Meditation

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the essence of meditation practices, the particular forms in which God is revealed through meditation and how meditation leads to the discovery of the God within. The author points out the differences and similarities of meditation in various spiritual traditions especially Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. The paper reports that, although meditation is an ancient practice, tracing more than 2000 years ago, many forms of meditation still exist today.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Phases of Meditation, Attention, Concentration, Contemplation
Forms of Meditation
Mysticism and Meditation. Finding God Within.
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and Transcendental Meditation
The Differences between Yoga and Christianity
Finding God Within:
From Dream Sleep to Awakening
From Illusion to Realization
From Darkness to Enlightenment
From Imprisonment to Liberation
From Fragmentation to Wholeness
From Separation to Oneness
From Being on a Journey To Arriving at the Destination
From Being in Exile To Coming Home
From Seed to Flowering Plant or Fruitful Tree
From Death to Rebirth
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"The yogi are also characterized by their adherence to a strict code of moral behavior and by their practicing of a set of physical exercises called asanas and breath control methods called pranayama. O distinct type of yoga is kundalini, focused on unlocking the reserve of spiritual energy that is thought to reside at the base of the spine. The released energy reverberates in the seven chakras or bodily centers which capture emotions and mental states. The energy, kundalini, has to be moved from the lower chakras - dominated by inferior emotions to more elevated chakras, located ..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benson H. (1975) The relaxation response. New York: William Morrow,.158 p.
• Goleman D. (1977) The varieties of the meditative experience. New York: Irvington,. 130 p.
• Underhill, E. (1930). Mysticism. A Study of the Nature and Development of Man's Spiritual Consciousness, London, Methuen & Co Ltd.
• Alexander CN, Langer EJ., editors. (1990) Higher Stages of Human Development: Perspectives on Adult Growth. New York: Oxford University Press;
• Six Yogas of naropa and niguma. Available at: www.mahakala.com/archive/naropa/naropa101.htm.

More papers on Meditation:

• Term Paper # 141998 : "Epstein on Buddhist Meditation and Psychoanalysis"
• Book Review # 74276 : "Sadhana Meditation"
• Essay # 68412 : "Meditation"
• Essay # 36259 : "Meditation, Buddhism and Healing"

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