I’ve tried to convey this idea before but I thought it’s worth writing this again. What happens when you have free time at hand? Do you look for backlogs to clear up? Or do you start doing something so it’s easier for you later? Or just take a nap?

Why not just do nothing for a change. By doing nothing I don’t mean doing things that result in nothing. I mean doing absolutely nothing. No thinking, no working, no sleeping – just be. Just meditate.

Why?

Life is not a checklist that one day will finish and you will say good-bye. You will never get it done. But you are not a do-er you are being and there is so much fun in feeling your being.

Have you ever taken time to feel who you really are? Take that time – do nothing and just be. So you can know yourself.

How?

Meditate for 15 minutes.

After that…

Do share how you felt about yourself after doing nothing. I am sure you will have a story to tell, a story of change in perception. I am eager to hear it.

Photo by laffy4k

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There is no rule about how long you ‘should’ meditate. It’s more like how long would you like to meditate.

I recommend minimum 5 minutes and at most 15 minutes. In no ways would I recommend it to be beyond 30 minutes (well unless you want to challenge yourself).

Reason being that mediation takes you to best vibrations in matter of seconds, practicing that higher vibration and good feeling in meditation is not the aim. Aim is to take it in other parts of life. Feel that good, calm and peaceful all the time.

Meditation is not just once done and once over process, it’s continuum of good emotion / vibrations. So meditate for 5-15 minutes and just bounce around and see if you can keep up with those amazing emotions.

You really want to do that because as you do that consciously, you will get better and better.

Do you have any questions related to meditation? Or would you just like to say ‘Hi!’? Head over to contact page and drop me a mail.

Photo Credit: jessica flavin

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Myth #1 Meditation is Concentrations

This is the most common myth. People just blurb it out. “Concentrate!” It is like launching a rocket upside down when you want to reach moon. Meditation is opposite of concentration – yes you do focus but focus is not same thing as concentration.

Concentration has element of trying and force which are complete ‘NO NO’ in meditation.

Myth #2 Meditation is Relaxation

This is second biggest myth, especially in western cultures. People take stress for granted and then they want to manage it (instead of eliminating it altogether) and then they go to people who don’t know meditation from relaxation and build stuff around false premises.

Myth #3 Meditation is done with Closed Eyes & Crosses Legs

Ha! It’s like saying eating is cereals. No it isn’t! Cereals are just one component of diet! Likewise sitting with closed eyes and crossed legs is just one form of meditation. You can meditate with music, sitting, standing, laying, walking, open eyes, laughing…

Myth #4 Meditation is Religious and for Spiritual People

UNO is for US, is it?

Crops are for farmers, are they?

Milk is for Cow, is it?

No! They just begin there. It’s for everyone. Like wise spiritual and religious people just practice and explore it more but mediation is for everyone.

Do you know of some myths about meditation that people carry around? Or do you have a doubt / questiont that you’d like to clarify? Let’s talk in comments section below.

Photo by scragz, on Flickr

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Meditation is the quickest way to raise your vibes or just get into better mood. So whenever you are feeling not so good or just want to feel better – meditation is the key. I often did this whenever I felt angry or sad or just bored – but now I am so buys being excited and passionate that I don’t have time for all of that.

If you’d like that too then read on and see how simple it is to do it.

The Floating Cork You Are

Meditation is state of no-thought and there for no vibrational resistance to the well-being that is flowing to you and through you. It’s like a cork which floats on water. If you will not deliberately push it under water it will float. Just like that if you are not thinking negative thought natural tendency of you is to be positive.

[Off topic: Did you see the new newsletter thing on our sidebar? You should really join it]

So we are going to use sound as a medium to go into meditation. Do it right now with me. Read this whole page and as soon as you are done – do it.

The Anytime Anywhere Meditation Process

Unless you are in a sound-proof room there must be a rhythmic noise going on around you. Maybe a ceiling fan, air-conditioner, heater, distant bird chirping, and traffic noise – anything will do.

If there is no sounds that you’d like to focus on then just focus on your breathing. Or put your hands on your chest and listen for your heartbeat.

Now close your eyes and listen for the sound.

Open your eyes after 10-15 minutes and you will feel awesome. That’s meditation – anytime anywhere.

Photo Credit: After Work Traffic by RobeRt Vega, on Flickr

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I’ve received a lot of requests and emails asking me to share a simple and easy way to meditate. Beginners coming to this site for the first time often get excited to try all the new techniques and end of more confused than ever.

How do they know if they are ‘really’ meditating or just feeling good (although that’s good too)? What about ground work – the basics? What about those who just want to meditate simply and not experiment much. So here is the simplest technique in simplest way that I can give you:

The Simplest Meditation Technique

1. Wear Easy Clothes
2. Sit, Stand or lay down with your spine straight
3. Close your eyes
4. Focus on your breathing
5. When you inhale count ‘1’ and when you exhale count ‘2’.
6. Count up to 10 and then start again from 1.

If you find yourself wandering off just start back at one or if you find yourself counting 24,.. 35… then start again at one.

You can use a timer to wake you up from meditation after 15 minutes.

That’s all! World’s easiest and no-complications meditation technique.

Photo Credit: Eyes Closed by pacomexico, on Flickr

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This was an exceptionally busy week for me. Exams and all, how about you? You know, I really love to look back at week and all that I achieved – I use that as an excuse to be happy. Try that, it really works.

I wanted to do this earlier but I don’t have a camera (otherwise I’d have a new video for you every week). Anyways, I wanted to share what my meditation corner looks like. I am so proud of it.

I am sharing some photos with you. These photos are on our facebook fan-page too, so do comment and above all – Add your photos! PLEASE PLEAS PLEASE!

Click a photo with your cell phone or whatever, or just draw it and upload it to either our facebook fanpage wall or ImageShack and link me in the comment. I will add the photos to this post. It’s fun guys – let’s do it!

That's My Simple Meditation Corner - Cushions are such that I can take them anywhere. What do you think?

That's Full Size View of My Meditation Corner - My dad and me are paiting the wall behind. So you know why all the mess.

My Meditation Corner often turns into workplace. So now you know where I write all the awesome posts for Meditation Rocks!

Ok, I don't know when my dad took this pic. It was morning perhaps - that explains my wierd look. Thanks to exam - I've grown bad mustache.

That's dear Buddha, always in Meditation! What an inspiration to have in your meditation corner.

I’ve taken a step and shared it with you all. Now c’mon don’t be shy and share your meditation corner pics.

If you want a Buddha Statue for your meditation corner you can try here and here. (Affiliate Links)

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This should have been one of the first posts on Meditation Rocks! but I was thinking of doing some experiments before I publish this. So here it is – Meditating with Music.

The Music

Music is just awesome, isn’t it? I mean life without music, wouldn’t exist. And when I say music I just don’t mean out iPod playlist, or the party music, I am also talking about the cosmic music, the background humming of universe, the birds chirping the dogs barking it’s all music!

So music is know for relaxing and making us feel good – yes even sad songs can make your mood lighter – that’s the power of music. And we’ve been talking about power of meditation since quiet a while – so imagine what could happen when you put these two together. It Rocks!

How to Meditate with Music

So here is how to do it. Select a song with tempo of 60 beats per min. – usually all love songs (not rock music) are like that, classics are good too. A rule of thumb is tap your feet with music beats – if you are tapping once every second then it’s good to go.

• So you have your music – now play it. Not to loud, just so faint that you can hardly hear the lyrics. Remember, it’s not sing-my-fav-song-time it’s meditate-with-my-fav-music-time. So don’t loose the focus.
• Play the music at low volume so you can barely hear the lyrics.
• Sit, stand or lay with your back straight.
• Close your eyes and focus on faint sound of music.
• You might be tempted to sing, or you might remember some related event but as soon as you find yourself wandering off just release the thought and refocus on music.
• Feel the soft vibes entering your body.
• If you get sensitive enough (with practice) though the music isn’t loud you will feel the vibes throughout your body.
• As soon as the song ends, slowly open your eyes. It is important that you don’t play any music for next one min. and just sit and feel the awesomeness.

That’s all!

It’s great fun, try it.

How it Works

As I’ve always explained. Meditation is about focusing (not concentrating) or completely expanding your consciousness on something that won’t grow or attract much thought – like music, mantra or breathe.

So here we are focusing on faint music, and since it is faint – you are less likely to wander. And as you enter the meditative state, you will feel the vibes. As your follow them you will get in sync with vibrational nature of who you are. And as that happens – you return to your natural state of well being – the emotion of relief or contentment that you feel will let you know.

So it’s pretty easy and fun, go give it a try. And let me know if you have any questions.

Music for Meditation

Here are some tracks that I usually use for meditation:

1. Lord of The Rings: Lothlorien /Buy on Amazon (aff link)
2. Heart Sutra Chanting
3. Love Story by Andy Williams
4. Raga Marubihag by Amjad Ali Khan /Alternate Raga Buy on Amazon (aff link)

Group Discussion

Do you meditate with music? What music tracks do you use? Link us to music on last.fm or YouTube video. What is your experience about meditating with music? Any questions? Use the comments section below.

Photo Credit: seanmcgrath

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We know of the law of gravity that governs universe the most powerful of all such laws and the only law worth talking about is ‘The Law of Attraction’. Understanding the law of attraction gives you new eyes to see the fair world around you.

Before I dive into details of what Law of Attraction and Meditation do together, let me give a brief introduction to the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction Simply says:

“The essence of that which is like, unto itself is drawn.” – Abraham Hicks

That means all that is good attracts more good and all that is bad attracts all bad. Science approves of that in terms of gravity and will approve it further when they discover the truth behind the ‘Dark Matter’.

But we are talking of it at very basic level. Every thought vibrates and vibration is attractive in nature. That means, a good thought attracts another good thought (law of attraction in action) and they together attract more good thoughts and more and more and more until the reality around you begins to change. That’s simple isn’t it. So your thoughts create reality.

Meditation

Now a quick revision on what is meditation. Meditation is process to quiet your mind and stop thought. And when you stop thought you come to your natural state of well being and joy. Have you noticed that when you are worried thoughts are storming in your head and when you are happy your mind is mostly thoughtless?

That’s what happens when you think good thoughts, good thoughts come in alignment with your inner being, soul or Source energy and you align to who you really are and you thrive.

That’s what meditation is all about.

Meditation + Law of Attraction = ?

So when we meditate, we stop thought and when we stop thought – the negativity subsides and we begin to offer a vibration of well being and all that is good. And when we are offering such vibrations – Law of Attraction must bring to us all that is good.

So when you are meditating, you are attracting all good.

No Need of Visualizations

People will tell you to visualize and think good thoughts while meditating to attract stuff in your life. But you don’t need to do that. Because often when we try and think good about things that we want but they are not in our life – we start to feel bad  and we feel that they are not here – we miss them. And what we feel equals the vibration we are offering, and no matter what you visualize – if you are feeling bad about it – it’s NOT COMING TO YOU!

So better option is not to think anything. Because once you said you want it – it is coming to you. Universe is like a restaurant – do you go to a restaurant and say…

“I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad. I want salad.”?

No you don’t! You just say it once and you know it’s coming. Same with universe – if you ever – mind you ever – asked for it or even offered a preference towards it. Or ever appreciated it- it’s coming to you. Faster than you think! BUT what keeps it away is – keep thinking about it in negative way.

And when you visualize with such a feeling – you repel what you want – that’s the major draw back the movie ‘the Secret’ has on it’s viewers. They focus so much in visualization that stuff like that that people repel it away.

Attract and Manifestation through Meditation

So what is better is to either think positive thought, or think nothing. Both ways you are attracting it. The best way to do that is meditation. Meditate for 30 min and things you want will start coming into your experience. No visualization – not anything. Just meditate.

Here are a few good techniques which you could use to meditate:

1. Zazen – the art of doing nothing.
2. Chanting
3. Mindfulness

Here are more meditation techniques.

Read more about Law of Attraction on my blog, or if you have any personal question just go ahead and ask me.

Photo Credit meditation by alicepopkorn, on Flickr

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If you were not living under the rock all these years of your life I am sure you’d have heard about ‘Chanting’. Well in case you were here is a brief explanation:

Chanting is repeating a sound or a phrase, usually called ‘mantra’ (with last ‘a’ silent) in eastern traditions. The mantra is repeated again and again (often verbally and sometimes in mind).

Personal Experience with Chanting

Chanting has proved to me miraculous in my own life. Yes I am using the word ‘miracle’ here. I’ve started out from chanting ‘Aum’ or ‘Om‘ then switched to ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and then tried many others and nowadays I am chanting ‘Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ – as practiced in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (based on The Lotus Sutra). And it’s been really effective. More on all these some other day but let’s explore chanting for now.

Who Can Chant?

Anyone can practice chanting because overall it’s a non-religious practice just like meditation. Teens, Parents of 3, Old, Wrinkled, Young, Shabby, Tired, Confused anyone!

Benefits of Chanting

The benefits of chanting are pretty much same as meditation but to be specific:

1. Chanting helps you improve your control over mind.
2. Clarity of thoughts
3. Spiritual awareness increases – you will begin to notice good things that you never did.
4. Curiosity increases
5. Patience and peace of mind increases

Plus there are many more benefits depending on the mantra/affirmation you are using.

Mantras for Chanting

You can pick up any mantra on the fly or even use an affirmation but it works really good if you use one of the tried and tested mantras which are really powerful. I’ve listed some of the easiest one here:

1. Om Mani Padme Hum (Popular Buddhist Chant)
2. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism – The Lotus Sutra)
3. Aum / Om (Universal Sound)
4. Shri Hari (Beautiful God)
5. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
6. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

You can choose anyone, or maybe use your affirmation.

How to Chant

There are many ways to chant. Some are specific to traditions, mantras used etc. Here I am going to share my own.

• So let’s be seated in your meditation corner, or anywhere you won’t be disturbed.
• Set your alarm clock to 5-10 min if you are just beginning or longer if you are already practicing meditation since quiet a time.
• Take 2-3 deep breathes and began chanting the mantra.
• To those who are new to meditation, this might feel odd. Chanting something you don’t even know the meaning of, but have patience you get used to it. Remember people even chant in public and groups – practice.
• Decide the pace that suits you usually it pace is between 1-5 beats/syllable per second. But again, do what suits you.
• When alarm clock rings, don’t just close it off. Chant the mantra 3 more times only elongate the time period for each repetition this time.
• Take 2 deep breathes and that’s all.

Chanting During Meditation

If you would like to chant in meditation try this:

• When you have reached the state of meditation, just hmm the mantra in mind.
• It will be like a ripple in calm water and reflect again and again like echo.
• Enjoy the reverbs and echo, witness the power of your mind.
• Continue/Conclude the Meditation as you normally do.

How it Works

There is much more to power of Chanting than science or language can explain. Though I will try:

Mantras usually produce sound/vibration that transforms the body-mind chemistry. It works like the pill you take and then it get’s in blood stream and reaches every part of body though here there is no pill and chemicals and vibration are that of your own.

Chanting, being monotonous, make the conscious mind transcend to less dominant state and your natural being comes up and you communicate to and through your sub-conscious mind. And rhythm set’s a tone for discipline.

Let’s Discuss Further

Before we discuss anything, I’ve just added a video of Hart Sutra Chanting, listen to it and see for yourself how enchanting can chanting be.

So go ahead comment what do you think about chanting, do you have something to share? Also let me know if you are already chanting – share your experience and mantra (if possible). And after you practice it, do let me know how you feel. So let’s discuss, all questions are welcome. I will try to answer them all, – let’s interact people!

Photo Credit:8B3street-chorten-jan1 by Liz Highleyman, on Flickr

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I’ve wanted to talk on this topic since so long. Finally, the day has come. It’s good practice to dedicate a corner or a room to meditation. Since you will gain so much out of this sacred practice, it makes sense to create this space with your personal sense of being.

Why Meditation Corner?

There are many reasons but mainly because:

• It will help you discipline yourself to meditate everyday.
• It will create a sacred sense of being.
• It will soon be filled with positive vibes and spiritual energy by just being around that space.
• If you are a teen, your mom will be deeply pleased by a clean corner in your room. (Caution: She might try to hijack it, mine did!)

You will discover more and more and more reasons on the way.

So you have decided to dedicate a corner? If yes – brilliant! If no – superb! Stick around, we have cookies for you (err.. both of you, yeah!)

How Big Should Be A Meditation Corner/Room

As the title says- it can be a corner and even a room. And by corner I mean a small space in room not necessarily the four corners. It depends on how big you want to, you can and you feel like making it.

So if you are a teenager who constantly fights with your parents for bigger room – you can throw some stuff in another corner and just empty a corner. Voila! You found your lost iPod under the clothes!

And if you are a grown-up child, you can try creating a space anywhere (I’m jealous!) but preferably away from drawing room/living room as they are barely personal.

What Should I Put There?

For starters: just a mattress, and a few cushions or maybe something a bit more comfortable. Nothing fancy, we will decorate it with positives vibes and sacred objects later. First, let’s give ourselves a prize for doing and learning so much – the cookies :

Let’s Meditate.

Photo Credit: Allston slays me by Sean Future, on Flickr

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