At some point in our lives, we all feel the burden of negativity in our lives. Some of us suffer with unhappiness and misery more than others, and for those people who seek relief from perpetual unhappiness, Vipassana Meditation is a solution. Vipassana meditation is a means by which people can achieve peace of mind in the long-term. It is a way to alleviate the perpetual cycle of happiness-unhappiness people are universally trapped in throughout their lives. When things are going our way and we have what we want, we are happy and content. As soon as something negative occurs, our mood and behavior changes. We become stressed, sad, or angry, and these negative emotions result in negative actions on our parts. We then perpetuate negativity, causing others to be unhappy and contributing to the general misery that characterizes all of humanity. It seems like a cycle without an end. There is no way to ensure nothing we don’t like will ever happen in life. Sooner or later, something comes up. It could be sickness, bad weather, a nasty co-worker or the action of some political figure that disrupts our happiness. We react with negativity, and so the cycle starts once again. Vipassana meditation is a way to alleviate this type of endless suffering in your life. It is a very precise technique that involves ten days of very specific training. Vipassana means “to see things as they really are,” and it teaches you techniques for mental purification through self-observation. You can then experience lasting peace and harmony, as the causes of suffering are eliminated. Ancient Tradition, Present-day Solution Vipassana is an ancient form of meditation that originated in India. It was first taught 2,500 years ago by Gotama the Buddha. Since then, the technique has been taught in its original form through the practice, devotion and preservation efforts of a chain of teachers. Vipassana courses taught today involve the exact same techniques and procedures taught to thousands of individuals throughout history. Vipassana meditation was made available on a worldwide scale in a sort of revival made possible by the efforts of Mr. S. N. Goenka. Mr. Goenka received 14 years of Vipassana meditation training from Sayagyi U Ba Khin before he began training others in India in 1969. Since then, he has taught tens of thousands of individuals from all over the world the Vipassana meditation techniques. His assistant teachers have continued to share this ancient tradition with many thousands more. Vipassana is Available to All Vipassana is available as a solution to suffering for individuals of all races, religions, and backgrounds. The problem of human suffering is universal, so the solution is also universal. People all over the world study and practice Vipassana meditation, including Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists and those who follow other religions. Anyone can practice Vipassana meditation at any time, in any place, and all will experience the same benefits. All that is required is a sincere commitment to learning the practice, and devotion […]
The Health Benefits of Walking Meditation
Walking Meditation Health Benefits Walking meditation is about using the processes involved in walking for meditation purposes. It is a contemplative practice with a long history in Buddhism and is a variation of Vipasanna Meditation. The actual experience of walking becomes the focus of our attention increasing our mindfulness. Although it might seem easy to keep focused on the walking experience, it can actually be quite difficult. Our minds love to wander all over the place, so it takes discipline and practice to perform any type of meditation even such an active form as walking meditation. There’s more than one kind of walking meditation, however when you master one it is not difficult to learn the others. Walking meditation can be a very spiritual experience Walking meditation is quite different to sitting meditation. This may seem like an obvious statement but it is worth noting the differences. Firstly, our eyes are open during walking meditation. This one fact changes everything. When our eyes are closed it is easier to drift away from the outside world and look within. Walking requires us to not only see where we are going but also to actively pay attention so that we don’t fall over or get hit by a car! Walking outside also exposes us to the impact of the elements – the sun, the rain, the wind- which don’t even come into play when we are engaged in a sitting meditation indoors. Even the sounds of other people, cars and machinery intrude on a walking meditation in a way that is limited when indoors. However, walking meditation is easier than sitting meditation for most people in that they are more able to become very aware of their bodies while walking than when they sit still. We may have sensory awareness during a sitting meditation but it tends to be more subtle than the sensations we experience when walking. As a result, walking meditation can be a very spiritual experience. Not only can you learn to experience your body more profoundly than ever before, you can gain a great deal of pleasure from the experience. Walking meditation requires a level path Walking meditation doesn’t have to be a big deal. You can take micro opportunities to fit in a meditation. When you walk from your car to your workplace, you can fit in a few minutes walking meditation. However, the ideal situation when you begin to learn how to meditate while you walk is to find an open space where you can walk without interruption for at least twenty minutes. It is about becoming aware of your movement as you pay attention to the way your body moves as you take each step. Developing this focus helps you develop insight and thus is also a form of insight meditation. It is also known as ‘meditation in action’. Walking meditation requires a level path, at least five to ten meters long so that you can walk back and forth on it. If you are […]