Meditation by Dillard-Wright, David B. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Preface Title Page Contents Dedication Acknowledgments Top Ten Reasons to Begin Meditating Today Introduction Chapter 1: What Is Meditation?

To Meditate or Not to Meditate? What Meditation Is and Isn’t What You Will Gain Through Meditation The Mental Dimension How to Balance the Body and the Spirit The Language of Consciousness

Chapter 2: The Physiology of Meditation

The Dynamic Model of Consciousness Thinking Through Breathing Combining Deep, Slow Breathing with Positive Visualization Managing Pain, Stress, Fear and Anxiety with Meditation Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Balance Other Physiological Effects of Meditation Harnessing the Power of Meditation

Chapter 3: Meditation Meets Modern Life

A Meeting of the Minds Personality Styles and Meditation Tradition or Technique? Science or Art? Your Meditation Goals Mind–Body Loops You Can Resolve Getting Out of the Loop with Meditation The Language of Meditation

Chapter 4: Getting Started with Meditation

Setting the Stage Finding the Right Accessories Understanding Body Basics Sitting Postures Standing Meditation Prone Meditation Finding the Right Time to Meditate Knowing How Long to Meditate Practising One-Breath Meditation

Chapter 5: Experiencing Meditation

Thoughts and Feelings Seed Meditation The Right Way to Breathe Breathing Warm-Ups Body Warm-Ups Working with a Teacher Seeking Out Meditation Communities Teaching Others

Chapter 6: A Meditation Science

The Yoga Tradition The Eight Limbs of Yoga The Five Yamas The Five Niyamas The Schools of Yoga Yoga Starters

Chapter 7: Body Dynamics

The Yoga Universe The Metaphysical Body and the Chakras How the Chakras Work The Energy Environment Hatha Yoga Awakening: The Alternating Breath The Human Body: A Work of Art Yoga Asana: The Half Locust and Full Locust

Chapter 8: The Way of the Senses

The Tantric Tradition Sense Meditations Mandala, Mantra and Mudra Kundalini Yoga Bhakti Yoga Raja Yoga A Yogi Tea Break

Chapter 9: Mind Dynamics

The Buddhist Tradition The Four Noble Truths The Schools of Buddhism The Three Jewels of Buddhism Eliminating Suffering Buddhist Luminaries Chapter 10: The Road to Shambhala: Tibetan Buddhism The Tibetan Buddhist Tradition Branches of Tibetan Buddhism Modern Tibetan Buddhism Creating a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Meditation on the Supreme Mantra Meditation on Emptiness A Tibetan Tea Break

Chapter 11: Energy and Balance

The Way of the Tao Cosmology and the Human Body The Pa Kua The I Ching Taoist Luminaries The Discovery of Ch’i in the West Embryonic Breathing Feng Shui T’ai Chi: Grounding and Transforming Chinese Buddhism

Chapter 12: The Art of Listening

Becoming Totally Aware Zen Teachings The Monkey Mind Zen Art A Zen Tea Break The Language of Zen Reiki and Johrei

Chapter 13: Poetic Inspiration

The Islamic Tradition The Sufi Experience The Sikhs The Metaphysical Tradition

Chapter 14: The Power of Prayer

The Spiritual Ideal The Teacher of Righteousness The Gnostics Prayer or Meditation? The Monastic Tradition Sacred Heart Meditation and Adoration of the Host The Mysteries of the Rosary Walking the Labyrinth The Language of Christian Mysticism

Chapter 15: A Feast for the Eyes

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Petals Images in the Mystical Jewish Tradition Colour Meditation Mystical Meditation with the Tarot Creative Visualization

Chapter 16: Music, Mantra and Meditation

Sound and Creation The Rhythm of the Brain Mantra: The Sacred Formula The Sound of Meditation Musical Chakras

Chapter 17: Meditation Aids

Sacred Materials Gems Crystals Beads The Science of Smell The Power of Plants

Chapter 18: In Celebration of Life

Everyday Rituals Social Rituals Business Rituals Meditation Rituals A Candle Meditation Ritual and Analytic Psychology Five Elements Meditation African-American Meditation The Moon and Meditation Divination

Chapter 19: Meditation in Motion

The Tiger and the Dragon Meditative Spirit and Team Sports Your Own Sacred Dance Walking Meditation Meditating in Nature Animal Meditation Everyday Moving Meditations

Chapter 20: Coming Full Circle

Insight Meditation Mindfulness Meditation Meditation for Survival Choiceless Meditation Guided Meditation and Scripts Meditation or Hypnosis? Transcendental Meditation What’s Your Type? Meditation and Healing What the Traditions Teach

Chapter 21: Mind and Beyond

Meditation and Sleep Daydreaming Wishing Potential Dangers The Importance of Exercise and Diet Meditation Attitudes Meditating on Yourself

Appendix A: Yoga and Meditation Magazines Appendix B: Useful Website Copyright