Mastering Meditation
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How To Meditate Deeper Than A Zen Monk & Fast-Track Your Personal Growth & Healing!
When you think of the word ‘meditation’ it may conjure up images of sitting cross-legged in a mountain top monastery somewhere in the Himalayas, and chanting strange words repeatedly. While this is very much a valid form of meditation and one I have practiced for many years, it has inaccurately become somewhat of an all-encompassing ’stereotype’. However…
Meditation in the broad sense of the word, refers to ANY practice that allows you to focus your attention inward, with the intention of achieving a specific goal.
While there are many different methods and modalities for achieving this relaxed inward focus, the goal is much the same: to make a connection with our inner self (that which is eternal and one with all things – God, the Source, our Higher Self etc) and allow information (light) to flow from that place into the conscious mind i.e. ‘enlightenment’.
This ‘information’ may take the form of old memories or feelings seeking to be acknowledged and processed (fear and sadness, bliss, love and peace etc), we may receive insights into our own limiting behaviors and beliefs allowing us to expand and grow, and on deeper levels we may have profound spiritual realizations and experiences.
On a physiological level, placing ourselves into a meditative state can have powerful effects on our physical bodies and minds, for example: reduced blood pressure, deep relaxation and relief from stress, physical healing as well as altered brain wave activity.
In fact it has recently been discovered that this ‘altered brainwave activity’ is the core catalyst for every major benefit that can be experienced through regular meditation.
There are 4 main brainwave patterns – beta, alpha, theta and delta with each one progressively longer and slower in frequency than the last.
Beta is the fastest brainwave pattern and it is the common pattern of normal waking consciousness. It is associated with alertness and concentration. When we are anxious or stressed, our brainwaves are generally at the highest frequency of beta. Unless relaxing or sleeping, most of us are primarily in Beta.
Alpha brainwave patterns are somewhat slower than Beta patterns and occur shortly after closing your eyes and relaxing. Alpha brainwaves are associated with ‘introspection’ and at their deepest levels, are the predominant brainwave pattern of meditation.
Theta brainwave patterns are even slower still. This is the pattern we experience while in ‘dreaming sleep’ or rapid eye movement (REM). Theta patterns are associated with enhanced creativity, memory, healing and integration of experiences. Studies of Zen monks have revealed heightened levels of theta brainwaves during meditation.
Delta brainwave patterns are the longest and slowest of the patterns and are the level of ‘dreamless sleep’. Feelings of oneness and connectedness with all things can be experienced while in Delta, which has been referred to as the doorway to the ‘collective unconscious’. However, practicing ‘traditional’ meditation methods will not allow you to enter a predominantly Delta state, without falling asleep first.
While we are experiencing a combination of all 4 brainwave patterns at any given time, it is when we are predominantly in the Theta and more importantly the Delta patterns, that we experience the most profound physiological, psychological and ‘spiritual’ benefits.
Though regular deep meditation can naturally induce the slower, longer brainwave patterns, for the majority of westerners who have been conditioned to only live ‘externally’, it can be extremely difficult to go within and achieve really deep meditation in the first place.
In fact, it can take years if not decades of dedicated practice to achieve these very deep and highly beneficial states of consciousness. Interestingly, Zen monks who dedicate their life to meditative practice have only been known to attain predominantly ‘Theta’ brainwave patterns and still retain consciousness, but then only for short periods of time.
Over the last couple of decades much has been learned about the connection between brainwave
patterns and their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual effects and fortunately technology is now
available to actually ‘induce’ specific brainwaves patterns by using specific sounds / audio frequencies.
This scientific process is known as ‘brainwave entrainment’ and when used in combination with traditional meditation, is a powerful tool for rapid personal growth and healing!
Though ‘brainwave entrainment’ is a relatively new science, the use of ‘sound’ to affect consciousness is actually an ‘ancient’ practice. I experienced one ancient method of using sound in this way while practicing meditation in India with Tibetan singing bowls.
Traditionally, Tibetan singing bowls were made of Panchaloga: an alloy of bronze, copper, tin, zinc and other metals. Antique singing bowls often include silver, gold, iron and nickel.
Tibetan singing bowls are ’struck and sung’ with a soft mallet in specific rhythmic patterns to create vibrational sound harmonics at the frequency of “AUM”. This sound frequency affects the nervous system as your brainwaves synchronize to the vibrations of the bowls. These harmonic vibrations engage the relaxation reflex and slow down the respiratory, brain and heart rate and create a deep sense of well being. Click here to hear a short demonstration of some Tibetan singing bowls.
While meditating in a room full of ‘singing’ Tibetan bowls, I was amazed at how easy it was to enter deep levels of meditation and actually remain there. When I came out of my first session I felt deeply relaxed and at peace, and my mind felt remarkably clear. These effects were much more significant than I had experienced in any of my meditations over the previous 12 years.
This experience inspired me to delve more into the use of sound to induce deeper states of consciousness and shortly after I came across a revolutionary audio technology called Holosync, which was developed by the Centerpointe Research Institute.
This organization talked all about ‘brainwave entrainment’ and how their specialized sound technology could instantly induce specific brainwave patterns, including the deeper Theta and Delta patterns and hold the listener in these states while remaining completely conscious, effectively empowering them to meditate deeper than a Zen monk…with ease!
Being an experienced meditator, I thought these claims sounded ludicrous however remembering my experience with the Tibetan singing bowls, I felt compelled to give it a try. When I meditated with the first Holosync CD, I soon became aware of how similar the sensations in my mind and body were to my experience with the Tibetan bowls (though much more potent). After just the first session I felt like my mind had been swept clean of any scattered thoughts and I felt really focused, clear and energized.
I’ve since been meditating with Holosync ‘brainwave entrainment’ technology for several years (and creating and using my own personal ‘brainwave entrainment meditations’) and I feel that I have accomplished more personal development and spiritual growth in this time, using this ‘brainwave entrainment’ technology than I did in the 10 years proceeding!
I passionately believe that ‘brainwave entrainment’ is a powerful tool that can literally fast-track your personal growth and healing more effectively than any other method, and empower the average person to literally master the art of meditation…and themselves.
About The AuthorJames Thomas is the Founder & Senior Editor of Self Empower Magazine. The magazine dedicated to increasing the health, wealth and happiness of it’s readers through useful and empowering information. |
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