TO TOGGLE PLAYLIST FOR MEDITATION MUSIC CLICK THE TOP RIGHT SIDE CORNER  

MEDITATION MUSIC(try and follow if this method suits you)

• I have added music in my blog at the top choose the one which suits you.
• You can hear music and meditate.
• Sit in an upright position.
• Wear headphones.
• Set your mind to relax and feel the music.
• Meditate for 10 minutes at first after two weeks increase by 5 minutes.
• After gradual progress meditate for 30 minutes in a day.
• Meditate in the morning.
• Start meditating coz nothing in life is better than peace.

HOW TO DO CANDLE MEDITATION?

• Before you light a candle for your meditation, take a minute to prepare the space in which you will meditate. Turn down the lights or draw your window shades closed. You'll find this meditation much easier to do in a room that's not too bright and you'll avoid eyestrain too, so make sure the room you are in is dimly lit and at a comfortable temperature.
• Now light a candle and position it at eye level, or slightly below. It’s OK to look down at the candle slightly, but make sure that your head is not tilted too far forward and that your body is not slumping.It’s important that you are able to maintain a comfortable upright posture that feels natural to you. Take a seat in your favourite chair, or sit cross legged on the floor, and make sure that your candle is at least 50cm away from you otherwise it may appear too bright.

• Now simply stare at the candle and allow the image of the flame to occupy your mind.At first, your mind will probably wander about and your eyes will resist your efforts to keep them still. This is normal and it will gradually ease as the meditation progresses, so don’t be too concerned if this happens to you.You may also find that you eyes water a little. Again, this is normal and it usually dissipates quite quickly. If distractions like these arise, simply return your attention to the candle flame and let them go.

• A great way to deepen a candle meditation is to imagine that you are breathing the light of the candle in and out of yourself. You don’t need to perform a complex visualization exercise to do this, just keep your eyes fixed on the candle flame, and allow your natural breathing rhythm to fill your awareness.

• Casually sense that the light of the candle is flowing into you as you breathe in and out. Feel a sense of purity and clarity infusing with your body and mind as you absorb yourself in this meditation. 

GOING DEEPER INTO MEDITATION

• Something rather special happens whenever you go deep into a candle meditation. I’ll describe it so that you’ll recognize it when it happens to you...

• The reason that you are able to see is because your brain processes the signals that are sent to it via the optic nerves in your eyes. What happens as this meditation progresses is that your brain begins to stop processing these signals. That might sound dramatic, but it’s actually perfectly natural, perfectly safe and a profoundly serene experience. Let me explain what this looks and feels like...

• Your eyes are firmly fixed on the image of the flame in front of you and because your eyes are not moving, they are not providing your brain with any new information to process. You then find that some areas of your peripheral vision start to fade from your vision completely...

• Gradually, more and more of your peripheral vision fades away until you have no visual awareness of anything but the candle flame.

• This is a profound experience. Your eyes are open, but you are actually not seeing anything but the small flame in front of you. As a result it feels as though there is no distance between yourself and the flame. In essence, you have become one with the flame.

• To achieve this requires both mental stillness and the physical stillness of your eyes. As soon as you move your eyes around, your brain is flooded with new sensory input and you will instantly be able to see the room around you again. Remain still and focussed on the candle, and you will slip back into this state of profoundly deep meditation quite quickly.

• It may take some practise to really stabilize this experience, but it's well worth it!

• At the completion of your candle meditation, close your eyes and lie down for at least five minutes as you let your body and mind come back down to earth. 
• refer the best blog on meditation the link is given below
• http://blog.unlearningmeditation.com/

WONDERS OF MEDITATION

MEDITATION

why you have to meditate?

People  are suffering from emotional stability and have lack of concentration.Health problems arise due to frustration,stress and many people do not know how to handle a situation.many people have no control of emotions.people even have anger without thier control.you have to meditate to have control of your own mind.

To enable peace and internal happiness to your mind.

MEDITATION CHANGES YOUR CHARACTER 

Meditation gradually changes your mind.Honestly every man/woman has some kind of bad thoughts going on in your mind.you may even feel sad and have inferiority complex or    superiority or you may also be the person to showoff about yourself. Meditaion makes you as a complete lively character.You will feel proud if u see yourself as a different person.Most people have jealousy,anger,stress,depression and people also worry about what others are saying or commenting.The negative character and negative thoughts will vanish and you will not believe yourself and you will change definitely.Changes happen gradually it takes a lot of time.The bad quality in you will vanish. You will develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness.

SILENT MIND

After you’ve practiced concentration and learned to focus on one thing at a time, you can proceed to the next stage: no 

thought at all. Achieving a silent mind is difficult, but when to attain it the experience is powerful. A technique I advise is viewing your thoughts as separate from your self. When a thought appears, make a conscious decision to throw it out of your mind. Over time you realize that you are capable of allowing or rejecting thoughts. Your real “I” is not a collection of thoughts, but something far deeper. This is the most 

significant realization of meditation – that you do not have to be a slave to your thoughts.Through meditation, you attain the power to control your thoughts, and on occasion 

stop them completely. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t attain a silent mind straightaway. It takes time and practice. 

There is nothing really else to it; meditation is a simple and spontaneous action. Unfortunately, our mind is used to 

complication and it takes time to unlearn bad habits.

How does meditation help with you medically?

 Meditation can lower your oxygen

 consumption and it can even assist in decreasing your respiratory rate, which can help with many different types of lung conditions as well as relaxation. It can also be very helpful for heart patients as it helps to increase the patient’s exercise tolerance, making their muscles and heart stronger. Using mediation daily can help you to build your immune system as it increases the activity of the natural-killer cells that kills the bacteria and cancer cells and it can also reduce your chances of catching viruses as it lowers your emotional distress.

Many women find it very beneficial as meditation can help out to reduce the symptoms of Premenstrual syndrome, reducing the tension and emotional stress that come with a woman’s period. Women who are with child can benefits greatly as well, as meditation can help the mother-to-be to get in tune with their unborn child. This can also aid the new mother after childbirth to refocus themselves and make sense of the thoughts that come with the events of childbirth and being new to motherhood.

How does meditation help with stress?

 People are under many different types of stress throughout their lives and stress can play a big toll on ones health. Stress can make a persons blood pressure rise and raise the heart rate, which can lead to many different medial issues. With daily mediation you can lower your blood pressure and keep your body running at its best. This will help your body deal with illnesses and injuries as you’re less stressed, more refreshed and able to fight off the things that can bring you and your immune system down.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

Improved concentration - A clear mind makes you more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing.

Less bothered by little things – Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by little things? It is the nature of the mind to magnify small things into serious problems. Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather than worrying about the past or future. We do not worry about meaningless things, but see the bigger picture.

Better Health – There have been numerous studies pointing to the health benefits of meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety. If we can reduce stress, many health benefits follow.

Knowledge of Self – Meditation enables us to have a deeper understanding of our inner self. Through meditation we can gain a better understanding of our life’s purpose.

STATISTICS OF PEOPLE WHO MEDITATE

Statistics on people who meditate can be found everywhere. Statistics on people who meditate have shown they become less stressed and calmer. Statistics on people who meditate in groups have even shown the crime rate in that particular area drop significantly. There are statistics on everything related to meditation. There are so many different statistics on meditation and statistics on people who meditate because meditation in one form or another has been around for thousands of years.

With its roots deep in India and Southeast Asia, meditation has made its way into modern Western culture, namely through Transcendental meditation, which was brought to the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and made popular by celebrities like The Beatles.

But what can somebody expect from practicing meditation? Well statistics on people who meditate have shown that daily reflection and rumination has dramatically decreased the occurrence of heart disease. Further, in patients previously diagnosed with heart disease, meditation has been proven to lessen the effects and somewhat reverse the disease.

Stress is a major cause of many things such as coronary disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes and high blood pressure. All of these afflictions have been shown through scientific study to be lessened or otherwise depleted with the help of meditation in fact health insurance statistics on people who meditate regularly have shown that they are less prone to illness. The actual statistics were that those who meditate reduced the likelihood of being hospitalized for coronary disease by 87 percent, and the possibility of getting cancer by 55 percent.

Many doctors have studied the statistics on people who meditate and now prescribe meditation for their patients. These patients have reported more energy, higher productivity and more patience. Business owners have reported that among employees, who meditate, absenteeism is lower, production is higher, and the quality of their work is better thus proving the statistics on people who meditate are right.

A Detroit based chemical plant posted the following results three years after implementing meditation:

Absenteeism fell by 85%

Productivity rose 120%

Injuries dropped 70%

Profits increased 520%

According to reports, there have been over 1500 separate studies since 1930. All were related to meditation and its effects on the practitioners. Some statistics on people who meditate include results like:

Heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen consumption are all decreased.

Meditators are less anxious and nervous.

Meditators were more independent and self-confident

People who deliberated daily were less fearful of death.

75% of insomniacs who started a daily meditation program were able to fall asleep within 20 minutes of going to bed.

Production of the stress hormone Cortisol is greatly decreased, thus making it possible for those people to deal with stress better when it occurs.

Women with PMS showed symptom improvements after 5 months of steady daily rumination and reflection.

Thickness of the artery walls decreased which effectively lowers the risk of heart attack or stroke by 8% to 15%.

Relaxation therapy was helpful in chronic pain patients.

60% of anxiety prone people showed marked improvements in anxiety levels after 6-9 months.

It has been documented that people who use meditation and relaxation techniques may be physiologically younger by 12 to 15 years; could this possibly be the Fountain of Youth? While there are probably many other studies to look at, I believe that the results reported above are tell-tale. Meditation, relaxation, reflection and deliberation can affect the physical body in a positive way just as stress and other factors effect the body in a negative one. In either case science and the statistics on people who meditate, has confirmed the positive effects of meditation beyond a shadow of a doubt.

By Joel Sparks

Emotional Benefits of Meditation 

Mental Clarity

Silent Meditation is a bit of time set aside for focusing on the second at hand. It's a period of time to identify the 'garbage' and what is reality; and this can only come about by listening to your highest voice from deep in your heart. Get rid of anger here, feel the answer of the truth, and sort out possible solutions. 

Increased Self Esteem

In due time once you are more comfortable meditating and deciding to cater to your deepest desires, you are sure to gain a healthy self confidence through deep knowledge. You will undoubtedly be more comfortable in your own skin no matter who else is around while carrying yourself with a sense of humility '" neither demanding too much nor shying away when it's your time to shout. 

Inner Peace

Inner Peace is a fantastic gift of meditation that really helps to escape to a healthy solitude no matter where you are. Know that fear is caused by obsessing over the future. When you are scared, it's primarily during the time you are far away in your thoughts...By yourself. There isn't anybody with you in the land of what-ifs with you; and it's horrifying when you're without support in a different place. 

Silent meditation offers you regular practice on finding your center in right now; and it's a gift on which you can rely several times over the course of the day! 

A Smaller Amount of Emotional Stress

Anxiety comes with quite a few symptoms and causes and can result in a roller coaster of uncomfortable conditions, including sleepless nights, incomprehensible resentment, intellectual complications and many other psychiatric and physiological negative effects which can all be immensely minimized and gotten rid of after a while with meditation. 

Meditation Benefits on Health 

Longer Life

It is possible you might already be acquainted with the relationship of anxiety and poor health, still the fact is: The physiological response of the majority of human beings to tension isn't any mystery to science. Tension is acknowledged as leading to some of the most harmful problems including higher pressure in the blood, overeating and obesity, heart blockage, weakened immune system and a great deal more. Not to mention the majorly mind-consuming adverse effects of social anxiety such as bodily hurting, joint spasms, and headaches. 

When you take affirmative steps like quiet contemplation and consistently making more self identifying decisions, you will be able to become not as damaged by stress and come to be even more inclined to have a better state of health for an extended lifetime as a result. 

Healthier Circulation

Silently Meditating is quite often performed by working on lengthy, slow breaths. Breathing in this manner performs wonders for lung health, cell renewal, heart health, and even brain tissue! 

Wonders of Silent Meditation

The amazing gifts of silently meditating are undoubtedly the most important reasons to meditate. Regarding the greatest response on the question: Why do meditation? The response is: To become in line with the Universe and to be rejuvenated by the Life Force Energy moving through each every human being. 

Increased Knowledge 

There are those who claim that retrospect offers a clear view; and it is unarguably a fact. Think how it would be experiencing this sort of foresight in your life in advance, though. Repetitively meditating will help you build a strong instinctual knowledge of what will transpire next so that you can accomplish your goals and ambition. After identifying your personal alignment with the Universal Life Force, it actually gets tough to make the 'wrong' choice; mainly because you appear to be led to where you need to be. 

Knowing Where to Be

From time to time it's challenging to have an understanding of reasons why we do the things we do...Like go totally out of our way one day for no obvious rationale what-so-ever, or we make a stop in a place that we ordinarily wouldn't. Whenever this miracle happens and you make a connection with somebody or come across an opportunity as a consequence, you would have just experienced one example of Universal intervention; and it happens many a time any time you are open and keep heeding to the internal intuition you get from meditating quietly. 

Meditating silently is an important portion of my freedom from cigarette addiction, and it shaped my life into something a whole lot better and more productive than the way it had been. 

Published by Michael Westbrook

HOW TO MEDITATE?

CHOOSE A BASIC MEDITATION

1.Understand the purpose of meditation for you.

 Not everyone has the same reason for meditating, although most people appreciate its effect on calming your thoughts and causing you to stop and simply "be", amid the chatter and cacophony of everyday life. Seeking inner quiet is important for everyone, from the business person to the artist, and it's a way of connecting with yourself, taking time out from a hectic day and 

observing the spiritual needs within. Try not to over-complicate your reason for meditating––at its core it's about relaxing and refusing to be caught up in everyday anxieties.

2.Choose an easy, basic meditation program to introduce you to the benefits of meditation.

 Most people like to begin with a simple sitting meditation, somewhere quiet, simply focusing on breathing. As you advance, you can try other types of meditation, including walking meditation, guided meditation and meditation focused on a specific issue or problem.

Avoid using difficult poses or thinking that you need "the right equipment" or clothing. Meditation is possible anywhere, dressed (or undressed) as you are, and making do in a quiet spot of your world.

Avoid slumping (like on a cozy couch) or lying down somewhere that you're used to falling asleep in. These are not positions conducive to staying alert when meditating. When beginning, you can sit on the floor or on a chair, sit on your heels, or sit cross-legged in the half lotus or full lotus positions (if that's comfortable for you––don't force it).

PREPARING YOURSELF TO MEDITATE

1.Ensure that you are alert. 

An alert mind will help you make the most of meditation, so it is helpful to be free of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs for at least 24 hours; that said, get in the habit of meditating regularly even when conditions aren't ideal.

2.Digestion is distracting. 

Similarly, it may be easier in the beginning to meditate on an empty stomach -- wait two hours after a full meal or an hour after a snack or a caffeine drink before meditating, as the digestive system can be very distracting.

3.Don't smoke in the lead-up to meditating. If you smoke it is best to wait for roughly thirty minutes before meditating. Ideally, don't smoke tobacco at all. It's very dangerous to your health.

4.Wear something comfortable.

 Remove your shoes and loosen any tight clothing so you are comfortable.

PREPARING YOUR MEDITATION SPACE

1.Choose a restful spot.

 You need to make sure you have some peace and quiet around you when you first begin learning to meditate. This is critical to your success.

2.Disconnect or turn on the silencer for all phones.

3.Make the area pleasant.

 A scented candle, a bouquet of flowers, a incense or something else pleasing to you can be great little touches to enhance your first meditation.

4.Dim the lights. Or, turn them off if you are going to use candles. You don't want to come out of your meditation session into bright light.

5.Use a straight-backed chair to sit upright. Or, use some cushions/pillows to support your back and head. If you're meditating outdoors, sit against a tree trunk, a warm garden wall, or some other comfortable support.

 For those sitting lotus style, a zufu is a good purchase (a zufu is a large, firm cushion filled with kapok).

BEGIN MEDITATION

1.Sit still in your chosen position. 

Be mindful of your breath. Every time that your thoughts race off somewhere (and they will, along with song jingles, to-do lists and all manner of unwanted chatter), come back to your breath.

Breathe deeply in and out.

Seek to be aware of the different physical sensations you're experiencing as you breathe deeply in and out.

Notice how your body expands with an inhalation and contracts with exhalation.

Experience the breath coming in through your nose, out through your mouth and experience how it feels through other parts of your body.

Notice the stillness around you before and after each breath.

Come back to your breath whenever the thoughts try to take over.

2.Accept that focus will be hard for the beginner. 

While it's important to try and keep focused while meditating, you may find it hard as a beginner. Don't berate yourself––all beginners experience the inner chatter, the clamor of one's thoughts trying to regain supremacy and break the peace. If thoughts enter your mind, just let them float out of your mind again and return to focusing on your breath. You will need to do this time and time again––that is fine, it's normal. In fact, some would say that this continual return to the present moment is the "practice" of meditation. 

3.Don't expect too much. 

Many people get disheartened and frustrated with meditation because they expect immediate results. Meditation takes time to grow into and to fully appreciate. It may take days if you're on a retreat with nothing more to do than meditate, or it can take weeks or months if you're only dedicating a slot here and there for meditation each week. Be persistent, as there will come a moment when your awareness will suddenly shift and you'll want more of this experience.

4.Practice and persevere. 

You will gain the benefits of meditation when you least expect it because meditation cannot be forced or fitted into a schedule––your awakening and increased awareness will come when the time is right. However, you can increase your chances of being successful by finding others to meditate with. It might be an individual or a group, but it's best to find someone more experienced at meditation than you, to offer guidance and inspiration.

5.Meditate daily. 

A short daily meditation is more productive than a longer, less frequent meditation period. 10 minutes a day is better than 70 minutes once a week, because it helps you establish the habit. Aim for a minimum of a continuous 20 minutes every day to start seeing results. If you miss a day, just start again the next day.

In time, the mindfulness that you experience from meditation should spill over into the rest of your life, causing you to think carefully about your diet, your activity levels, and the things you submit your mind to through reading, viewing and listening.