We all have to deal with stress from either work or school. You can’t close your eyes to make it go away but you can find peace so you can deal with it. One way to achieve this is with Zen Buddhist meditation techniques. Zen meditation is often referred to as the study of the self. It involves sitting in various postures so you are able to bring the mind and body to a peaceful and stable condition. This happens as you focus on images and thoughts that just pop up as your heart rate slows down until you reach a reflective state of meditation.
A technique I recommend for beginners to the art of Zen meditation is an audio program called Deep Zen Meditation. All you have to do is find a comfortable, quiet place to sit and relax, put on your headphones, and listen to the audio. You’ll be experiencing the deep peace of a meditative state in just minutes. The audio utilizes a completely unique technology called Triple Harmonic Chord, which helps you to enter the deepest and most powerful state of meditation possible. You can even get a free demonstration on their website. It’s definitely worth checking out.
One of the best seating positions in which to practice Zen Buddhist meditation techniques is called the Burmese position. There is also the full lotus, half lotus, kneeling or “seiza” posture, and sitting on a chair. The key here is to keep your back straight so that your deep breathing will go naturally. This allows more oxygen to enter that will help cleanse and energize the body.
The buttocks must be thrust out and the chin tucked in. The hands should be placed close to the body with the left hand resting on top of the right with palms open and up. The joints of the middle fingers are resting on top of each other with the thumbs slightly touching.
Your eyes should be half closed and your head should be positioned at a 45 degree angle towards the body. Given that it is not easy to keep the eyes like this the whole time, you can try closing them first and then opening them later on. Should you get sleepy, just open them wide.
The challenging part is staying in a stationary position for 15 to 20 minutes. After you have developed a breathing pattern, you slowly relax your muscles, from your face all the way down to your feet. You should focus on positive thoughts and exhale those that are negative.
By concentrating, you are able to unite the body, mind and soul so that your mind is aware of only the present and not the past or the unforeseeable future.
Aside from the right posture, you should always wear loose clothing. It is not wise to practice this after a heavy meal because a full stomach usually creates discomfort which is a distraction.
If you would like to learn Zen Buddhist meditation techniques, you can read about it or better yet join a group. Once you get the hang of things, you can even buy a few accessories to make the experience a fruitful one like incense sticks, meditation bells or even a ringing bowl to mark the start and end of a session.
Beginners at Zen Buddhist meditation techniques should aim for 10 minutes at first until you get used to it, then extend the time to 20 or 30 minutes. Should your mind wander off, concentrate a little harder to focus once again on your breathing so your thoughts will settle down naturally.
