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Author:
sacha tarkovsky

Meditation is easy to do and can give you an instant feeling of calmness and relaxation.

Here we are going to outline a simple meditation technique that can be practiced by all, with 5 - 20 minutes to spare each day.

This mediation technique is simple and very effective and only takek you a few minutes to learn and will help you relax away from the stresses of everyday life.

What is meditation?

A definition accepted in most dictionaries for meditation is, continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature. This is really reflection.

Meditation generally involves where one consciously discounts wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming and focusing the mind, while controlling the breath, and sensory awareness.

So, the meaning in the dictionary is really referring to reflection or concentration, both pre-requisites for meditation, but not meditation itself.

For unless one can voluntarily control our basic life functions (such as breathing) and meaningfully turn off the senses to outside stimuli, one cannot even hope to enter into meditation.

Does this mean that meditation is open only for those who have mastered control of their own life forces? Not exactly.

Meditation to relax and calm your mind

There is one meditation anyone can do, and by doing it, one's life force itself comes under control; ones senses turn off, and the mind becomes quiet. Then the peace and realization that comes from true meditation comes to the practitioner. What is the name of this meditation, and how is it done?

A simple meditation technique for all

Its name is Soham, or Hamsa if one is following the meditation as taught by Paramhamsa Yogananda. Soham in sanskrit simply means I am He.

Even spoken over and over, the syllables merge...so one is saying Sohamsoham...I am He, He am I...it is a prayer and a meditation mantra which are spiritually charged word or series of words used a meditation theme.

If you but practice it once, you will see immediately its positive effects. One feels calm, and de-stressed.

One feels close ones intuition, and one feels as if the world of material things is less important due to its overbearing insignificance when compared to the bliss one feels in meditation.

How to mediate in simple steps

Let's see how it's done. Find a place where you feel most comfortable, and private...with as few distractions as possible.

Sit up straight with your spine in a line...do not slouch. You must be comfortable, so sit on a chair or on the floor with a soft mat or carpet underneath you.

Close your eyes, but in a relaxed manner. Now relax your whole body, part by part by first tensing that part, and then relaxing it.

When you feel completely relaxed, command your mind to be silent, your emotions to be still, keeping your body as relaxed as possible.

Now focus on the sound of your breath coming in. Associate that sound and feeling with the word So.

As you exhale, listen to the sound and associate it with the word Ham. As a guide, So sounds as does if you are saying it in English. Ham could actually be written as Hom, as the in Ham is very weak.

As you do this meditation, actually imagine the air entering your nose and traveling all the way down into your lungs. This is one So. As you exhale, you can imagine the air traveling out of the lungs, up to the nose and out of your body. This is one Ham.

Beginners in this meditation usually silently say the word So with each inhalation and the word Ham with each exhalation. Continue in this way, as long as you are comfortable, but no less than 5 minutes, and no longer than 20 minutes until the meditation feels natural to go longer.

This meditation technique will give you instant calmness

As you practice this meditation, you will see that So Ham So Ham becomes just Soham. Soham is by far the easiest meditation, and not be done with the breath controlled, and the senses not picking up stimuli.

As breathing is natural, and it comes to all living creatures without any effort ang gives a feeling of instant relaxation and calmness.

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| Article Keywords: Meditation

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Meditation... Benefits of Meditation Benefits of Meditation for Individuals and for Society as a Whole Robert Elias Najemy How is Meditation Used Today? People from all walks of life, in all the countries of the world belonging to all the possible religions, meditate for a wide variety of reasons. The same technique offers something different to each according to his needs and motives. Some of the motives for which people meditate today are: 1. To relax the body, mind and rejuvenate one?s flow of energy in order to more effectively face the responsibilities of one?s demanding and active life. 2. To heal illnesses (especially psychosomatic ones). 3. To overcome emotional problems. 4. To develop a more relaxed and positive view towards life. 5. To develop a peaceful and more clearly functioning mind. 6. For greater ability to penetrate into the core of problems and find inspirational solutions. This has been found especially useful by scientists and businessmen. 7. To tune into a creative inspirations for artistic expression. 8. For freeing oneself from addictions such as cigarettes, alcohol, narcotics and tranquilizers. 9. To purify one?s character. 10. To develop will-power. 11. As a method of self-observation and self-discovery. 12. To develop the latent powers of the mind. 13. To create a relationship with God. 14. To develop an inner relationship with the Divine. 15. For spiritual growth, self-knowledge or enlightenment. 16. To transcend the identification with the body and mind, and experience spiritual realities. 17. For the ecstasy of union with the Universal Spirit, which is the essential reality of the universe. Scientific Research on the Effects of Meditation on the Body and Personality Numerous scientific experiments on people who meditate and similar control groups...