Alternatives to Drugs for Treating Pain
Excerpt:
Among the newest studies, conducted by Daniel C. Cherkin and colleagues at the Group Health Research Institute (now known as the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute) and the University of Washington in Seattle, both mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy proved more effective than “usual care” in relieving chronic low back pain and improving patients’ function.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or C.B.T., in essence teaches people to restructure how they think about problems. “There was already evidence that C.B.T. is effective for various pain conditions,” Dr. Cherkin said. “Our study showed that cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction were comparable in reducing dysfunction and pain severity.”
Furthermore, a cost analysis showed that the mindfulness technique – basically, a form of meditation that helps patients “get in touch with their bodies and their lives,” as Dr. Cherkin described it – proved more cost-effective than both C.B.T. and usual care in reducing both health care costs and lost productivity.
The mindfulness technique, essentially a demystified form of Buddhist meditation, is taught and practiced in eight weekly two-hour sessions and combined with gentle yoga, Dr. Cherkin said. Patients learn to relax, become “nonreactive” to pain and not allow it to be the focus of their lives, he explained.
In a follow-up study done two years later, patients treated with mindfulness therapy or C.B.T. remained more likely to be improved than those who received usual care, the team reported in February.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/well ... dline&te=1
Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah and others on Meditation
Is a Life Without Struggle Worth Living?
Excerpt:
Mill was searching for a reliable source of joy, one that could survive the unbearable goodness of the world he sought to achieve. He was looking for a happiness that could stave off incursions of dissatisfaction or boredom once the ultimate battle is won, and (at last!) tranquility reigns. The answer, he discovered through reading Wordsworth, is to take refuge in a capacity to be moved by beauty — a capacity to take joy in the quiet contemplation of delicate thoughts, sights, sounds, and feelings, not just titanic struggles.
This discovery is convenient for a philosopher. Mill was trained, from a very young age, to think: to be a quiet contemplator. So, it’s no surprise that he was desperate to make sure he could still take joy in his allotted craft, once the hard labor of social reform was done. But, as Mill says, imaginative pleasures are available to “all human beings,” not just poets and philosophers.
I hope, and suspect, that Mill is right about this: that we all have the ability to find some durable joy in quietude, normalcy and contemplation. In our personal lives, and in our political lives too, it would be nice if we could escape Schopenhauer’s pendulum: to simply enjoy where we are, at times; to find some peace in the cessation of motion.
If we can do that, then a perfect world might not be so bad after all.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/02/opin ... &te=1&_r=0
Excerpt:
Mill was searching for a reliable source of joy, one that could survive the unbearable goodness of the world he sought to achieve. He was looking for a happiness that could stave off incursions of dissatisfaction or boredom once the ultimate battle is won, and (at last!) tranquility reigns. The answer, he discovered through reading Wordsworth, is to take refuge in a capacity to be moved by beauty — a capacity to take joy in the quiet contemplation of delicate thoughts, sights, sounds, and feelings, not just titanic struggles.
This discovery is convenient for a philosopher. Mill was trained, from a very young age, to think: to be a quiet contemplator. So, it’s no surprise that he was desperate to make sure he could still take joy in his allotted craft, once the hard labor of social reform was done. But, as Mill says, imaginative pleasures are available to “all human beings,” not just poets and philosophers.
I hope, and suspect, that Mill is right about this: that we all have the ability to find some durable joy in quietude, normalcy and contemplation. In our personal lives, and in our political lives too, it would be nice if we could escape Schopenhauer’s pendulum: to simply enjoy where we are, at times; to find some peace in the cessation of motion.
If we can do that, then a perfect world might not be so bad after all.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/02/opin ... &te=1&_r=0
The Foundations of Mindfulness – Part One
Satipatthana Sutta[1] contains the most succinct description of Mindfulness, the meditation style and the accompanying philosophy currently enjoying widespread popularity in the Western world. In India, Guru Goenkaji’s Vipassana retreats based on teachings from Satipatthana Sutta have been flourishing for last thirty years. Vipassana is translated as “Insight” and satipatthana is translated as “Establishing Mindfulness”. The way to gain insight into the nature of life is by developing and practicing mindfulness as prescribed in Satipatthana Sutta.
What is so appealing about the wisdom contained in Satipatthana for the contemporary lifestyle? The following[2]is the initial paragraph of Satipatthana Sutta prescribing the practice of the four foundations of Mindfulness as a direct path for the purification of beings on the way to realization of nibbana (ultimate liberation).
“What are the four? Here, monks, in regard to the body a monk abides contemplating the body, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the feelings a monk abides contemplating the feelings, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the mind a monk abides contemplating the mind, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the dhammas a monk abides contemplating the dhammas, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world.”
To many, the description in this paragraph may appear obscure, dry, boring, or simplistic. However, it would not be exaggeration to say that this paragraph contains the psychology of wellbeing! This deceptively simplistic paragraph hides layers and layers of the “how to” advice on facing and overcoming the universal difficulties life poses for us. The Sutta goes on to clarify details of this practice in just about six standard size pages. In today’s language, Mindfulness in Satipatthana Sutta can be paraphrased as[3] : to diligently cultivate awareness of the present moment, simply observing, paying attention to facts and only facts and not getting caught in the judgments, with the intention of freeing ourselves from intense craving and intense aversion. This awareness is to be cultivated for the body, feelings, thoughts and mental patterns, and dhammas – which are the teachings on wholesome lifestyle leading to balanced and joyful existence. The details of dhamma include the basic tenets of Buddhism: four noble truths and the eightfold path.[4] It includes discussion on the “joyful” existence as well. But the way to get there is through Mindfulness – a special type of awareness.
What is it about this that has been corroborated by Western Science? Although the above description of Mindfulness sort of makes sense for balance and evenness of mind, how does it exactly give rise to “joy” or even “bliss”? What are the other details in Satipatthana Sutta and other related teachings that address the psychological processes or the functioning of the human mind? In order to address these questions, it is helpful to understand the historical events leading to how Mindfulness penetrated the Western psyche, and gained a huge following.
More....
https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/?p ... a3ac270552
Satipatthana Sutta[1] contains the most succinct description of Mindfulness, the meditation style and the accompanying philosophy currently enjoying widespread popularity in the Western world. In India, Guru Goenkaji’s Vipassana retreats based on teachings from Satipatthana Sutta have been flourishing for last thirty years. Vipassana is translated as “Insight” and satipatthana is translated as “Establishing Mindfulness”. The way to gain insight into the nature of life is by developing and practicing mindfulness as prescribed in Satipatthana Sutta.
What is so appealing about the wisdom contained in Satipatthana for the contemporary lifestyle? The following[2]is the initial paragraph of Satipatthana Sutta prescribing the practice of the four foundations of Mindfulness as a direct path for the purification of beings on the way to realization of nibbana (ultimate liberation).
“What are the four? Here, monks, in regard to the body a monk abides contemplating the body, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the feelings a monk abides contemplating the feelings, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the mind a monk abides contemplating the mind, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world. In regard to the dhammas a monk abides contemplating the dhammas, diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to the world.”
To many, the description in this paragraph may appear obscure, dry, boring, or simplistic. However, it would not be exaggeration to say that this paragraph contains the psychology of wellbeing! This deceptively simplistic paragraph hides layers and layers of the “how to” advice on facing and overcoming the universal difficulties life poses for us. The Sutta goes on to clarify details of this practice in just about six standard size pages. In today’s language, Mindfulness in Satipatthana Sutta can be paraphrased as[3] : to diligently cultivate awareness of the present moment, simply observing, paying attention to facts and only facts and not getting caught in the judgments, with the intention of freeing ourselves from intense craving and intense aversion. This awareness is to be cultivated for the body, feelings, thoughts and mental patterns, and dhammas – which are the teachings on wholesome lifestyle leading to balanced and joyful existence. The details of dhamma include the basic tenets of Buddhism: four noble truths and the eightfold path.[4] It includes discussion on the “joyful” existence as well. But the way to get there is through Mindfulness – a special type of awareness.
What is it about this that has been corroborated by Western Science? Although the above description of Mindfulness sort of makes sense for balance and evenness of mind, how does it exactly give rise to “joy” or even “bliss”? What are the other details in Satipatthana Sutta and other related teachings that address the psychological processes or the functioning of the human mind? In order to address these questions, it is helpful to understand the historical events leading to how Mindfulness penetrated the Western psyche, and gained a huge following.
More....
https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/?p ... a3ac270552
A Meditation Practice That Gets Results
You’ve probably heard that most of us only use a small percentage of our brainpower.
And you don’t have to be a psychologist to observe that very few of us come even close to tapping into our full potential as human beings...especially nowadays...
But what if there was a simple daily practice that could change all that?
What if, in just 30 minutes a day, you could supercharge your consciousness and rapidly accelerate your evolution in nearly every area of life?
I’m excited to be writing today to let you know about a groundbreaking discovery at the forefront of consciousness research that will now enable you to do just that.
It’s called Meditation 2.0 - The Practice of Direct Awakening, and it’s rapidly changing the way we think about higher human development.
You’re probably aware of the benefits of meditation for health, stress reduction, improved concentration and mental acuity.
What you may not know is that now, thanks to recent breakthroughs in meditation research, there is a potent new meditation technique that reaches far beyond these benefits.
I’m excited to be writing today to let you know that the teacher who made this breakthrough is going to unveil this powerful new practice at no charge in a 90-minute global online seminar.
His name is Craig Hamilton and in addition to being one of today’s most innovative meditation teachers, he is a captivating speaker who powerfully transmits the awakening he is pointing to. I like the work Craig is doing.
In Meditation 2.0 - The Miracle of Direct Awakening, he will share the surprising truth he’s learned in his decades of meditation teaching and research--and the unexpected discovery that is challenging all of our assumptions about spiritual transformation.
When most of us think of meditation, we think of chanting mantras, watching our breath or doing mindfulness practices to reduce stress.
But Meditation 2.0 has nothing to do with these repetitive (and at times tedious!) ancient practices. It's not woo-woo and that's why I like it.
Craig’s approach represents such a radical departure from the meditation techniques most of us have learned, that it’s really more accurate to think of it as an evolution of meditation.
The groundbreaking discovery behind the practice of Direct Awakening is that there is a deeper “essential supernature” that already exists within each of us fully formed.
This “essential supernature” already contains the extraordinary capacities that most of us are striving to develop.
It gives us access to profound intuitive wisdom, deep emotional resilience, genuine empathy, remarkable flexibility, surprising creativity and a host of other “supercapacities.”
Now, instead of spending decades doing “indirect” practices to try to develop all these abilities, you can literally practice tapping directly into the source of all these capacities every single day.
This is good stuff and I strongly encourage you to learn more and register at the link below:
===> Meditation 2.0 - The Miracle of Direct Awakening <===
http://evolvingwisdom.com/ie/directawak ... source=aff
I hope to be with you for this momentous gathering!
You’ve probably heard that most of us only use a small percentage of our brainpower.
And you don’t have to be a psychologist to observe that very few of us come even close to tapping into our full potential as human beings...especially nowadays...
But what if there was a simple daily practice that could change all that?
What if, in just 30 minutes a day, you could supercharge your consciousness and rapidly accelerate your evolution in nearly every area of life?
I’m excited to be writing today to let you know about a groundbreaking discovery at the forefront of consciousness research that will now enable you to do just that.
It’s called Meditation 2.0 - The Practice of Direct Awakening, and it’s rapidly changing the way we think about higher human development.
You’re probably aware of the benefits of meditation for health, stress reduction, improved concentration and mental acuity.
What you may not know is that now, thanks to recent breakthroughs in meditation research, there is a potent new meditation technique that reaches far beyond these benefits.
I’m excited to be writing today to let you know that the teacher who made this breakthrough is going to unveil this powerful new practice at no charge in a 90-minute global online seminar.
His name is Craig Hamilton and in addition to being one of today’s most innovative meditation teachers, he is a captivating speaker who powerfully transmits the awakening he is pointing to. I like the work Craig is doing.
In Meditation 2.0 - The Miracle of Direct Awakening, he will share the surprising truth he’s learned in his decades of meditation teaching and research--and the unexpected discovery that is challenging all of our assumptions about spiritual transformation.
When most of us think of meditation, we think of chanting mantras, watching our breath or doing mindfulness practices to reduce stress.
But Meditation 2.0 has nothing to do with these repetitive (and at times tedious!) ancient practices. It's not woo-woo and that's why I like it.
Craig’s approach represents such a radical departure from the meditation techniques most of us have learned, that it’s really more accurate to think of it as an evolution of meditation.
The groundbreaking discovery behind the practice of Direct Awakening is that there is a deeper “essential supernature” that already exists within each of us fully formed.
This “essential supernature” already contains the extraordinary capacities that most of us are striving to develop.
It gives us access to profound intuitive wisdom, deep emotional resilience, genuine empathy, remarkable flexibility, surprising creativity and a host of other “supercapacities.”
Now, instead of spending decades doing “indirect” practices to try to develop all these abilities, you can literally practice tapping directly into the source of all these capacities every single day.
This is good stuff and I strongly encourage you to learn more and register at the link below:
===> Meditation 2.0 - The Miracle of Direct Awakening <===
http://evolvingwisdom.com/ie/directawak ... source=aff
I hope to be with you for this momentous gathering!
Storm of Thoughts
The monsters are in your own head.
- Paula Cole
Life does not consist mainly,
or even largely, of facts or happenings.
It consist mainly of the storm of thoughts
that is forever flowing through one's head.
- Mark Twain
If you want peace, stop fighting.
If you want peace of mind,
stop fighting with your thoughts.
- Peter McWilliams
Beware the Rattlesnake of the Mind
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
"Rattlesnake of the Mind" is a metaphor inspired by the Zen term, "Monkey Mind," which refers to the mind's tendency to invent an unending sequence of creative stories about everything we see and hear.
You are not your mind. You, a Spiritual Being,
are neither your mind nor your body.
Mind and body are your tools - to use as you choose.
Sometimes your body appears to have a will of its own,
as when it twitches or pains.
Likewise, your mind often appears to have its own will.
That incessant chattering of regret, disappointment, guilt,
shame, foreboding, worry, and fear
is your Rattlesnake Mind striking off on its own.
Know that your mind can be a vicious rattlesnake, and be cautious.
The mind can be tamed, but only with conscious effort and patience.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
The monsters are in your own head.
- Paula Cole
Life does not consist mainly,
or even largely, of facts or happenings.
It consist mainly of the storm of thoughts
that is forever flowing through one's head.
- Mark Twain
If you want peace, stop fighting.
If you want peace of mind,
stop fighting with your thoughts.
- Peter McWilliams
Beware the Rattlesnake of the Mind
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
"Rattlesnake of the Mind" is a metaphor inspired by the Zen term, "Monkey Mind," which refers to the mind's tendency to invent an unending sequence of creative stories about everything we see and hear.
You are not your mind. You, a Spiritual Being,
are neither your mind nor your body.
Mind and body are your tools - to use as you choose.
Sometimes your body appears to have a will of its own,
as when it twitches or pains.
Likewise, your mind often appears to have its own will.
That incessant chattering of regret, disappointment, guilt,
shame, foreboding, worry, and fear
is your Rattlesnake Mind striking off on its own.
Know that your mind can be a vicious rattlesnake, and be cautious.
The mind can be tamed, but only with conscious effort and patience.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
The Mysterious Power of Letting Things Be – How Meditation Helps Us Evolve
As a longtime teacher of meditation, I’m often asked “What does meditation really have to do with life and how we live it?”
That’s a great question — and there’s an important reason why meditation is so essential for living a conscious, awakened life aligned with our deeper purpose.
Now, a lot of us already have some experience with meditation — or at least some notions about it.
We hear it can soothe stress, calm anxiety, relax our bodies and bring us peace and contentment. It can even evoke bliss or a sense of connection to spirit. And many of us have already experienced some of these benefits.
But even if you have had some positive experiences with meditation, you may also be wondering, well…it makes us feel good, but how will it help us DO good? This is an important question to ask once we’ve realized that for our spirituality to really mean something, it has to be lived in the world.
If we view meditation as a practice of stepping away from and out of life, then it’s natural to wonder what meditation has to do with having an evolutionary relationship to life — which involves aligning with the most dynamic and passionate force in the cosmos: the impulse of evolution itself.
But the truth is, meditation has everything to do with with active, engaged living. It just needs to be a specific kind of meditation.
More...
http://evolvingwisdom.com/blog/the-myst ... us-evolve/
As a longtime teacher of meditation, I’m often asked “What does meditation really have to do with life and how we live it?”
That’s a great question — and there’s an important reason why meditation is so essential for living a conscious, awakened life aligned with our deeper purpose.
Now, a lot of us already have some experience with meditation — or at least some notions about it.
We hear it can soothe stress, calm anxiety, relax our bodies and bring us peace and contentment. It can even evoke bliss or a sense of connection to spirit. And many of us have already experienced some of these benefits.
But even if you have had some positive experiences with meditation, you may also be wondering, well…it makes us feel good, but how will it help us DO good? This is an important question to ask once we’ve realized that for our spirituality to really mean something, it has to be lived in the world.
If we view meditation as a practice of stepping away from and out of life, then it’s natural to wonder what meditation has to do with having an evolutionary relationship to life — which involves aligning with the most dynamic and passionate force in the cosmos: the impulse of evolution itself.
But the truth is, meditation has everything to do with with active, engaged living. It just needs to be a specific kind of meditation.
More...
http://evolvingwisdom.com/blog/the-myst ... us-evolve/
Deepak Chopra on Reaching Your Potential
Study after study shows that meditation has a powerful effect on your health, well-being, and your ability to navigate stress so you can reach your full potential.
That's why I'm so excited to share that Jean’s good friend Deepak Chopra is inviting our community to a brand-new FREE 4-part online meditation workshop he’s hosting called “Overcoming Chaos: The Science and Magic of Meditation.”
Find out more and register for your free spot
https://chopra.com/overcoming-chaos-wor ... ank-you#EW
With the way modern life is unfolding, it’s likely you’re experiencing a high level of stress—the feeling of a million thoughts racing through your mind—or (simply put) internal chaos.
Over the course of Deepak’s 4-part workshop, you’ll discover:
•Why you’re feeling disconnected from your “center” as well as from others
•Why stress and anxiety are holding you back
•How to stop feeling like you’re going through life on autopilot
•And how to start living with a calm mind, and harvesting 7 other benefits of meditation
The workshop will be filled with free guided meditations to download, as well as LIVE Q&As to tune in to, breathing exercises to experiment with, and more!
All you have to do is register (for free) to save your spot here.
https://chopra.com/overcoming-chaos-wor ... ank-you#EW
To realizing your potential,
Study after study shows that meditation has a powerful effect on your health, well-being, and your ability to navigate stress so you can reach your full potential.
That's why I'm so excited to share that Jean’s good friend Deepak Chopra is inviting our community to a brand-new FREE 4-part online meditation workshop he’s hosting called “Overcoming Chaos: The Science and Magic of Meditation.”
Find out more and register for your free spot
https://chopra.com/overcoming-chaos-wor ... ank-you#EW
With the way modern life is unfolding, it’s likely you’re experiencing a high level of stress—the feeling of a million thoughts racing through your mind—or (simply put) internal chaos.
Over the course of Deepak’s 4-part workshop, you’ll discover:
•Why you’re feeling disconnected from your “center” as well as from others
•Why stress and anxiety are holding you back
•How to stop feeling like you’re going through life on autopilot
•And how to start living with a calm mind, and harvesting 7 other benefits of meditation
The workshop will be filled with free guided meditations to download, as well as LIVE Q&As to tune in to, breathing exercises to experiment with, and more!
All you have to do is register (for free) to save your spot here.
https://chopra.com/overcoming-chaos-wor ... ank-you#EW
To realizing your potential,
The Billionaire Yogi Behind Modi’s Rise
Baba Ramdev built a business empire out of mass yoga camps and ayurvedic products. But is his pious traditionalism a mask for darker forces?
Excerpt:
But Ramdev is far more than a useful holy man. Even beyond his political patrons, Ramdev is the perfect messenger for a rising middle class that is hungry for religious assertion and fed up with the socialist, rationalist legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first post-independence leader. Ramdev has led vastly popular campaigns against corruption, donning the mantle of swadeshi, or Indian economic nationalism, to cast foreign companies as neocolonial villains. In a sense, Ramdev has changed Hinduism itself. His blend of patriotic fervor, health and religious piety flows seamlessly into the harder versions of Hindu nationalism, which are often openly hostile to India’s 172 million Muslims. Although Ramdev prefers to speak of Indian solidarity, his B.J.P. allies routinely invoke an Islamic threat and rally crowds with vows to build temples on the sites of medieval mosques.
More....
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/maga ... 3053090729
Baba Ramdev built a business empire out of mass yoga camps and ayurvedic products. But is his pious traditionalism a mask for darker forces?
Excerpt:
But Ramdev is far more than a useful holy man. Even beyond his political patrons, Ramdev is the perfect messenger for a rising middle class that is hungry for religious assertion and fed up with the socialist, rationalist legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first post-independence leader. Ramdev has led vastly popular campaigns against corruption, donning the mantle of swadeshi, or Indian economic nationalism, to cast foreign companies as neocolonial villains. In a sense, Ramdev has changed Hinduism itself. His blend of patriotic fervor, health and religious piety flows seamlessly into the harder versions of Hindu nationalism, which are often openly hostile to India’s 172 million Muslims. Although Ramdev prefers to speak of Indian solidarity, his B.J.P. allies routinely invoke an Islamic threat and rally crowds with vows to build temples on the sites of medieval mosques.
More....
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/maga ... 3053090729
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
I do not understand what above article on Baba Ram Dev has to to do with MSMS on meditation? The penny less billionaire God man is involved in the death and disappearances of his close associates. He claimed yoga can cure homosexuality. His companies sell floor cleaners made from cow urine, and cow urine is use in his many ayurved medicines. He is a juggler, who knows what happens behind the curtains.
MSMS's statement states that there is diversity of meditation practices tapping into the Divine energy within. This article explains one such movement and describes it's successes yet poses the question of whether it is beneficial or not.shivaathervedi wrote:I do not understand what above article on Baba Ram Dev has to to do with MSMS on meditation? The penny less billionaire God man is involved in the death and disappearances of his close associates. He claimed yoga can cure homosexuality. His companies sell floor cleaners made from cow urine, and cow urine is use in his many ayurved medicines. He is a juggler, who knows what happens behind the curtains.
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
The very first article on meditation in this thread is not written by MSMS.kmaherali wrote:MSMS's statement states that there is diversity of meditation practices tapping into the Divine energy within. This article explains one such movement and describes it's successes yet poses the question of whether it is beneficial or not.shivaathervedi wrote:I do not understand what above article on Baba Ram Dev has to to do with MSMS on meditation? The penny less billionaire God man is involved in the death and disappearances of his close associates. He claimed yoga can cure homosexuality. His companies sell floor cleaners made from cow urine, and cow urine is use in his many ayurved medicines. He is a juggler, who knows what happens behind the curtains.
In Ismaili Tariqa the main aim of meditation in BK is to have union with who is above all else and secure spiritual happiness or AANAND.
Baba Ram Dev is a juggler and politically inclined to right wing parties whose members are involved in lynching of innocent Muslims on false charges. Has the billionaire God man condemned this cruelty? For meditation pure thoughts deeds and actions are required. Jumping up and down on TV has nothing to do with meditation.
We could argue about whether the first article was written by MSMS. However, the purpose of meditation is not only to attain peace but to draw strength to enable one to do good work.shivaathervedi wrote: The very first article on meditation in this thread is not written by MSMS.
In Ismaili Tariqa the main aim of meditation in BK is to have union with who is above all else and secure spiritual happiness or AANAND.
Baba Ram Dev is a juggler and politically inclined to right wing parties whose members are involved in lynching of innocent Muslims on false charges. Has the billionaire God man condemned this cruelty? For meditation pure thoughts deeds and actions are required. Jumping up and down on TV has nothing to do with meditation.
Baba Ram Dev has shown success in material world as well. Only time will tell whether there is a hidden motive or agenda....
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
MEDITATION IS SILENCE:
Mind means words, self is silence. Mind is nothing but all the words that are accumulated. Silence is that which has always been with a person, it is not an accumulation, that is the meaning of self. It is the intrinsic quality on the back ground of silence one accumulate words, and the words in total are known as mind. Silence is meditation. It is shifting the attention from words into silence, which is always there.
OSHO
Mind means words, self is silence. Mind is nothing but all the words that are accumulated. Silence is that which has always been with a person, it is not an accumulation, that is the meaning of self. It is the intrinsic quality on the back ground of silence one accumulate words, and the words in total are known as mind. Silence is meditation. It is shifting the attention from words into silence, which is always there.
OSHO
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
There is a related thread:karimqazi wrote:Haw many moored do fallow farman i am not a juaj tmaro saro sagro wakt rou na orak wa no chya
Farman Bardari
http://www.ismaili.net/html/modules.php ... highlight=
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
Qazi Saheb, I have read some of your previous posts you are not so bad in English. Your transliterating of Gujrati in Roman is going no where.karimqazi wrote:Haw many moored do fallow farman i am not a juaj tmaro saro sagro wakt rou na orak wa no chya
There is a military rule, if some one shall not obey the order of commander should be court marshaled but religion is different.
Maybe this is better. How many murid follow this farman "tamaro saro sagro waqat ruh ne orak va ne che" which translates roughly to "you must spend your time on earth to recognize your soul/self. This is something that we strive with our ibadat. And goal of ibadat is to find this oneness within us.shivaathervedi wrote:Qazi Saheb, I have read some of your previous posts you are not so bad in English. Your transliterating of Gujrati in Roman is going no where.karimqazi wrote:Haw many moored do fallow farman i am not a juaj tmaro saro sagro wakt rou na orak wa no chya
.
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shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
Qazi Saheb, MSMS said,"During his 70 years of Imamat he changed Farmans 70 times". Look during Shah Karim's 60 years of Imamat how many times Farmans changed. Let me give an example, in MSMS tenure his Farman about BK bandagi was," If you have taken Bol you have to come to JK prorei (subuh sadiq) for bandagi, even you are sick and 4 persons carry you on chaar pai (cot). Now Present Imam's Farman is," If you have head ache don't sit in bandagi because you will not concentrate.karimqazi wrote:Maybe this is better. How many murid follow this farman "tamaro saro sagro waqat ruh ne orak va ne che" which translates roughly to "you must spend your time on earth to recognize your soul/self. This is something that we strive with our ibadat. And goal of ibadat is to find this oneness within us.shivaathervedi wrote:Qazi Saheb, I have read some of your previous posts you are not so bad in English. Your transliterating of Gujrati in Roman is going no where.karimqazi wrote:Haw many moored do fallow farman i am not a juaj tmaro saro sagro wakt rou na orak wa no chya
.
Qazi Saheb, I suggest, get the 1966 BK Farmans of Shah Karim made during Africa visit. These Farmans are most important to understand BK.
I bring up MSMS farmans because this thread is about his thoughts on meditation/bandagi. But with a present living Imam in our tradition, thoughts on the methods/practice can change but the essence and goal will always remain unchanged. We must strive towards that self fulfillment/recognition no matter how we do it. BUT we must also balance our spiritual life/goals with our worldly life. HI emphasizes balance and finding the time for our spiritual growth in a more flexible way because he knows the importance of his murids achieving this goal. To quote MSMS "If, in spite of doing bandagi, you do no attain the freedom (azadi) what is the point?" That is the goal we must strive towards.
One last thing I want to mention is about my personal life. I joined this forum when I was 49 and now I am 65. At 49 I suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident which has left me paralyzed from the chest down. I have 1 hand that I can type with - very slowly. My wife or daughter help me from time to time but that is one of the main reasons why my some of my posts might be hard to understand. Additionally, the medications I have taken all these years have left me a bit foggy in mind. I enjoy reading the discussions here and think its our duty to share the knowledge we have all gained on our journey with each other (in MSMS words if I give you a loaf of bread you must share half of it with your brothers and sister in faith). I have learned a lot from all of you and I thank you for it.
One last thing I want to mention is about my personal life. I joined this forum when I was 49 and now I am 65. At 49 I suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident which has left me paralyzed from the chest down. I have 1 hand that I can type with - very slowly. My wife or daughter help me from time to time but that is one of the main reasons why my some of my posts might be hard to understand. Additionally, the medications I have taken all these years have left me a bit foggy in mind. I enjoy reading the discussions here and think its our duty to share the knowledge we have all gained on our journey with each other (in MSMS words if I give you a loaf of bread you must share half of it with your brothers and sister in faith). I have learned a lot from all of you and I thank you for it.
-
shivaathervedi_3
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:29 pm
You Should Meditate Every Day
Sure, it’s become a wellness fad. But it’s the best way I’ve found to keep digital monsters at bay.
Excerpt:
And so, to survive the brain-dissolving internet, I turned to meditation.
Don’t roll your eyes. You’ve heard about the benefits of mindfulness before. Meditation has been rising up the ladder of West Coast wellness fads for several years and is now firmly in the zeitgeist.
It’s the subject of countless books, podcasts, conferences, a million-dollar app war. It’s extolled by C.E.O.s and entertainers and even taught in my kids’ elementary school (again, it’s Northern California). The fad is backed by reams of scientific research showing the benefits of mindfulness for your physical and mental health — how even short-term stints improve your attention span and your ability to focus, your memory, and other cognitive functions.
I knew all of this when I first began meditating a year ago, but I was still surprised at how the practice altered my relationship with the digital world. At first, it wasn’t easy: After decades of swimming in the frenetic digital waters, I found that my mind was often too scrambled to accommodate much focus. Sitting calmly, quietly and attempting to sharpen my thoughts on the present moment was excruciating. For a while, I flitted among several meditation books and apps, trying different ways to be mindful without pain.
Then, about four months ago, I brute-forced it: I made meditation part of my morning routine and made myself stick with it. I started with 10 minutes a day, then built up to 15, 20, then 30. Eventually, something clicked, and the benefits became noticeable, and then remarkable.
The best way I can describe the effect is to liken it to a software upgrade for my brain — an update designed to guard against the terrible way the online world takes over your time and your mind.
Now, even without app blockers, I can stay away from mindless online haunts without worrying that I’m missing out. I can better distinguish what’s important from what’s trivial, and I’m more gracious and empathetic with others online. As far as I know, people are still wrong on the internet, but, amazingly, I don’t really care anymore.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/opin ... dline&te=1
Sure, it’s become a wellness fad. But it’s the best way I’ve found to keep digital monsters at bay.
Excerpt:
And so, to survive the brain-dissolving internet, I turned to meditation.
Don’t roll your eyes. You’ve heard about the benefits of mindfulness before. Meditation has been rising up the ladder of West Coast wellness fads for several years and is now firmly in the zeitgeist.
It’s the subject of countless books, podcasts, conferences, a million-dollar app war. It’s extolled by C.E.O.s and entertainers and even taught in my kids’ elementary school (again, it’s Northern California). The fad is backed by reams of scientific research showing the benefits of mindfulness for your physical and mental health — how even short-term stints improve your attention span and your ability to focus, your memory, and other cognitive functions.
I knew all of this when I first began meditating a year ago, but I was still surprised at how the practice altered my relationship with the digital world. At first, it wasn’t easy: After decades of swimming in the frenetic digital waters, I found that my mind was often too scrambled to accommodate much focus. Sitting calmly, quietly and attempting to sharpen my thoughts on the present moment was excruciating. For a while, I flitted among several meditation books and apps, trying different ways to be mindful without pain.
Then, about four months ago, I brute-forced it: I made meditation part of my morning routine and made myself stick with it. I started with 10 minutes a day, then built up to 15, 20, then 30. Eventually, something clicked, and the benefits became noticeable, and then remarkable.
The best way I can describe the effect is to liken it to a software upgrade for my brain — an update designed to guard against the terrible way the online world takes over your time and your mind.
Now, even without app blockers, I can stay away from mindless online haunts without worrying that I’m missing out. I can better distinguish what’s important from what’s trivial, and I’m more gracious and empathetic with others online. As far as I know, people are still wrong on the internet, but, amazingly, I don’t really care anymore.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/opin ... dline&te=1
Sema Yoga - from principles to practice
“Sufism and yoga share an intricate and esoteric psycho-physical technique of meditation.”
– Carl W. Ernst.
'Sema Yoga - from principles to practice’
Why yoga? The human body has long been recognised in Islam as the vehicle on our journey towards Allah. As travellers we must maintain the body in optimal condition so that we can be free of discomfort and distraction – particularly so we can sit comfortably in meditation. Prayer (Salat in Arabic) in the Muslim faith has external and internal forms. When we pray we use a set of physical movements that evoke a spiritual state of heart – for example, performing sajdah where we bow our forehead to the ground as an act of humility, feeling through our hearts a sense of supreme submission. Through yoga we are able to cultivate the relationship our body has with the mind and the soul, deepening these experiences.
When we think of yoga, an image of a bendy, flexible person comes into our minds! In Sanskrit these postures are called asana but this is only one aspect of yoga. Just as salat combines the esoteric and exoteric practices so too does yoga. The ritualised actions in salat and the postures in yoga both lead us to achieving a spiritual state of peace and being in awe of the Divine. B.K.S. Iyengar, the founding teacher of Iyengar yoga has said: “[The] body is the bow, asana is the arrow and the soul is the target.” Taken with the other aspects of yoga such as breath control (pranayama), self-observation (niyama) and meditation (dhyana) this practice speaks so clearly to our own Ismaili principles.
Sema Yoga is an AKYSB initiative designed in 2017 following interest at the European Sports Festival. Sema is a sufi term which translates to listening and also describes the spiritual concert of Rumi’s whirling dervish ceremony. Integral to our yoga practice is the idea of listening to your body, utilising physical postures which surf the breath, as a moving meditation. It is a class based upon Ashtanga Vinyasa flow fused with Ismaili Philosophy. Our focus is on creating a shared space to explore our beautiful Ismaili faith with body, mind and soul. We hold classes twice a month and our abilities range from beginner to intermediate. If you are aged 18 to 45 and want to have fun, meet new people and connect the physical to the spiritual - sign up for classes at semayoga.com or email [email protected] (link sends e-mail) for more information.
Views from current participants (from anonymous online evaluations):
“It is incredible to have been exposed after 40 years to a fulfilling method of connecting to my body. I leave feeling aligned and calm yet open to new vibrations, possibilities and flexibility! I’m truly grateful..”
“This class makes me feel closer to my faith”
“Really well thought-out and plenty of kind gestures which made me feel at ease as a first timer. Thank you.”
Many of us sit for our du’a or dhikr at home, so you can try this simple yoga asana sequence to help prepare the body for a comfortable sitting:
Standing hip circles – release tension in your lower back and get the blood circulating in your lower limbs:
Stand with your feet wider than your hips and your hands on your waist
Bend your knees slightly and begin to circle your hips and knees in one direction. Wind down and repeat in the other direction – five to ten times.
Try a figure of eight shape for a greater sense of ease.
Standing forward fold (Uttanasana) – spine and lower back release, hamstring stretch.
Step your feet to hip distance apart, have a generous bend in your knees and slowly roll down, folding your body over your legs with your torso making contact with your thighs
Allow the weight of your upper body to hang heavy. You can let your arms link or relax them long.
Stay folded for 10 deep breaths then roll up slowly to stand
Yoga squat (Malasana) – deep opener for the hips and groin
Stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips
Begin to bend your knees and squat down until you need to pause – rock slightly from foot to foot as you settle into the pose
Angle your tail backward and lift your heart forward, reaching through the crown of your head
Bring your palms together in front of your chest, pressing your elbows into your inner thighs
If possible, lower your heels and lift the arches of your feet ( you can place a blanket under your heels to modify)
Breathe deeply for 10 breaths then lower down to seated
Reclining twist (Jathara Parivartanasana)
Come onto your back
Hug your knees to your chest and rock a few times side to side
Bring your knees out to 90 degrees and open both arms out to the side
On the exhale, allow your knees to tip over to the right side and come all the way to the floor
Hold the twist for five to ten breaths and repeat second side before coming to seated and begin your prayer or dhikr practice.
One of the most popular yogic breathing techniques is alternate nostril breathing or Nadi Shodana (Nadi – flow; Shodana – purification). Such techniques aim to balance the right and left energetic pathways (Naadis) of the body to centre our awareness. It is interesting to note that some of this yogic vocabulary also appears in South Asian Ismaili literature (i.e. ginans).
Place your right thumb with a slight pressure on your right nostril and hover your right ring finger outside of the left nostril.
Breath in deeply through the left (uncovered nostril), at the top of the inhale gently pinch the left nostril with your ring finger and release your thumb – exhaling through the right nostril. At the end of the exhale, inhale deeply through the right nostril then replace your thumb and release the ring finger – exhale through the left nostril.
Alternate nostrils five to ten times until you feel centred in the present moment.
sema-yoga-diagram.jpg
References:
The book of Sufi Healing by Shaykh Hakim Moinuddin Chishti
Situating Sufism and Yoga by Carl W.Ernst in the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, Third series, Vol.15, No.1 (Apr; 2005), pp.15-43
The Chopra Center – article by Lena Schmidt
A Scent of Sandalwood; Indo-Ismaili Religious Lyrics by Aziz Esmail – Ginan 22 translation.
https://the.ismaili/united-kingdom/sema ... rce=Direct
“Sufism and yoga share an intricate and esoteric psycho-physical technique of meditation.”
– Carl W. Ernst.
'Sema Yoga - from principles to practice’
Why yoga? The human body has long been recognised in Islam as the vehicle on our journey towards Allah. As travellers we must maintain the body in optimal condition so that we can be free of discomfort and distraction – particularly so we can sit comfortably in meditation. Prayer (Salat in Arabic) in the Muslim faith has external and internal forms. When we pray we use a set of physical movements that evoke a spiritual state of heart – for example, performing sajdah where we bow our forehead to the ground as an act of humility, feeling through our hearts a sense of supreme submission. Through yoga we are able to cultivate the relationship our body has with the mind and the soul, deepening these experiences.
When we think of yoga, an image of a bendy, flexible person comes into our minds! In Sanskrit these postures are called asana but this is only one aspect of yoga. Just as salat combines the esoteric and exoteric practices so too does yoga. The ritualised actions in salat and the postures in yoga both lead us to achieving a spiritual state of peace and being in awe of the Divine. B.K.S. Iyengar, the founding teacher of Iyengar yoga has said: “[The] body is the bow, asana is the arrow and the soul is the target.” Taken with the other aspects of yoga such as breath control (pranayama), self-observation (niyama) and meditation (dhyana) this practice speaks so clearly to our own Ismaili principles.
Sema Yoga is an AKYSB initiative designed in 2017 following interest at the European Sports Festival. Sema is a sufi term which translates to listening and also describes the spiritual concert of Rumi’s whirling dervish ceremony. Integral to our yoga practice is the idea of listening to your body, utilising physical postures which surf the breath, as a moving meditation. It is a class based upon Ashtanga Vinyasa flow fused with Ismaili Philosophy. Our focus is on creating a shared space to explore our beautiful Ismaili faith with body, mind and soul. We hold classes twice a month and our abilities range from beginner to intermediate. If you are aged 18 to 45 and want to have fun, meet new people and connect the physical to the spiritual - sign up for classes at semayoga.com or email [email protected] (link sends e-mail) for more information.
Views from current participants (from anonymous online evaluations):
“It is incredible to have been exposed after 40 years to a fulfilling method of connecting to my body. I leave feeling aligned and calm yet open to new vibrations, possibilities and flexibility! I’m truly grateful..”
“This class makes me feel closer to my faith”
“Really well thought-out and plenty of kind gestures which made me feel at ease as a first timer. Thank you.”
Many of us sit for our du’a or dhikr at home, so you can try this simple yoga asana sequence to help prepare the body for a comfortable sitting:
Standing hip circles – release tension in your lower back and get the blood circulating in your lower limbs:
Stand with your feet wider than your hips and your hands on your waist
Bend your knees slightly and begin to circle your hips and knees in one direction. Wind down and repeat in the other direction – five to ten times.
Try a figure of eight shape for a greater sense of ease.
Standing forward fold (Uttanasana) – spine and lower back release, hamstring stretch.
Step your feet to hip distance apart, have a generous bend in your knees and slowly roll down, folding your body over your legs with your torso making contact with your thighs
Allow the weight of your upper body to hang heavy. You can let your arms link or relax them long.
Stay folded for 10 deep breaths then roll up slowly to stand
Yoga squat (Malasana) – deep opener for the hips and groin
Stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips
Begin to bend your knees and squat down until you need to pause – rock slightly from foot to foot as you settle into the pose
Angle your tail backward and lift your heart forward, reaching through the crown of your head
Bring your palms together in front of your chest, pressing your elbows into your inner thighs
If possible, lower your heels and lift the arches of your feet ( you can place a blanket under your heels to modify)
Breathe deeply for 10 breaths then lower down to seated
Reclining twist (Jathara Parivartanasana)
Come onto your back
Hug your knees to your chest and rock a few times side to side
Bring your knees out to 90 degrees and open both arms out to the side
On the exhale, allow your knees to tip over to the right side and come all the way to the floor
Hold the twist for five to ten breaths and repeat second side before coming to seated and begin your prayer or dhikr practice.
One of the most popular yogic breathing techniques is alternate nostril breathing or Nadi Shodana (Nadi – flow; Shodana – purification). Such techniques aim to balance the right and left energetic pathways (Naadis) of the body to centre our awareness. It is interesting to note that some of this yogic vocabulary also appears in South Asian Ismaili literature (i.e. ginans).
Place your right thumb with a slight pressure on your right nostril and hover your right ring finger outside of the left nostril.
Breath in deeply through the left (uncovered nostril), at the top of the inhale gently pinch the left nostril with your ring finger and release your thumb – exhaling through the right nostril. At the end of the exhale, inhale deeply through the right nostril then replace your thumb and release the ring finger – exhale through the left nostril.
Alternate nostrils five to ten times until you feel centred in the present moment.
sema-yoga-diagram.jpg
References:
The book of Sufi Healing by Shaykh Hakim Moinuddin Chishti
Situating Sufism and Yoga by Carl W.Ernst in the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, Third series, Vol.15, No.1 (Apr; 2005), pp.15-43
The Chopra Center – article by Lena Schmidt
A Scent of Sandalwood; Indo-Ismaili Religious Lyrics by Aziz Esmail – Ginan 22 translation.
https://the.ismaili/united-kingdom/sema ... rce=Direct
Yoga and Veterans: A Different Kind of Warrior
Many members of the military now include yoga — often taught by veterans — as an element of their workout routine, and veterans turn to the practice for therapeutic applications.
To casual observers of either military service or the practice of yoga, the path from Oorah to Om may not seem obvious. But the intersection of yogi and veteran is natural if unexpected, beginning with the five classic yoga poses known as warriors.
While veterans make up a small percentage of yoga instructors, their ranks are growing. Many members of the military now often include yoga — sometimes taught by veterans — as an element of their workout routine, and veterans turn to the practice for therapeutic applications. The Department of Veterans Affairs has successfully used yoga to help treat opioid addiction and post-traumatic stress.
“A lot of vets have post-traumatic stress,” said Thierry Chiapello, who served in the Marines and now teaches yoga at the National Defense University in Washington. “By lengthening the exhalation of breath, this gets people out of those fight-or-flight instincts that drain you,” he continued, putting them in a mode of “rest and recovery that definitely is associated with less aggressive behaviors.”
Veterans, long schooled in discipline and concentration, also make excellent yoga teachers, both to other veterans, whose experiences they understand, and to active-duty military members, whose trust they often gain. They are becoming a welcome addition in civilian yoga studios, where students are usually attracted to their compassionate yet frequently no-nonsense approach.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/us/y ... ogin-email
Many members of the military now include yoga — often taught by veterans — as an element of their workout routine, and veterans turn to the practice for therapeutic applications.
To casual observers of either military service or the practice of yoga, the path from Oorah to Om may not seem obvious. But the intersection of yogi and veteran is natural if unexpected, beginning with the five classic yoga poses known as warriors.
While veterans make up a small percentage of yoga instructors, their ranks are growing. Many members of the military now often include yoga — sometimes taught by veterans — as an element of their workout routine, and veterans turn to the practice for therapeutic applications. The Department of Veterans Affairs has successfully used yoga to help treat opioid addiction and post-traumatic stress.
“A lot of vets have post-traumatic stress,” said Thierry Chiapello, who served in the Marines and now teaches yoga at the National Defense University in Washington. “By lengthening the exhalation of breath, this gets people out of those fight-or-flight instincts that drain you,” he continued, putting them in a mode of “rest and recovery that definitely is associated with less aggressive behaviors.”
Veterans, long schooled in discipline and concentration, also make excellent yoga teachers, both to other veterans, whose experiences they understand, and to active-duty military members, whose trust they often gain. They are becoming a welcome addition in civilian yoga studios, where students are usually attracted to their compassionate yet frequently no-nonsense approach.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/us/y ... ogin-email
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swamidada_1
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:21 pm
SAMAA'
Samaa' is an Arabic word sam‘un or ’istima‘un means listening. Samaa' or Sema is a sufi ceremony performed as zikr. Sama' means 'listening', while zikr means remembrance. These rituals often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. It is particularly form of worship in sufism. Samaa' is a type of zikr (remembrance of God), a spiritual concert, a ceremony used by various Sufi orders, particularly the Chishti order of the sub-continent. It often involves prayer, song and dance.
Abu Sa`id, (357 A.H.) (967 c.e.) was born in Mayhana, a town near Sarakhs, which today is in Iran, bordering Turkmanistan. He is noted for establishing a rule for conduct in the khanqah (jamaa't khana) and also for the introduction of music (samaa'), poetry and dance, as part of the Sufi collective devotional ritual of zikr.
The Samaa' represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection. Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at perfection. He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation. Rumi has said in reference to Samaa', "For them it is the Samaa'' of this world and the other. Even more for the circle of dancers within the Samaa' who turn and have in their midst, their own Ka'aba." This relates Samaa' to the pilgrimage to Mecca, in that both are intended to bring all who are involved closer to God.
Sama emphasizes singing includes the singing of hymns, called qawli and bayt. Poetry is often included in the ceremony as well, because while it is inadequate by itself, it works together with aid in spiritual contemplation. Any poetry, even the erotic, can be applied to God, and thus used for this ceremony. However, the listener's heart must first be pure, or the dancing components of samaa' will make these people full of lust instead of love for God. Additionally, being in love with a person rather than with God clouds a person's mind when they are listening to erotic poetry.
Samaa' is a means of meditating on God through focusing on melodies and dancing. It brings out a person's love of God, purifies the soul, and is a way of finding God. This practice is said to reveal what is already in one's heart, rather than creating emotions. All of a person's doubt disappears, and the heart and soul can communicate directly with God. The immediate goal of samaa' is to reach wajd, which is a trance-like state of ecstasy. Physically, this state may include various and unexpected movements, agitation, and all types of dancing. Another state that people hope to reach through samaa' is khamra, which means "spiritual drunkenness". Ultimately, people hope to achieve the unveiling of mysteries and gain spiritual knowledge through wajd. Sometimes, the experience of wajd becomes so strong that fainting or even, in extreme circumstances, deathcitation required, occurs.
Participants in samaa' are expected to remain silent and still, and controlled throughout the ceremony, unless wajd occurs. This way, a higher degree of spiritual contemplation can be reached. Participants must restrain themselves from movement and crying until they reach a point in which they can no longer hold back. At this point, wajd can be reached. It is essential that the trance-like experience of wajd be genuine and not faked for any reason. Also, people must maintain proper intent and actions must be present throughout the samaa'; otherwise, they cannot experience the ceremony's intended positive effects.
Due to differences in culture between Muslim groups, participation in musical performance is condoned in some and considered questionable in others. Meditation and Sufi practices are allowed in Islam as long as they are within the limits of the Shari'ah (Islamic law). People from all classes and walks of life can participate, although there is debate between Sufis and legalists about whether novice Sufis and ones more advanced in their faith are capable of achieving the same positive results from samaa'. The same debate exists for the young, and whether they are capable of overcoming their lust and clearing their hearts to worship God.
Samaa' is an Arabic word sam‘un or ’istima‘un means listening. Samaa' or Sema is a sufi ceremony performed as zikr. Sama' means 'listening', while zikr means remembrance. These rituals often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. It is particularly form of worship in sufism. Samaa' is a type of zikr (remembrance of God), a spiritual concert, a ceremony used by various Sufi orders, particularly the Chishti order of the sub-continent. It often involves prayer, song and dance.
Abu Sa`id, (357 A.H.) (967 c.e.) was born in Mayhana, a town near Sarakhs, which today is in Iran, bordering Turkmanistan. He is noted for establishing a rule for conduct in the khanqah (jamaa't khana) and also for the introduction of music (samaa'), poetry and dance, as part of the Sufi collective devotional ritual of zikr.
The Samaa' represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection. Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at perfection. He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation. Rumi has said in reference to Samaa', "For them it is the Samaa'' of this world and the other. Even more for the circle of dancers within the Samaa' who turn and have in their midst, their own Ka'aba." This relates Samaa' to the pilgrimage to Mecca, in that both are intended to bring all who are involved closer to God.
Sama emphasizes singing includes the singing of hymns, called qawli and bayt. Poetry is often included in the ceremony as well, because while it is inadequate by itself, it works together with aid in spiritual contemplation. Any poetry, even the erotic, can be applied to God, and thus used for this ceremony. However, the listener's heart must first be pure, or the dancing components of samaa' will make these people full of lust instead of love for God. Additionally, being in love with a person rather than with God clouds a person's mind when they are listening to erotic poetry.
Samaa' is a means of meditating on God through focusing on melodies and dancing. It brings out a person's love of God, purifies the soul, and is a way of finding God. This practice is said to reveal what is already in one's heart, rather than creating emotions. All of a person's doubt disappears, and the heart and soul can communicate directly with God. The immediate goal of samaa' is to reach wajd, which is a trance-like state of ecstasy. Physically, this state may include various and unexpected movements, agitation, and all types of dancing. Another state that people hope to reach through samaa' is khamra, which means "spiritual drunkenness". Ultimately, people hope to achieve the unveiling of mysteries and gain spiritual knowledge through wajd. Sometimes, the experience of wajd becomes so strong that fainting or even, in extreme circumstances, deathcitation required, occurs.
Participants in samaa' are expected to remain silent and still, and controlled throughout the ceremony, unless wajd occurs. This way, a higher degree of spiritual contemplation can be reached. Participants must restrain themselves from movement and crying until they reach a point in which they can no longer hold back. At this point, wajd can be reached. It is essential that the trance-like experience of wajd be genuine and not faked for any reason. Also, people must maintain proper intent and actions must be present throughout the samaa'; otherwise, they cannot experience the ceremony's intended positive effects.
Due to differences in culture between Muslim groups, participation in musical performance is condoned in some and considered questionable in others. Meditation and Sufi practices are allowed in Islam as long as they are within the limits of the Shari'ah (Islamic law). People from all classes and walks of life can participate, although there is debate between Sufis and legalists about whether novice Sufis and ones more advanced in their faith are capable of achieving the same positive results from samaa'. The same debate exists for the young, and whether they are capable of overcoming their lust and clearing their hearts to worship God.
The Latest in Military Strategy: Mindfulness
As commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt juggled ruthless pursuit of enemies and delicate diplomacy with tribal leaders, using a trove of modern weaponry and streams of tech-generated data.
But his best decisions, he said, relied on a tool as ancient as it is powerful. Maj. Gen. Piatt often began daily operations by breathing deliberately, slack-jawed, staring steadily at a palm tree.
Mindfulness — the practice of using breathing techniques, similar to those in meditation, to gain focus and reduce distraction — is inching into the military in the United States and those of a handful of other nations.
This winter, Army infantry soldiers at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii began using mindfulness to improve shooting skills — for instance, focusing on when to pull the trigger amid chaos to avoid unnecessary civilian harm.
The British Royal Navy has given mindfulness training to officers, and military leaders are rolling it out in the Army and Royal Air Force for some officers and enlisted soldiers. The New Zealand Defence Force recently adopted the technique, and military forces of the Netherlands are considering the idea, too.
This week, NATO plans to hold a two-day symposium in Berlin to discuss the evidence behind the use of mindfulness in the military.
A small but growing group of military officials support the techniques to heal trauma-stressed veterans, make command decisions and help soldiers in chaotic battles.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/heal ... 3053090406
As commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt juggled ruthless pursuit of enemies and delicate diplomacy with tribal leaders, using a trove of modern weaponry and streams of tech-generated data.
But his best decisions, he said, relied on a tool as ancient as it is powerful. Maj. Gen. Piatt often began daily operations by breathing deliberately, slack-jawed, staring steadily at a palm tree.
Mindfulness — the practice of using breathing techniques, similar to those in meditation, to gain focus and reduce distraction — is inching into the military in the United States and those of a handful of other nations.
This winter, Army infantry soldiers at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii began using mindfulness to improve shooting skills — for instance, focusing on when to pull the trigger amid chaos to avoid unnecessary civilian harm.
The British Royal Navy has given mindfulness training to officers, and military leaders are rolling it out in the Army and Royal Air Force for some officers and enlisted soldiers. The New Zealand Defence Force recently adopted the technique, and military forces of the Netherlands are considering the idea, too.
This week, NATO plans to hold a two-day symposium in Berlin to discuss the evidence behind the use of mindfulness in the military.
A small but growing group of military officials support the techniques to heal trauma-stressed veterans, make command decisions and help soldiers in chaotic battles.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/heal ... 3053090406
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swamidada_1
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:21 pm
Bravo MINDFULNESS when to pull trigger to kill innocents that what happened in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Palatine, now in Yemen. In chaos soldiers fire on every movable or immovable targets. It is worthless to say soldiers want to save innocents. The combatant soldiers know what goes through their minds, they have to save their lives, will they do meditation or yoga while fighting? Horror of wars creates PTSD, PHIR BUNDA NA KAAM KA NA KAAJ KA ONLY DUSHMAN ANNAJ KA.kmaherali wrote:The Latest in Military Strategy: Mindfulness
As commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt juggled ruthless pursuit of enemies and delicate diplomacy with tribal leaders, using a trove of modern weaponry and streams of tech-generated data.
But his best decisions, he said, relied on a tool as ancient as it is powerful. Maj. Gen. Piatt often began daily operations by breathing deliberately, slack-jawed, staring steadily at a palm tree.
Mindfulness — the practice of using breathing techniques, similar to those in meditation, to gain focus and reduce distraction — is inching into the military in the United States and those of a handful of other nations.
This winter, Army infantry soldiers at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii began using mindfulness to improve shooting skills — for instance, focusing on when to pull the trigger amid chaos to avoid unnecessary civilian harm.
The British Royal Navy has given mindfulness training to officers, and military leaders are rolling it out in the Army and Royal Air Force for some officers and enlisted soldiers. The New Zealand Defence Force recently adopted the technique, and military forces of the Netherlands are considering the idea, too.
This week, NATO plans to hold a two-day symposium in Berlin to discuss the evidence behind the use of mindfulness in the military.
A small but growing group of military officials support the techniques to heal trauma-stressed veterans, make command decisions and help soldiers in chaotic battles.
More...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/heal ... 3053090406
What MSMS's Farmans on meditation have to do with mindfulness of killer soldiers?