By Ashley Ku
Midterms, club activities, relationships, and the approaching graduation, life can be just a little too much sometimes. But these things don’t have to get in your way; there are some extra supports that can help you along the way. If you are looking for something to relieve the pressures both inner and outer, try meditation–the remedy that can bring you a whole new perspective. Transcendental meditation (靜坐) as well as Yoga and Vipassana are all forms of meditation. But don’t worry about these esoteric terms, the basic rules behind each of them are similar. It is said that the whole idea of meditation originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. More recently, in 1957, a Vedic scholar named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi reestablished transcendental meditation. It has since become the mainstream of spiritual therapy, and this form of meditation is most commonly known today. Meditation has made a comeback because of the increasing stresses and strains around us. It is now harder than ever to maintain both mental and physical health, which is considered the basis of being fit. There have been over 500 studies completed on meditation, all agreeing on its positive effects. It can improve mental ability, health, and social behavior, by improving your memory and reaction time, reducing tension and anxiety, as well as increasing self-confidence and tolerance. Participants therefore gain concrete benefits such as alleviated asthma and fewer headaches, higher levels of focus and concentration. According to Maharish, “Transcendental meditation opens the awareness to the infinite reservoir of energy, creativity and intelligence that lies deep within everyone.” However, the main reason people meditate is because it’s easy to learn and easy to practice. There is one golden rule: be comfortable. Wear loose clothes and find a quiet spot, then you can start meditating. Ideally, you should practice at a fixed location and time, since familiarity is more helpful to make you relax. Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight. It will ease most of your tension. You can cross your legs but it’s not necessary. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Some people will circle their thumbs and middle fingers, keeping the flow of chi (氣) circulating. You can try it if you want to. After settling down, the 20-minute procedure begins. In the first five minutes, loosen the parts of your body, starting from the head and working down to the toes. Then in the next fifteen minutes, try to enter deep concentration. There should be only one thing in your mind–breathing. Pay attention to your breath going in and out of your nose. It’s all right if you find your mind wandering away, thinking what you are going to do next or wondering if this meditation is going to work. Just bring it back gently. Like everything else, the more you practice the better you will do. Give it some time and you will see its value. Meditation is a personal spirit-growing experience. There is no right and wrong in it. It is successful as long as you are relaxed. If you need some extra help to get into the meditation mood, try some soft-colored lights, amber and sapphire for example, scented candles, and play New Age music or nature sounds like waterfalls or dolphins. Some people also like chanting a word. Saying om, hum or even calm is said to help concentrate. The ultimate goal of meditation is to make people more accepting. Your job is to observe, not to control or judge. By practicing to meditate regularly, you gradually learn to accept things that have happened. Meditation won’t resolve the difficulties and frustrations in your life, instead; it will change your relationship to them. When you manage to accept the current situation, you become a more relaxed person and better responder to life. The principle of meditation is “simple, natural, and effortless.” So don’t force yourself doing anything while meditating. Apart from that, there is no so-called failure in meditation. It is a friendly relaxation remedy that everyone can teach themselves. Whether you feel the changes inside you or not, it’s always good to give yourself a peaceful 20 minutes from time to time. If you are interested in more information, visit these two very helpful websites: http://www.tm.org, the official transcendental meditation website; and http://www.meditationcenter.com, a friendly on-line guide. #Volume 6 Issue 3 a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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