Home Blog Page 7

How To Become Zen In An Instant

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

It’s common knowledge that stress is everywhere in our everyday lives. From being late to work, trying to reply to all our emails, keeping in touch with friends and trying to deal with our every day (and bigger) problems, there are so many factors that cause stress.

While stress and anxiety are on the up, being called an ‘epidemic’ by some experts, there is little being done to reduce the issues. While medication is available to many people, this is still not a permanent solution, which is why many people are turning to meditation.

We all know the ins and outs of stress and that chronic stress are seriously unhealthy to our well-being, but that doesn’t mean that we can flick a switch and it can all go away.

Or can it?

While there have been numerous studies that show that the benefits of meditation when it comes to reducing stress and anxiety, that doesn’t stop us feeling like it from time to time. If only there was a way that you could return to the feeling of meditating, so you could stop stress before it becomes a problem.

Everywhere & Anywhere

The trick is that you can actually meditate anywhere. Whether you’re on a bus, on your sofa, sitting next to a snoring partner, at work, on the toilet or just sitting on your kitchen floor, it’s possible to meditate anywhere and everywhere.

We all live very busy lives, so it’s understandable to believe that we simply don’t have the time to find a quiet space to close our eyes, but this doesn’t have to be the case.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to meditate every time you try to do so, you’ll find that you’re only meditation here and there, rather than forming a dedicated habit.

While the practice of meditation makes us think of Buddhas sitting cross-legged in a cave or forest with nothing but nature for miles around, for many of us, this is an impossible vision.

Even when you feel stress coming on in your mind, simply closing your eyes, taking several deep long breaths and returning to the present moment can be more than enough to wash that stress away.

Simply close your eyes, take three deep inhales and three deep exhales. Try feeling your lungs all the way to the top with air and emptying every bit of air you have inside you. Focus on every second and movement that your breath takes.

Try it now.

How did it feel? Do you feel a lot calmer? Did you feel your shoulders drop? To feel less tense and less stressed out? If you didn’t, try doing another three breaths and then see how you feel.

Did you feel the stress just wash away from you?

Once you’ve opened your eyes again, did you notice that everything seemed a little bit brighter?

Did you feel more focused? Readier than before to return to what you were doing?

That’s because it doesn’t matter whether you meditate for a minute or an hour. While, of course, meditating for a prolonged amount of time can provide greater benefits (the optimal being around a half an hour for an average person), even a minute can be enough to snap you back into that zen moment of the Now.

Science Finds That Meditation is Ideal for a Better Night’s Sleep

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

Meditation is easily one of the most popular trends in the Western world at the moment. However, the practice, which dates back over 5,000 years, is still as beneficial than it has ever been before.

While many of us practice meditation to reduce stress or anxiety in our lives but have you ever considered how beneficial meditation can be for our sleep?

From insomnia to sleep apnea, there are so many sleep conditions that affect millions of us around the world. Do you find it difficult to sleep at night and have troubles dozing off?

Don’t worry, all you need to help you solve this problem is your body and your breath.

One of the most common issues many of us face when we’re trying to sleep is the fact that our thoughts and feelings take control of our minds. It’s a well-known fact that as soon as we put our heads down and close our eyes, anxieties and stresses from our day flood our minds.

Falling Asleep

Meditation is already a well-known solution to helping you come to terms with these issues, so it only makes sense that getting yourself into a present state of mind can help you sleep.

For some of you, facing these thoughts and emotions, especially if you’re going through a hard time, may not be something you want to do. However, through regular practice, if only you’re meditating for several minutes a day, can have dramatically positive benefits for your well-being.

Sit and close your eyes.

Make sure that you’re comfortable.

Let waves of peace crash over you like the ocean on a shore.

Any thoughts that pop into your head, simply acknowledge them for what they are let them pass on softly by. Don’t allow your mind to get caught up with them and to get carried away with them.

If a thought pops into your head, let it go with an exhale and return to the anchor that is your breath. This is how meditation works at any time of the day and actively reduces stress, anxiety and even depression. This is all renowned feelings that can keep you awake at night.

The Facts

However, you don’t have to take my word for it. A 2005 study, published in the science journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found that meditation is actually one of the most powerful tools we can use to help us get a better night’s sleep.

The study involved 49 adults who all claimed to be suffering from a range of sleeping issues or troubles. These individuals were then divided into two groups. The first group was instructed to partake in a complete mindfulness program daily, while the other group attended a ‘sleep education program’.

Within these classes, the participants were taught about general and common ways to help induce sleep, such as minimising screen time and not eating before hitting the hay.

Each group undertook these activities for six weeks and where then monitored and recorded their results to see if they could fall asleep better than before. The results were clear.

The meditation and mindfulness group reported dramatic signs of ‘less insomnia’, ‘less fatigue’ as well as less depression in their every day lives, especially when compared to those who were in the classes.

The Takeaway

While you may believe that the act of meditation is simply sitting, breathing and ridding yourself of sleep-harming thoughts, while this is the case, there is actually some science in the madness.

Even if you’ve never tried meditating before, there are still many ways you can reap the same benefits. According to MindBodyGreen, even the act of laying in bed and counting down from 100 is a form of meditation; you’re simply focusing on the numbers, rather than your own breath.

Another way you could help yourself is to repeat a mantra over and over again in your head. This could be anything you want it to be, from the word ‘sleep’ to a sentence of your choosing.

It’s worth noting, however, that one thing you’re going to want to avoid before bed is meditation apps. While the app itself may be helpful, the blue light from your phone’s device can stimulate your brain, making it much more difficult to fall asleep.

But, rest assured knowing that some simple breathing and sitting exercises can make a world of difference when it comes to your bedtimes. Sweet dreams!

Why Ayurveda Suggests You Should Eat Wheat

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

How much wheat do you eat in a day?

Perhaps you gave it up during the gluten-free craze that a lot of people went through several years ago? Of course, some people are gluten-intolerant but if supplements will need to be taken to a replacement that you can get from wheat.

If you are tolerable, you could be cutting out a major part of your diet from one of the most important food groups. This can be damaging to your well-being and health. In terms of Ayurveda, wheat is a primary food group that can provide so many benefits to your life.

Let’s find out what they are.

Wheat – A Super Food

Wheat is an ultimate food group. Wheat is high in protein, high in fibre and contains good fat that your body needs. Wheat is also renowned for being a seasonal harvest, originally around autumn time since it was used to keep the body warm during the winter months.

What’s interesting is that some people find wheat hard to digest. However, science has proven that this is because many of us have been subjected to processed foods for many decades and have consumed thousands of different kinds of pesticides.

In fact, over 400 billion pounds of environmental toxins are released into American air alone every single year. If you’re looking to detox and energise your diet, you’ll need to be able to digest properly. While wheat able to solve this problem, Ayurveda teaches us that it can help to relieve the symptoms temporarily.

Here are some other benefits that wheat can provide to you and your well-being.

Boosting Your Immune System

Studies have shown that people that eat a gluten-free diet have a lot less beneficial gut bacterium, as well as more toxin gut bacteria that people that have a general diet.

Additionally, studies also found that people who had the right amount of wheat in their diet had more natural ‘killer’ cells that help to battle toxins in your immune system.

A Seasonal Food

As mentioned above, human beings have been eating wheat for over 3.4 million years. In comparison, we’ve only been hunting down meat for 500,000. In our bodies, you’ll find enzymes like amylase which are designed to eat digest the harder parts of wheat. It’s in our genetics.

Also within our bodies, our bodies increase amylase production during the fall and winter, when our bodies are designed to eat more. Over the summer and spring months, this production decreases.

However, many of now overeat wheat, perhaps three times a day, all throughout the year. So, if you’re eating it all year round, you may experience problems. To eat wheat to its full potential, eat one serving a day through the fall and winter seasons.

Buying the Right Kind of Wheat

While we may think about wheat and all the different kinds we can buy. However, sourdough bread is renowned for being the best, but you’ll need to make sure that you’re reading the ingredients.

Within the bread, you should see organic wheat, water, salt and dough and that’s it. There shouldn’t be any additives or chemicals added to it. It should be plain and simple.

Weight Lost Properties

Wheat has been proven time and time again to help you lose weight and even your blood sugar levels. This can help to minimise your risk of diabetes. The reason that many people describe people as ‘wheat belly’, someone who eats a lot of bread, it’s actually the sugar that many companies put into their bread.

As you can see, there are many reasons as to why wheat is beneficial according to Ayurveda practices. Make sure you’re eating it at the right time in the right way to enjoy the maximum benefits.

Five Common Yoga Myths That Need to Be Busted

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

Yoga, originally stemming from the Sanskrit word for ‘yuj’ (meaning ‘to unite’) has rapidly become one of the most popular trends and practices in the world at this current moment.

This tradition and spiritual practice dates back over 5,000 years, all the way to Northern India. There are currently an estimated two billion people that practice the yoga around the world.

However, just like all concepts and practices that go around the world, there are many rumours and superstitions that follow it. So, to help you understand the truth, here are five of the most common yoga myths and the truth behind them.

#1 – Yoga is for Flexible People

The number of times I’ve been to a yoga class and spoken to people afterwards who didn’t attend the class say that they like the idea of yoga, but they’re not flexible enough. This is easily one of the most common myths in the industry.

Firstly, the only way you’re ever going to get stronger and more flexible is by practising yoga, but you don’t even need to start with yoga itself. Asana is known as the physical practice of yoga, but there’s also a spiritual side that many Western classes seem to bypass.

Traditionally, monks would move through a series of asana poses for hours in utter silent and stillness. For beginners, give it a try and but remember to ask yourself whether or not you feel comfortable and safe. These are your main priorities.

#2 – It’s Just Too Difficult

Like anything in life, everything can seem challenging when you try it for the first time, and the same can be said for yoga. A common problem that I hear day in, day out, is the fact that yoga is too hard, and people simply won’t try because of that.

However, just like learning like a new language or driving a car, the only way to get better and to enhance your skills is through practice. One suggestion is that that yoga challenges ego more than anything else. Of course, to a certain extent, it’s easy to step onto a mat and put your body into poses while focusing on your breath.

However, putting yourself out there, doing in front people and admitting when you can’t do something but you’re willing to learn is far more challenging and rewarding to your personal benefit.

#3 – All Yoga is the Same

There are over 600 different types of yoga. There are some very intense types, some that focus on flexibility, some for losing weight, improve your posture or even focusing on spirituality. There’s even yoga that that’s designed to help you sleep and alleviating pain around your body.

At the end of the day, there is a type of yoga for everybody, so if you try one type, that doesn’t mean that you’ve tried them all. It’s safe to say that there’s a yoga practice for everybody.

#4 – Yoga is for Hippies

This is easily one of the most popular rumours that surround yoga. When a lot of people think of yoga, they think dread-headed individuals on a beach, wearing beads and hugging trees, but this is far from the case.

Anybody can do yoga, from any generation, including children, all the way through the elderly. In my personal yoga class, we have men and women from all walks of life from business owners to people who just want to get fit and healthy.

There are so many health benefits of yoga, from reducing stress and anxiety and lowering blood pressure to even improving your memory functions. These are benefits that can be enjoyed by everyone.

#5 – Yoga Is Not For Men

Perhaps surprisingly, traditionally, yoga was a male-only practice all the way up to 1947. This was when yoga teacher, the first woman to practice yoga, opened her own studio in the U.S. Nowadays; the tables have turned. Out of the estimated 20 million people that practice yoga in the US, only 18% are men.

It’s suggested that this is perhaps thanks to platforms like social media that predominantly portrays yoga as a feminine practice, or the actual practice seems feminine to many men, but this is far from the case. There are men who practice yoga, some at a professional level. However, as the practice becomes more and more popular, this is a rumour that is slowly disappearing.

Unlock Your Body’s Natural Healing Abilities

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

As you may or may not know, the Sanskrit-based word Ayurveda is simply translated into the term ‘knowledge of life’. It’s been designed and passed on for thousands of years to improve your mind, your body, your spirit and your overall well-being. It’s a gateway practice into being the optimal you.

Ayurveda is all about naturally cleansing and looking after your mind and body, using the very best of what this planet has to offer and Earth has given us for millions of years. Who needs artificial creams and ointments where the planet gives you everything, right on your doorstep?

While you may use typical supermarket-bought creams and conditioners to help your body be the best it can be, there’s simply no reason for this when Ayurveda has all the answers.

Today, I’m going to share two recipes, sourced from the incredibly talented Angela Peterson, where you can create your own body oils. Make and apply them as you like and get ready to unlock the power of your body’s natural healing ability.

Recipe #1 – Lavender Scalp Oil

Lavender has always been renowned for its amazing healing properties, whether you’re putting a bowl of it in your bathroom or finding it in your hand creams. This is such a simple recipe that you can make at any time.

Sesame Seed Oil – x2 tablespoons

Lavender Essential Oil – x4 drops

All you need to do for this recipe is mix the two together, possibly into a small plastic bottle that you can store it in. When you’re ready, put a couple of drops onto your hands and gently massage it into your scalp. You should feel the rejuvenating effects pretty much instantly.

If you like, try rubbing your entire body with the oil since it’s renowned for its circulation-improving properties.

Recipe #2 – Vibrant and Aromatic Face Mask

This is a face mask that you simply won’t find anywhere else unless you’re paying an absolute fortune for it. This is easy and quick to make, and you can be sure that you’ll feel amazing after applying it.

Plain organic yoghurt – x2 tablespoons

Organic cocoa powder – x2 tablespoons

Raspberry seed oil – x1 tablespoon

Coconut oil – x1 tablespoon

Rose essential oil – x5 drops

All you need to do here is to blend all the ingredients together into a small glass bowl, making sure everything is blended together properly. Then that’s your face mask complete. Simply apply it to your face and leave it on for around ten minutes.

Thanks to the active and natural ingredients, not only will you be moisturising your skin, but you’ll also be providing your face with the antioxidants it needs to activate its own healing properties!

Enjoy!

What To Know Before Embarking on a Yoga Retreat

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

So, you’re a massive fan of yoga and the benefits that it provides. You practice at home, you attend classes, and you love the way it makes you feel. With such so passion for the practice, you may have considered flying abroad to an international yoga retreat, taking your practice to the next level.

But what’s involved in flying abroad to such a destination? Slightly different from your typical holiday, is there anything you can plan and be aware of beforehand, allowing you to solely focus on enjoying your trip?

Well, let’s find out! Today, I’m going to share with you several things you need to know before booking your dream yoga retreat away.

Check the Weather

This may seem like a bit of an odd one to start off with, but it’s just as essential. Travel to a yoga retreat, perhaps on the Eastern side of the world, and you could be caught out in monsoon season, not an ideal condition for yoga outside.

Of course, flights will be cheaper during these times, but it can also ruin your entire experience. When practising yoga itself you might be inside, but when you get time to explore the local area, the weather is sure to dampen your spirits.

Iron Out the Details

So, you’ve managed to book, or find, a yoga retreat that you’re really interested in, and you’ll want to make sure that it goes off without a hitch. That’s fine, that’s exactly what you want to be doing. Look through your schedule when you’re at the yoga retreat before you fly, allowing you to get a grasp of what’s to come.

This will allow you to actively prepare yourself for what’s to come so you can pack and make sure that you’ve got everything you need. Have any questions? Simply call up the retreat and ask. They’ll be more than happy to help you with anything you need.

Expect Changes in Your Practice

Whether you’re a teacher and travelling alone, with your class or with friends, be prepared that your own yoga routine is going to change, sometimes quite dramatically. Yoga retreats will only employ the very best in the business, and you may have been practising for several years, perhaps even your entire life, but the pros may completely change the way to see and practice yoga.

A Designated Leader

This is an especially important point if you’re travelling with a group of people. Just like any other time in your life, emergency situations can occur. However, this time, you’ll be far out of your comfort zone if they do.

Prepare for the worst and expect the best. This means designating a leader of your group who has everything you need in case something goes wrong or some ‘logistical’ needs have to be taken care of.

Get to Know the Destination

You’re travelling to another country, perhaps even one that you’ve never been to before. Just like you would if you were going on holiday, it’s essential that you get to know the destination you’re visiting.

Look into the currency, the emergency phone numbers, the culture and how everyday life is run. While you may believe you’ll be apart from main society in your retreat, which can be true, you still need to navigate there and back and may spend time in the destination before or after, so get to know everything you may need to know.

This includes safety tips that are officially recommended. You may need jabs, or courses of jabs, depending on the destination you’re travelling too which will need to be implemented months in advance.

Enjoy Yourself

Many different people travel to different yoga retreats for different reasons. However, whatever the reason you’re going, don’t forget to let your hair down and enjoy yourself while you’re out there. This could be the only time you get to go to a retreat such as this, so be sure to be grateful and make the most of your experience.

5 Treatments & Tips to Help You Lose Weight

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, some of us would love to lose a couple of pounds. Whether we’re getting our bodies ready for summer or simply looking to feel more confident in ourselves, losing weight is always worth considering.

From a health perspective, the World Health Organisation statistics show that 1.9 billion adults in the world are classed as obese, That’s over 30% of the world population. This will put strains on healthcare systems around the world and cost governments billions.

So, if you’re looking for a new lease of life but not sure where to start, here’s an option for you. Today, we’re going to explore five traditional and natural Ayurveda treatments and tips to help you reach your goals of losing weight and becoming a happier, healthier you.

Set Your Sleeping Pattern

One of the most important and universal Ayurveda tips you can follow is organising and managing your sleeping pattern. As human beings, it’s in our nature, and always has been, to sleep when it’s dark and to be active when it’s daytime.

Researchers have proven time and time again that a poor sleeping pattern can contribute dramatically to weight gain. This is because sleeping allows our bodies to process food and regulate our digestive system. Poor sleep means poor digestion. Following Ayurveda guidelines, try to turn off screens around 1-2 hours before you go to bed, be in bed by ten and awake at sunrise.

Drinking Enough Hot Water

There are many pollutants in our lifestyles that can contribute to weight gain, more commonly known as Ama. These include pollution (air), poorly processed foods, greasy, oily foods, pesticides and fatty foods.

By Ayurveda nature, these ama pollutants are sticky and need to be dissolved by drinking hot water. When it comes to drinking hot water, it’s not about the quantity, but the frequency in which you drink it. Try sipping hot water, a bit every half an hour, and you’ll see instant wonders in your everyday life.

Exercising in the Morning

After you’ve been asleep for a set number of hours, your body is at its most rested, making it the ideal time to exercise. Ayurveda guidelines suggest exercising between 6am and 10am to be the most effective and most beneficial times for your body.

As a rule of thumb, try exercising for about 30-45 minutes during this time. You could for a run, practice yoga, enjoy a gym session, or whatever kind of exercise you enjoy the most. This will help you to burn fat and lose weight efficiently.

Practice Meditation

Another primary cause for weight gain is stress, anger and anxiety. These all can prevent our bodies from losing weight and can cause side effects, such as comfort eating. Since you want to start your day in the best possible way, try practising meditation for 20 minutes every single morning, and you’ll notice the benefits almost immediately.

Biggest Meals at Midday

Typically, society has conditioned us to have our biggest meals in the evening for dinner. However, this isn’t in line with how our digestive systems work, and it’s a sure-fire way to put on weight. According to Ayurveda studies, noon is the time where our digestive system is at its strongest, and therefore the best time to eat the largest meal.

For dinner, it’s recommended that you have something light, a minimum of 2-3 hours before you go to bed. So, if you’re going to bed at 10 o’clock, the latest you want to be eating is 7pm. This allows your body to process your food properly, so you’re healthier and won’t gain unnecessary weight.

How Mindfulness Yoga is Improving the Lives of Young People

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

The youth of today are subject to a whirlwind of problems that have never before been seen in human society, in mass. You’ve only got to turn on the news to hear stories of young people and adults that have been subject to an array of domesticated problems.

These include exposure to violent situations, disrupted families and ‘falling in with the wrong crowd’. Other stressful situations included risky sexual activities and substance abuse.

To confirm these events, a ten-year study was conducted by Jacinda Dariotis, a public health researcher at the University of Cincinnati. The young people were between the ages of 18-24, from a range of backgrounds and consisted of 125 individuals.

The initial findings showed that only a very small number of these people were implementing their own coping strategies that would help later in life. This is worrying in terms of mental health. However, the study did reveal that the young people who voluntarily partook in activities such as reading books, playing games or sports where also much better off.

Mindfulness Meditation

Some of these other activities included yoga and mindfulness meditation. The individuals that engaged in these activities were far less likely to partake in risky sexual activities and substance consumption and led to a more positive outlook for the future.

As part of the study, the group partook in a weekly mindful yoga session. The students were shown how to control and focus on their breathing. This, in turn, helped them to deal and process their feelings and emotions.

In all, this also helped them to develop long-term coping strategies. This allowed them to live the lives they wanted to live, rather than being burdened with thoughts of the past.

As a result of the study, the group involved have stated how beneficial mindful yoga could be. One suggestion implies having mindful yoga programs set up in schools for everybody to get involved in. This could have an extremely beneficial effect on young people that will reflect in the rest of their future lives.

We state the benefits of meditation, yoga and mindfulness every day. However, by educating others about the many benefits this can hold, you could be changing somebody’s life forever.

We all have friends and family that go through hard times, regardless of whether they are old or young. If you’ve felt better thanks to meditation, why not share your experiences with them, so they can feel the same.

New York: New Mobile Meditation Studio Hits the Streets

By
Mike Arnold
-
0

New York. Renowned for being the city that never sleeps now has implemented a new way to meditate while you’re out and about. Known as the mobile meditation studio, commuters and tourists alike can now hop into the back of the four-wheeled vehicle for a half-hour session of meditating while travelling around the busy streets.

Hosted and managed by Be Time, this is regarded as a cosy and peaceful place to come back to the present in an otherwise chaotic city. It’s already extremely popular with people all over the city as they attempt to lower their stress levels and remained focused.

The founder, a Carla Hammond, states alongside her launch statements that she loves the benefits of meditation and simply wants to share them with the world. She goes on to say that even meditating just 10-20 minutes a day can make a huge difference in your life, hence why she founded the mobile studio.

However, this isn’t the first mobile meditation studio to hit the streets. Recently, the Calm City mobile studio, or truck, was featured bobbing around the Manhattan area. However, what sets this Be Time bus apart from the rest is that it’s been designed to provide users with the optimal mediation environment.

The Be Time Meditation Bus

The bus itself is sound-proofed and insulated. The inside also enjoys full temperature control settings, and the back is overflowing with comfy extras. These include cushions, furnishings, blankets and more. There’s even a tonne of aromatherapy essentials and even an internal light show, perfect for finding the mood you want.

To begin, the Be Time organisation aims to start releasing more buses onto the streets at a slow rate. You can actually find opening times and releases on the Be Time website. If you’re in the New York area and you fancy giving it a go yourself, you’re more than welcome to.

You can find the iconic black bus roaming around various routes in the city (see online for details), and first sessions cost $10. After your first session, sessions soar to $22 for a half-hour session with packs available for a discounted price. Student discount is also widely available.

Let us know your thoughts. What do you think of the meditation bus? Is $22 too steep for something you can do at home? Maybe this a great way to break the ice among people in the city? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

The Concept of Advaita Vedanta

By
Richard Oldale
-
0

Advaita Vedanta is a dominant Indian philosophy that removes the idea of ‘spirituality’ inherent in Hinduism and other organised religions, and shifts the focus of attention towards the single-dimension of “Self”. The goal of Advaita is to help guide aspirants along the path of self-knowledge without being muddled by religious dogma. However, the in-depth concepts can be somewhat complex.

Vedanta was inspired by the principle philosophy of ancient Hindu traditions, which, as far as we know, started with the Rig Veda. The core of these existing philosophies are probably much older. The teachings were expanded by Adi Shankara in the early 8th Century before being improved and promulgated into western thinking at the end of the 18th Century by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Vedanta itself consists of several schools, but it is Advaita that is widely credited with expounding the highest views on Reality. The principles within the conceptual framework attempts to explain the fundamental teachings enunciated by the Prasthantrayi, the Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita.

The purpose of Advaita Vedanta is to teach aspirants the existential problems of life and help them transcend the “illusion” and limitations of the physical world. The ultimate aim is to overcome suffering and find inner peace. In this respect, Vedanta is focused on the Universe, the Individual and relinquishing the ignorance of that keeps is bound to the material world.

Attachment to the physical world is qualified by individuals who are driven by passion and desire, overcome by emotions and tempted into selfish motives and mundane acts. By doing so, says Advaita, we become chained to timeless karma, bound by destructive forces that weaken our quality of life. The goal is to break the cycle of karma and experience moksha, the liberation of the mind.

Brahman’s dream

The “grand illusion” of the world is known as Brahman’s dream, or Maya. Hinduism, and modern science, classifies the world as an illusion because of our tendency to perceive our experiences as reality rather than experiencing reality through the one ‘Self.” Vedanta questions whether our experience of reality is actually Reality.

Brahman is the manifestation of all things. For all intents and purposes, it has no beginning or end and is found in everything throughout nature. Some people consider Brahman to be the equivalent to God in western traditions. Others would say Brahman is the Universal Mind that produces energy and matter that creates the Universe and everything in it.

With the creation of humanity came the simultaneous creation of jnana – knowledge that is inseparable from the total experience of reality, that which continuously connects the soul – the atman – with the Universal Mind of Brahman. Advaita says that it is only in this state of being that we experience divine reality.

The Bhagavad Gita asks, “What is knowledge.” Krishna gives us the answer by explaining it is “to know the field and the knower of the field, that is the real knowledge.” In other words, Krishna tells us to know what is the conscious mind and what is the unconscious mind. The conscious mind controls conscious thoughts, but the conscious mind has the power and the control to program the unconscious to feed the conscious.

Advaita therefore tells us to know your mind. Observe your thoughts, feeling and actions as this triumvirate essentially programs your habitual behaviors. Vedanta goes on to explain there are two kinds of knowledge; higher and lower. It is here that we must address the core teachings of Vedanta Advaita; dualism and non-dualism.

Is reality duality?

The law of polarity explains that everything that exists has two polar opposites. Religions say the same thing, but they often forget to mention there is a spectrum of energies between the positive and negative poles. It is along the spectrum that we must find a balance. In essence, the goal is to transcend the duality of illusion in order to “be at one” with Brahman.

The difference between duality and non-duality is knowledge of the ultimate Truth. Advaita describes it as the relationship between the soul (atman) and the universal self (brahman). When individuals consider ourselves as ‘I’, we may recognise our inner soul, but have no connection, and therefore no knowledge of Brahman. Thus our separation from Brahman means we experience the duality of maya.

The classic example given by Vedantists is the illusion of a rope appearing as a snake. When the mind initially recognises a snake, the central nervous system goes into panic mode and shuts down to protect the individual from emotional harm. Chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol are released in the brain to spur us into survival mode.

Yet when the mind realises the rope is not a snake, the body can relax and the mind can become calm. However, by this time toxic chemicals are already released into the body. In people that suffer stress on a daily basis – almost everybody – the body takes longer to recover and illnesses develop.

In contrast, when the individual Mind is connected with the Universal Mind, you see a rope as a rope. There is no cause for alarm and panic stations are not activated in the body. In the world of non-duality, the individual soul becomes the atman-brahman and co-exist as one, communicate as one and experience the true Reality. Brahman is the only Truth.

So why do we experience illusion and not Truth. The answer to that is because the unconscious mind is programmed with beliefs, attitudes and views of the world that are not yours, but those of other people, namely your parents, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, and media providers.

We experience the world through our five senses which sends information to the brain and is stored in the unconscious. The mind and all its contents typically come from the outside, thus are aspects of lower knowledge. In this regard, sense perception is liable to error and more often than not can be a destructive force.

Students of Vedanta use sense perceptions under the guidance of reason. They question what is real and what is not, what did they do to cause an experience and why did it happen. This is the path to higher knowledge which comes from within. This is the process of self-realisation that Advaita promotes. The path to enlightenment.

1...678...38Page 7 of 38
Contact us: info@antaryami.com

EVEN MORE NEWS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© 2018 www.antaryami.com
SiteLock