The Power of Concentration

Meditation is really about focus; focusing our mind on one thing, usually the breath.

Many times meditation is misunderstood as being just a time to close your eyes and relax. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is not meditation. The practice of meditation does require that you use the power of your mind to empty your mind and focus on the moment, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but right now.

This is more difficult than it sounds.

I have found that using special Brainwave Entrainment audios, the practice of focus becomes easier and that over time, I can achieve this focus without the audios if I choose to.

If you are having trouble getting into that focused, meditative state be sure to try a brainwave entrainment audio and just see how your meditation practice goes.

Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101

Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused.  Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines.  However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits.  And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it.  You could even meditate in your own living room!

Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same.  The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus.  This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them.  You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal.  It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry.  The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration.  This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point.  While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight.  In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere.  It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in.  You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release).  You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Being free of outside distractions helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine.  Music also helps people meditate.  Anything that is calm will help, but you can also get specially created audio that will accelerate your meditation practice – Meditation Music.

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra.  This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus.  You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body.  Mentally visualize releasing this tension.  It works wonders.

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body.  And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such.  So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!

How Mind Programming Works

Before we start. I have created an audio version of this post.
Mind Programming Audio Blog
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How Mind Programming Works
by Dick Sutphen
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According to leading-edge physics research, the use of altered states of consciousness (hypnosis, meditation, sleep programming) can lead to a transformation of nearly every part of your life. Physics chemist Ilya Prigogine proved this with his Nobel Prize winning paper “Theory of Dissipative Structures.” Now confirmed by other experts, this theory has solved the mystery of why the use of altered states can result in life-changing insights, new behavioral patterns, and the relief of lifelong phobias or ailments.

Here’s how the theory works:
First, you must understand that human beings are structures. The structure of your body is composed of bone, muscle, and ligaments. Your brain, however, is given structure by the thoughts and memories that dictate your actions. Your mental programming (all your past thoughts, actions, experiences and learning) provides your brain structure. Prigogine’s theory states that complex structures (such as the human brain) require an enormous and consistent flow of energy to maintain their structure. In the brain, that energy is measured as brainwave levels on an EEG machine. The up-and-down pattern of brainwave levels reflects a fluctuation of energy to the brain. The larger the brainwave levels, the larger the fluctuation of energy. When you are fully awake (in Beta consciousness), your brainwave levels would show up on an EEG graph as small, up-and-down lines. There is little fluctuation in the level of energy.

The small fluctuations of energy offered by Beta rhythms are suppressed by the brain. They are compact and allow little new programming to enter.

When you alter your state of consciousness with hypnosis, meditation, or as happens naturally when you are crossing over into sleep, your brainwave levels shift to Alpha or Theta. In these altered states, there is a large fluctuation in the level of energy.

According to Prigogine, large fluctuations of energy can cause the structure to break apart and reorganize itself into an even more complex and higher form. That’s why suggestions given to an individual exploring in Alpha or Theta are so effective in creating change. The new suggestion, dropped into the uneven Alpha or Theta rhythms like a pebble in a pond, create a ripple effect through the stretched brainwaves, tearing apart old programming and creating new behaviors and viewpoints.

Check out Alpha Programming Plus – Program your mind for abundance!

This is not possible while you are fully awake in Beta, for the small fluctuations of energy are suppressed by the brain. They are tight and compact and cannot be torn apart easily.
If you are going to use hypnosis or sleep programming to create positive change in your life, it is not necessary to believe it will work for it to work. If properly programmed in an altered state, your brain will accept the programming as reality. It may take a few days, weeks or even months, but your subconscious will do everything within its power to match your outer reality with the new inner belief.

According to Prigogine’s theory, there’s an added bonus: each transformation makes the next one likelier! Carried to its logical conclusion, every time you successfully use an altered state of consciousness to solve a problem, program a new ability or achieve insights, you increase your chance of success the next time.

That’s when the miracles begin.

Hypnosis Everyone is already familiar with hypnosis, although they may not realize it. You pass through these altered states of consciousness at least twice a day, as you awaken in the morning and as you fall asleep at night.

Brain researchers and medical practitioners have divided brainwave activity into four levels, based on cycles-per-second of activity:

Beta: Full consciousness
Alpha: Falling asleep at night Awakening in the morning Hypnosis Meditation
Theta: Early stages of sleep Deep hypnosis Deep meditation
Delta: Full sleep to deepest sleep

Alpha, Theta and Delta are all considered altered states of consciousness. For most people, an altered state indicates mid Alpha range activity. In this stage, you will also remain aware of what is going on around you.

Recorded meditation and hypnosis sessions are a perfectly safe technique that can benefit anyone. It is a way to focus your full attention on one thing, directly communicating with your subconscious mind. You are then open to suggestion and positive change in your life.