Welcome to Shirley Jayanta Johannesen's Stretch-Awareness
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
In western societies many people are asking: "what is meditation?" "what is the purpose of meditation?" "can meditation bring well-being, happiness and an enriched quality of life?" In today's modern world it is a rich time for anyone wishing to explore these questions. Although meditation is most often associated with Eastern practices such as Buddhism and Hinduism, most religious traditions and spiritual practices, including Christianity, have similar approaches for the purpose of quietening the mind, gaining insight, managing life processes (physiological, mental, emotional, spiritual), enhancing performance or to merely relax.
Venerable Pasanno
As you begin to explore these questions for yourself, you will come across many definitions, techniques and methods. There is no one "right" meditation that works for everyone. What is important is to find a teacher and a meditation practice that appeals to you and is beneficial to your daily life.
Meditation may include specific postures and/or activities such as sitting or walking, conscious breathing, chanting, devotional exercises, visualization or observing thoughts, in order to attain calm, contentment, resolution or realization. Many different techniques are taught, with some spiritual in nature while others are primarily concerned with stress-reduction or gaining peace of mind.
With-in the health and fitness culture of western society, meditation is embraced as one of the proven mind-body alternative therapies. It is a method that offers a safe and simple way to balance your physical, emotional, and mental states. Meditation is a way to lower blood pressure, improve exercise performance in people with cardiac heart disease, help people with breathing difficulties, relieve insomnia and generally relax the everyday stresses of life. Meditation can bring great benefits to one's physical and mental being.
For some people, meditation is primarily a spiritual practice, and may or may not be closely tied to a religious belief. One goal of a spiritual practice is to transform and awaken: it is intended to bring about wholesome changes through wisdom, understanding, kindness, compassion and clarity of seeing. A spiritual path leads towards inner peace and freedom through careful observation, quiet contemplation and inner discernment. It is a path or way of cultivation (mental development) of the mind and heart.
In the Buddhist tradition the path of meditation divides into two great parts: (a) the development of tranquillity(samatha-bhavana) and (b) the development of insight (vipassana-bhavana). The development of tranquillity aims at the full concentration of the mind and the development of insight is directed towards mindfulness. This mindfulness method of meditation includes a special type of "awareness" or "attention", and in the actual practice, breathing techniques are commonly used.
Mindfulness meditation focuses on what is actually happening moment-to-moment, through non-judgemental observation. It is a quality of intentness and attentiveness, of giving yourself fully to what is taking place in the present moment. Mindfulness does not involve trying to get anywhere or to feel anything special - it means being attentive, paying careful attention and being totally present so that you are no longer on 'automatic pilot' or reacting out of old habit patterns.
One popular method of concentration practice is the meditation of Metta (Loving Kindness), which focuses on our heart quality of unconditional friendliness (love). This meditation actively cultivates positive emotional states towards ourselves and to others. As we open to the experience of the mind and heart we come to an understanding of who we are and how we connect with each other and all of nature. Drawing on simple Buddhist teachings (Dhamma) and guided meditation practices we can cultivate love, compassion, joy and equanimity.
STRETCH-AWARENESS
213-5300 Huston Road
Peachland, B.C. V0H 1X2
Phone|Fax: (250) 767-6784
E-Mail: Shirley