcome their unnecessary attachments to te world.

• Do your karma

Karma is a Sanskrit word that translate to action. However, karma goes very deep than just action. Karma is the duty that one must function for the world to function. Every one even everything in this universe has their own karma. Without every element performing their karma the world will not function. The universe itself runs with the karma of its elements. The karma of sun is to give light, warmth, and life to earth. Likewise, the karma of earth is to be the mother of every living thing.

From celestial bodies to trees everyone has a duty to the world. A fruit tree when reaches to certain maturity it gives fruits. Nobody order or makes it to give fruits but it does because it is its karma to the world.

Likewise, the only living beings with consciousness humans have more duty to the world. If you think about How to live in awareness? Do your duty to the world. The most prominent trait of person who live in awareness is his sense of duty to the world. Aware person knows what is his karma for the world? For himself? For his family? And performs the karma selflessly.

• Be a student

A person who lives in awareness know they are always the student and have much to learn. Nobody, in the world knows everything alone, that much vast is the world. However, with our numbers we divided the knowledge so that we collectively as a human race will know more than what we individually can amass.

A teacher is someone who teaches and a student learns from him. However, the truth is that when a teacher is teaching, he is also learning through his students. It is truth of the world. Everyone here is student and life will keep teaching him new things as a teacher until they will leave the world forever. So, learn as a student when life teaches you knew things.

Talk to your elders, they have lived through more than you. They have gotten through their time and your time. They know few more things about the world than you and I know. Also, they can teach you one or two things about life. How-to live-in peace? How to live through pain and loss? How to live in awareness?

• A physically fit body

How to live in awareness? When this question arises a physically fit body is not the answer one hopes to receive. However, for various things a physically fit body is the answer.

How to achieve your goal? How to make your life peacefully? How to excel in study? How to improve your life? For all this questions also a physically fit body is the answer even for How to live in awareness?

A physically well body is not your goal as a person who is living in awareness. However, is the basic need for your journey into achieving and to live in awareness.

If you will not take a diligent care of your body. Various diseases and conditions may affect you. Is that becoming the situation neither you can do your karma to the world nor learn new things efficiently. That is why a physically fit body is your greatest asset in your journey to live in awareness?

There are many ways by which one can enhance the physical health of the body. Eating good healthy food, practicing yoga, Daily workout, stress free life are some of the ways which will help to keep you physically healthy.

It is one of the most important things in life to figure out How to live in awareness? But taking care of your body is as much as important.

• A positive attitude and kind behavior

A positive attitude is the key element of the person who is figuring How to live in awareness?. Life may not go as planned as always, it applies not to us but each and everybody living in world. While journeying through life one might suffer personal loss, economic disbalance and other worldly problems. No one can change or completely avoid it; the truth is that. However, you with a positive attitude can change the impact of that situation.

A person who lives in awareness will also suffer personal loss, economic disbalance every bit as other individual. However, the main difference between other and aware person is that he will get through it. With positive attitude also the pain and suffering will not decrease but the strength to get through is given.

Kind behavior is the extension that you get through positive attitude. With positive attitude you will see good in you and in time on the world. After this you will start developing the kind behavior toward everyone. Kind behavior not only to your friends and relatives but to everyone is one of the basic requirements to live in awareness. Be kind to whomever you can where ever you can because you cannot know what they are going through. Even a little bit of kindness can give them the spark of hope.

1. WHAT IS BEEJ MANTRA

The word Beej refers to seed and we join it with the mantra, it becomes Beej mantra. In this blog, we shall take a look as to what it is and the concepts enveloping it. Beej mantras are sounds that possess immense spiritual prowess. They have magical properties and form an integral aspect of various mantras. Once you chant this mantra with great devotion, you can slowly venture into a different realm.

Beej mantra is related to various sounds that work on different frequencies. A universe is a vast place and there are portions of it, that exceed your expectations. If you wish to learn more about this mythical world, then it can help you. A beej mantra forms the base of every mantra and likewise, every deity has a unique mantra. You can practice these mantras through repetition or with the help of a guru. 

2. BENEFITS OF CHANTING BEEJ MANTRA

The benefits that beej mantra provides are huge and some of them are mentioned below:

• It helps you to become a spiritual individual.
• It is useful while doing meditation too ( Meditation using 7 chakras).
• You can experience bliss and serenity while doing it.
• There are numerous therapeutic benefits with Beej mantra.
• It helps to control your sexual urges.
• Unlike other mantras, they are short and simple.

3. TYPES OF BEEJ MANTRAS

Beej mantras are different for different Gods. These mantras are in the Vedas too. As the Vedas are the word of the ultimate God, these mantras are in a way a word of God. When humans recite it, they receive positive vibes and blessings from God. Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita that he resides in the heart of living organisms. To reach him, one must use the Beej mantra.

The popular Beej mantras are as follows:

1. Om

Om symbolizes the whole universe. It is made up of three basic sounds, A, U, and M. When Brahma created the universe, the Om sound resonated through the universe. It is the base of all mantras. It is also a secret mantra as it represents not only the entire universe, nu the silence in it too.

This Beej mantra personifies the inner music of our being and maintains equilibrium in it. Through practice and perseverance, one can understand and appreciate the true beauty of Om.

2. Dham

This is the Beej mantra for Lord Kuber. People practice this mantra to gain monetary benefits and fortune. Also, people practice this mantra for their all-round development too.

3. Shreem

The Shreem mantra is also related to monetary gain. People practice this beej mantra to gain the favor of Goddess Mahalaxmi and receive success, material gains, and a stress-free life too.

4. Ayeim

The Ayeim mantra relates to Goddess Saraswati who is the God of knowledge. You can practice this mantra to gain knowledge, wisdom, and success in any educational exams. 

4. CHAKRAS OF THE HUMAN BODY

There are 7 main chakras in the human body. They have their functions and importance. It is an integral aspect of beej mantra too. The details are:

1. Muladhara chakra

This chakra is the foundation of the human body. It resides at the end of the spinal cord and is red. This chakra makes the body capable of achieving spiritual powers. Beej Mantra of this chakra is LAM

2. Swadhisthana chakra

It sits above the Muladhara chakra and here, the human understanding commences. Also, it mostly relates to our reproductive system. It is orange in color and its symbol is of a lotus flower. The mantra of this chakra is VAM.

3. Manipura chakra

This chakra goes by the name of Nabhi chakra too. This chakra works as the security guard of the human body. If there occur imbalances in it, then it leads to mental and physical problems. It is yellow and the symbol is of a lotus and triangle. The mantra of this chakra is RAM.

4. Anahata chakra

This chakra is an important part of the beej mantra. This chakra associate with friendship, love, and compassion. This chakra is green in color and terms of symbol, the 12 petals of lotus represent it. The mantra of this chakra is YAM

5. Vishudhi chakra

This chakra point sits in the throat and once we awaken it, the body becomes pure both physically and mentally. It is blue and has great importance. The mantra of this chakra is HAM.

6. Agya chakra

The agya chakra is the basis of our foresight and intuition. This chakra point is the subject of many mysteries. Once this chakra point is fully activated, people can even predict the future. It is golden in color and is an integral component of the beej mantra. The mantra of this chakra is Om.

7. Sahasrara chakra

This chakra is known as the Brahma chakra too. Unlike other chakras, it does not reside inside our bodies. It sits four fingers above the human head. It is violet in color and there are thousands of petals in this symbol. The mantra of this chakra is Silence or Om.

5. BEEJ MANTRA MEDITATION

The beej mantra meditation helps to balance the chakras and promote serenity. The technique that you can use to balance the chakras are:

• First, take a deep breath and hold it as long as you can. 
• Create a mental image of the chakra that you want to balance.
• Chant the mantra of the chakra for at least a minute
• Do this practice for at least 5 minutes a day and slowly increase its duration. 

  The Beej mantra has numerous benefits that are still unknown. So, why not take it and understand it?

The process of clearing the mind to achieve a state of relaxed and focus with extreme self-focus and attention giving minimum attention to external stimuli is known as hypnotic meditation. In simpler words, hypnotic meditation is a deep relaxation process through the state of consciousness where a person loses the power of voluntary actions and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind that we all experience daily. Apart from meditation, the hypnosis technique is used to draw important information from people like criminals, officers, etc. Hypnotic meditation is simply another name of guided meditation. Among various meditations that are just guided visualization, relaxing process to drive you to an imaginary journey, hypnotic meditation is one of them.

Hypnosis Vs meditation

Meditation is a step to enter a hypnotic state. Meditation reduces activity in the brain while hypnosis increases brain activities. Hypnosis and meditation are figuratively vast conceptual colleges of imprecise multiple meanings and observations. According to theorists of human consciousness, both hypnosis and meditation are secondary phenomena: in the sense that both of them are culturally defined shaped modes of thoughts, behaviours, and experiences.

Hypnosis always needs a therapist but mediation can be done alone without any instructions. Hypnosis and meditation are duels without a clear winner. The next reason why they are considered the same is they both are shrouded in myths. People still believe that hypnosis is all about making people hypnotized and make them dance like chicken and ninja. However, they all are false.

Is hypnotic meditation safe and legal?

Hypnotic meditation is legal when it is conducted in clinics or certified centers with proper guidance and support. Hypnosis conducted by a trained therapist or health care professionals is considered safe. They are complementary and alternative methods of medical treatment. However, it may not be safe for people with mental illness.

Some people may get side effects of hypnotic meditation like headache, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, etc. With proper caution, hypnosis is proposed as a method to work through stressful events from earlier in life. Only trained professionals and health care therapists can perform this task for us.

You do not need any type of special preparation to be a part of hypnosis. Make sure you wear comfortable breathable cloth that will help you to relax. Choose a therapist or professionals who are certified, hypnosis performers. Seek recommendations and advice from people and only choose trustworthy people.

Your therapist will explain all the process of hypnosis to you. Then the therapist will typically start to talk in a gentle and soothing tone describing situations and images to create a sense of relaxation and security. When you are in a receptive state, the therapist will suggest you the way to achieve your goals and helps to visualize vivid, meaningful mental images of yourself accomplishing the goals.

 Benefits of hypnotic meditation

1. The hypnotic state is characterized by relaxation and a lack of inhibitions.
2. This meditation will offer the person to be more open to discussions and suggestions.
3. It helps to manage depression and stress.
4. Hypnotherapy is also used to help with pain control and to overcome habits such as smoking or any addiction.
5. It is also very beneficial to reduce disorders, phobia, fears, and anxiety.

 Risks of hypnosis

It is used to recover repressed memories but it may also pose a risk of creating false memories. Using hypnotherapy for disassociative disorders remains controversial. It may not be appropriate for a person with psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Candle gaze meditation is an open eye meditation where you stare at flame of the candle without blinking or letting your eyes water. Candle gazing is different from other types of meditation because most of the mediation is done by closing our eyes focusing attention inward.

However, candle gazing is a different type of meditation where you keep your eyes open and focus on an external object. Candle gaze meditation is also known as trataka, which helps to bring energy to the third eye, increase concentration and memory. It is considered a type of hatha yoga, which helps with spiritual advancements. It helps to challenge our thoughts and focus our mind.

When you gaze at a candle, your gazing should only be focused on flame of the candle. This allows your mind to fully focus on the candle on candle gaze meditation and everything in the room faces for you. At the same time, an invasive thought or distractions also fades away. This helps us to keep our mind to zero and remove all the negative thoughts from our mind.

How to perform candle gazing meditation?

Same to other meditation, choose peaceful and dark space where you will not be disturbed by external affairs. Choose a dim light more than bright and close the curtains if it’s daytime. Remove all the distractions like food, gadgets, etc. Place candle at a level and wear comfortable clothes.

Sit in cushion so candle flame is at eye level and about 2 feet away. Sir straight in a comfortable position. Breathe and gaze continuously at candle. Focus on the sensation of light and inhale the positive energy. When you are done with meditation, lay down and close your eyes for a certain time. This will allow human system to get back into awareness.

Significance of candle gazing and candle gaze meditation

The colour of candle also indicates so many things.  Every colour of candle holds different quality. White colour holds purity and innocence, gold holds prosperity and wealth, violet and indigo holds commitment and imagination respectively.

Similarly, blue holds creativity, turquoise holds independence and green holds forgiveness and freedom. Yellow colour candle is for ambition and power whereas orange is for sensuality and sexual energy. Red and pink holds the quality of courage and empathy respectively.

Tips for candle gazing meditation 

The benefits of candle gazing meditation will enhance if we follow certain tips and rules. 

1. It is better to practice this meditation on an empty stomach during early morning hours or evening hours before going to bed.
2. Choose a decent sized flame by adjusting the wick size. It is to achieve a better after-image of the flame and to visualize with proper concentration.
3. You do not need to adjust your eyes. The brain will slowly help you to adjust your eyes while gazing on the flame.
4. The mediation will be better with a soothing classic music or aum dhun.

Benefits of candle gazing

From opening our third eye to improved eyesight and many more , this simple meditation technique can beautifully amend our body. The benefits of candle gaze meditation are listed below:

1. It improves concentration, memory and intelligence.
2. It enhances self-confidence and power.
3. It calms the mind and provides inner peace.
4. It helps to overcome mental, behavioral and emotional aliments.
5. It deepens our sleep and cures sleep-related disorders.
6. It cleanse the etheric body.
7. It strengthens intuition and clairvoyance.
8. It also improves eyesight and vision.

Precaution: You need to take care of your eye while doing this. If you do on wrong way it might gives the problem in your eye sight. To protect your eye you may see the ayurvedic way of eye care daily. 

Unlike other mediation, candle gaze meditation is all about sensing the flame of candle with open eyes and to focus your mind at a particular thing only. It is a powerful practice that you can easily incorporate into your routine and enjoy its benefits.

When we speak of meditation, we normally have a picture of a monk/sage sitting in a lotus position. There is a certain calm and peace in his face that we all want to have. Sound meditation is a relatively new method of meditation which on the contrary, has been around for quite some time. Through this blog, we shall learn more about it and how we can benefit from it. 

What is sound meditation?

Sound meditation refers to a healing practice that not only heals the body but provides inner peace and relaxation. While other meditation techniques emphasize on silence, in this meditation, we prioritize on the reverberating sound. It revolves around the idea that sound has healing properties and we can access it through concentration and practice. 

As the years progressed, the methods of sound meditation have seen rapid development. However, the core idea and philosophies remain the same. Also, modern yoga practitioners believe that sound can heal and spiritualize us. In recent times, people practice this meditation by hearing the sound of various objects.

Brief History 

Different countries have their origins of sound meditation. For instance, ancient Greeks used to treat mental problems with the help of songs. The Greeks worshipped ‘Apollo’ who was the God of medicine and music. They believed that music had healing properties and it could treat the ill. 

Another instance where sound meditation is seen is on the Aboriginal people in Australia. They used an instrument called ‘didgeridoo’ as a healing tool. Furthermore, the use of such practice dates back to more than 30,000 years ago. Even in countries like China and Bhutan, we can see people still using the healing properties of the meditation. 

Does sound meditation help us?

In a world where people rely on physical proof, some people question the authenticity of this meditation. Various studies have shown that listening to music boosts our productivity. Also, it acts as a stress reliever. Likewise, music floods the brain with dopamine which releases oxytocin (a natural painkiller). The same concept is applicable in this meditation too. It can not only alter our minds but our bodies as well.

What are the effects of sound meditation?

It brings numerous benefits to the body. It helps in curing diseases/ailments. It does not mean that only sick people should practice sound meditation. Even healthy people can take it and gain benefits. The benefits are:

• Relaxed mood
• Mental clarity and balance 
• Aids in fighting insomnia 
• Enhanced immune system 
• An increase in creativity
• Strong memory power 
• Strong concentration levels

The ailments where sound meditation works wonders are:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Learning problems

What is a sound meditation session like?

In a sound meditation session, you sit in a comfortable position. In most cases, you just lie down. You make the body ready to receive sound and commence the healing process. Some tools that people use in this meditation are tuning forks, singing bowls, and drums. Some people use their voices too.

Different types of sound meditation

There are various methods of meditation using sond and depending on where you decide to go, the treatment may vary.

Dalcroze method

This method teaches music to children as a form of therapy. It emphasizes the rhythm, expression, and learning from it. It provides a better grasp of our motor functions.

Neurologic music therapy

In this meditation method, we use music as a tool to alter the brainwave of a person.

Singing bowl therapy

This is an ancient method of healing through sound. It dates back to 12th century Asia and was prevalent in rituals. Nowadays, people use it to calm the mind and repair it. 

There is more to sound meditation that meets the eye. Before you practice it, you need to conduct some research and take support where necessary. 

Have you ever sat on a still position and concentrated on a single point of light for a long period in a row? Such practice of focusing on a single point of light for a longer period is called ‘concentrated gazing’. In a spiritual language, such practice is called ‘Tratak’. In the yogic culture, Trataka meditation is considered as a good deed or popularly known as shatkarmas, or ‘six actions’ which is widely used to purify the human soul. 

Tratak is believed to be in practice for nearly thousands of years now. In the past, yogis used to calm their chattering and meandering mind by performing tratak meditation. Likewise, the instant medical benefits of tratak meditation include strengthening the muscles of the eyes and correcting your vision, cleansing your negativity, and focusing on the single point or the thoughts for a longer period. The ultimate goal of performing tratak meditation is to get liberation or in spiritual term moksha.  

Types of Trataka Meditaiton

There are different types of tratak and among them, the widely used tratak are illustrated below:

1. Bindu Trataka Meditation: A widely practiced tratak where a single point of the black dot is focused for the longer period.
2. Murti Trataka: A bit different form than that of Bindu tratak meditation, here murti or popularly known as an idol is focused for a longer period.
3. Vartul Trataka: In this form of tratak all focus is given on a circle.
4. Allay Trataka: In allay tratak all the practitioner focus on a spiral ring to concentrate.
5. Jyoti Trataka Meditation: In Jyoti tratak a flame of light is focused for a longer period. Continuous focus is made to make oneself stronger.
6. Surya Tratak: This tratak is practiced either in the early sunrise or before the sunset. It is generally recommended to practice Surya tratak under the guidance of experts.
7. Trinetra Tratak: While practicing Trinetra Tratak focus is given to the third eye of own self. 

More Specific Classificatoin of Trataka Meditation Techniques

There are two types of gazing practice, namely, they are external (bahiranga) and internal (antaranga).

External Trataka Meditation

External tratak meditation is usually practiced by gazing continuously at the single point for a longer period. For the beginners, gazing at a single point is a good practice. You can take some reference of object like moon gazing, aum symbol gazing, crystal gazing, candle gazing etc.  All above mention trataka belongs to the external trataka. You can practice anyone.

Antaranga trataka Meditation

While practicing antaranga tratak, both eyes are kept closed and concentrated on a symbol, or a point of light is imagined and concentrated for a longer period. Visualization is carried out while practicing Antaranga tratak, a single point is focused continuously without thinking any other thing. It is advised to see the object clearly and steadily in the dark space of chidakasha, for a longer period without any sort of disturbance.  Both meditation techniques of trataka are very effective.

The perquisites of doing antaranga tratak are not only the vision of eyes get clear, but also the blurry thoughts are obliterated and the clear and crystal way of thinking emerges out. Antaranga can be done any time the practitioners want to; however, it is most often advised to practice on an empty stomach during the morning time. 

NOTE: We can take the chakra system visualization as an internal trataka meditation. Here we visualize the colors of 7 different chakras one by one.

Details of Internal Trataka Meditation for 7 different chakras

8. Root chakra internal trataka

As the name signifies the root, chakra lies at the base of the spine, which is also known as a caudal bone. The root chakra is reddish in color. The significance of root can be compared with feeling aplomb, safety, and safe. In plants, the main function of the root is to draw the necessary nutrients, analogous to that the main significance of the root chakra in humans is also to draw power, wealth and show your wants and needs. 

In this tratak Meditation we visualize the color of the root chakra,  visualize its going to be pure, all the blockage is removing and you are going to be more and more powerful. Similarly, we do for the other chakras too.

9. Sacral chakra Internal trataka

 The second chakra, which comes from bottom to top, is the sacral chakra, which is orange in color. To be precise, the chakra is located just below the belly button. The sacral chakra signifies the control of your emotions, your reactions to the outer world stimulus, and the health condition of your whole body. 

10. Solar plexus chakra

 The yellowish colored solar plexus chakra masters your emotions, energy, power, and self-esteem. The precise location of solar plexus is between naval and sternum. 

11. Heart chakra

The heart chakra is greenish in color and lies at the center of your chest. As the heart signifies the power to give and accept empathy, love, compassion, so is the heart chakra responsible to. 

12. Throat chakra

The color of the throat chakra is blueish. The throat chakra is mainly responsible to show your feelings through your voice and your write up. Those, whose throat chakra is unclogged, can express their feelings with ease. 

13. Third-eye chakra

The color of the third-eye chakra is purple and indigo. It is difficult to open the third eye of a person; therefore, most people consider third-eye chakra as mystical. The position of third eye chakra in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows. 

14. Crown chakra

Another mystical chakra is crown chakra; it is responsible to connect the human energy with the supreme source of energy. The divinity is achieved if the crown chakra is opened.