Tuesday, March 29, 2011

How to Meditate Like a Zen Monk

How to Meditate Like a Zen Monk

You can reach a profound state of peace and personal insight previously only attainable by Zen monks who spent years in quiet, solitary meditation.

Source: Holothink

What I am going to share with you may sound unbelievable and simply too good to be true. And, that's why you must experience it for yourself.

Some years ago, I felt tired and drained at the end of a stressful day. A friend said, "I have just the thing for you. Here. Put on these headphones and listen." My friend -- Steve -- was into the latest gizmos and gadgets. He was one of the most successful people I knew. A genuinely happy guy -- healthy, upbeat, fun to hang out with.

And, he was always investing in these experimental toys -- this one cost a cool $395. I put on the headphones, closed my eyes and I listened. Within ten minutes I felt like I'd taken a 2 hour nap -- but without the groggy feelings of waking back into my day.

That was my first experience with the technology I'm going to share with you -- I found it truly amazing then and I find it more fascinating today. And I am certain you will have the same experience too -- when you try it.

Lucid dreams, altered states, deep relaxation, euphoria, enhanced creativity, accelerated learning, an improved ability to focus and concentrate, psychic abilities, elimination of insomnia and the symptoms of stress, and increased endorphin levels have all been attributed to the use of this technology.

Introducing Brainwave Neurotechnology

Did you know that some scientists believe that a well functioning brain can generate as much as 10 watts of electrical power? The electrical activity emanating from your brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves, which can be measured by an EEG. I'm sure you have heard of biofeedback. Biofeedback is a way of gaining important information from your body in order to manage it better. Essentially, biofeedback is the science of self-regulation.

For example, a simple form of biofeedback is using a thermometer to take your temperature. Biofeedback is useful in treating many types of mental and physical problems. For instance EEG biofeedback (also called neurofeedback) uses an EEG, or electroencephalograph machine, to measure brainwaves – electrical vibrations from the surface of the scalp.

Because scientists have the ability to measure brainwave frequencies, it can now be determined how a person is feeling based on the brains neural activity.

Specific brainwave frequencies equal specific feelings – specific states of mind.

This Is Where It Gets Really Useful to You

With the ability to measure brain activity scientific researchers have found a way to "train" the brain and they call it brain wave entrainment. As a result, science has produced a technology with tremendous appeal to people like you and me. This technology is a simple-to-use way to relieve stress, improve sleep, enhance creativity, access deep meditative states, and so much more.

This technology can actually alter the electrochemical environment of the brain -- in order to allow you the mind-consciousness to have enhanced experiences and to synchronize the waves of your brain's hemispheres to improve your brain's function. There are a number of positive benefits to utilizing this technology:

• Create real and constant happiness in your life, regardless of your past or present circumstances...
• Enhance your creativity, intelligence, and overall mental functioning...
• Upgrade your overall sense of well-being and inner peace...
• Clear yourself of any emotional roadblocks to health...
• Improve your ability to relax and handle stress in your life...
• Promote a healthy sleeping pattern...
• Create your own success in the world, along with the personal satisfaction and sense of fulfillment that comes with being successful...

How Does This Technology Work?

Some of this information may sound complicated – so let's start with a basic discussion about brain waves. This new technology is based on sound frequencies and their effect on the auditory system of your brain. After five minutes of listening, or so, your brain "tunes in" and resonates at the same frequency. The result is a dominant brain wave pattern at the desired frequency.

Like in the example above, just think of it as your brain tuning into the frequency you want it attuned to – your favorite radio station.

Use of this technology results in what researches call brain wave entrainment (training your brain waves to tune into a specific frequency). Some have called it instant meditation. I know some people very serious about meditation who have spent years working to master the ability to tune into various brain wave states – now you can do it by simply listening.

The Four States of Your Brain (and how to direct them)

There are four categories of brainwaves that range from the most activity (beta) to the least activity (delta). When your brain is aroused and actively engaged in mental activities, it generates beta waves.

A person in active conversation or displaying any sharp, witty, "fully engaged" behavior is in beta. The next brainwave category in order of activity is alpha. Where beta represents varying degrees of arousal, alpha represents non-arousal. You are conscious and aware, but relaxed when you're in the alpha state.

Sitting and watching the tide roll in, walking calmly through a garden, listening to relaxing music, and most meditation experiences occur in alpha. The next state is theta.

When you lose focused consciousness – such as when you "space out" or daydream, you're in a theta brainwave state. A person who is driving on a freeway, and discovers that they don't recall the last few miles, is often in a theta state — induced by the repetitious nature of freeway driving. I get many great ideas while driving and you probably do too.

That's because when you and I are in theta we often experience a free-flow of ideas. This can also occur in the shower or tub. That's because theta is a state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them.
The creation process that takes place during the theta state often occurs without
censorship or guilt. It can be a very positive mental state.

The final brainwave state is delta. Here the brainwaves are slowest. In delta, you experience a deep dreamless sleep. When delta brainwave frequencies increase into theta, active dreaming takes place and often becomes more experiential to you. When this occurs it is commonly indicated by rapid eye movement (REM sleep) – characteristic of active dreaming.

Now that you have the knowledge of these brainwave states you can enhance your ability to make use of them: this includes being mentally productive across a wide range of activities, such as being intensely focused, relaxed, creative or in restful sleep. In the normal flow of life, you may only have access
to these states at certain times and while performing specific activities
that have been largely unknown to you before.

Simple and Effective Method of Using this Science

Scientific researchers have found the easiest way of applying stimulus to the brain is through the ears. However, the ranges of sound that produce the effects we're after fall out of the range of normal human hearing. The low sounds necessary for brain stimulation require a special technique.

The landmark research for this technology was first presented in a 1973 issue of Scientific American by a biophysicist named Dr. Gerald Oster, M.D. Dr. Oster found that when different sound frequencies are delivered to the brain through each ear separately (such as by using stereo headphones), the two hemispheres of the brain start working together to perceive not the external audio signals, but a third "phantom" signal — In other words, your brain is able to "fill in the blank".

Here is a simple explanation of how our technology works: If one ear is presented with a sound frequency of 200 Hz and the other ear receives a tone of 210 Hz, these two tones combine in the brain.

Each hemisphere of the brain has its own sound-processing center to receive the signals from each ear. The difference between these two different frequencies (10 Hz) is perceived and generated by the brain. Each program generates what are termed two "standing waves", one from each hemisphere.

These two separate standing waves entrain the hemispheres toward the same frequency, which is 10 Hz: the mathematical difference between the auditory inputs. In this way, the brain waves are said to be "synchronized". Instead of hearing the two different tones (at 200 and 210 Hz), you would hear one rhythmic beat of 10 Hz. This type of training has been shown to enhance brain function through the increase of communication circuits between the left and right hemispheres of the brain account for increased "whole brain functioning".

Additionally, the brain can be trained into specific brain states such as alpha (for relaxation and visualization), beta (for peak concentration and cognitive processes), theta (for meditation, memory and learning), and delta (for restorative sleep and healing).

One study conducted at Duke University Medical Center and reported in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that presenting binaural auditory beats could enhance psychomotor performance (aka, hand-eye coordination or body control) and mood.
Researcher Dr. Lester Fehmi has said that brain synchronization "…is correlated experientially with a union with experience, and 'into-it-ness.' Instead of feeling separate and narrow-focused you tend to feel more into it…There's a whole-brain sensory integration going on and it's as if you become less self-conscious and function more intuitively."

Sound familiar?

This is exactly the state many people call being "in the zone," where you're functioning at the top of your game! And it's now possible to get there—easily!
Synchronizing your brain can quite simply catapult you to much higher levels of effectiveness in your life.

Another scientist called brain synchronization "extremely beneficial, with each subject feeling as if his or her mind had reached a higher level of integration, with accompanying increases in mental powers and an unmistakable reorientation toward life."

What Does It Sound Like?

You can experience it yourself by listening to the demo track you can download here. You may notice helicopter, or "washing" type noises moving around in your head.

These sounds are actually created inside your head, and are not coming directly from our soundtrack. It is this noise that is doing the work of helping your brainwaves get synchronized to the patterns you have chosen.

After a session of 15 minutes or more, you may feel refreshed, light, airy, clear-headed, etc. I always find myself feeling very good afterwards. Listening to our audio programs for 30 minutes a day can result in subtle but great changes in your life.

Edited by: Lawyer Asad

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