Category: Spirituality/Eastern

Meditation has been practiced in various forms for thousands of years all over the world. All the great prophets, gurus and saints used some form of meditation to commune with God and realize their true Self.

Meditation has been practiced in various forms for thousands of years all over the world. From the jungles of Borneo to the Ganges River, Tibetan tundra to Siberian back woods, shamans, sadhus and seekers alike have gone within to find God, find themselves, find purpose and meaning in life. Archaeological relics from the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro in western Punjab, India depict the ancient yogic deity Shiva (as An) sitting cross-legged meditating on his “Third Eye” in a state of transcendental bliss. Buddha sat under a tree; Jesus sat in the Desert and Mohammad in a cave. All the great prophets, gurus and saints used some form of meditation to commune with God and realize their true Self.

There are plenty of misconceptions about how to effectively use Feng Shui. In this article, architect and Feng Shui master Simona Mainini clears-up five of them.

As any Traditional Feng Shui Master will tell you, all you really need are the five basic elements– fire, earth, metal, water, and wood– to change the energy field of your home or office if it has bad Feng Shui. This is supposing that you’re not planning to remodel or do any new construction. If you are, you can plan it all in advance and perhaps not even need all of these five. The goal of a good Feng Shui Master is to incorporate the correction without anybody noticing, but the benefits will effect the occupants subtly and efficiently.

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Even though most people won't be able to raise their body temperature without years of meditation training, simple meditation techniques can help them master their bodies. According to Laurie Desjardins, this mind-body mastery could help reduce stress and strengthen immune systems.

Scientists studying Tibetan monks found that by using an advanced yoga and meditation technique called Tum-mo, the monks can actually raise their body temperature.

Perhaps no Eastern concept is more important than the concept of "mindfulness." However, remaining mindful is not easy. Author Sue Patton Thoele offers suggestions to help keep you focused.

Mindfulness is being aware of yourself, others, and your surroundings in the moment. Well-known mindfulness teacher, Jon Kabat-Zinn, defines it this way Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. I also like to think of mindfulness as the art of inhabiting your own life with kindness and acceptance.

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A case is made that Huxley drew upon his knowledge of ancient India for some of his background in "Brave New World."

Aldous Huxley was a great story teller and author of the highly acclaimed novel, Brave New World. Widely read, it came as no surprise to analyse his novel and conclude that perhaps, he was influenced by some ideas and theories depicted in Hindu Mythology. In particular, there are two things that this novel, Brave New World and Hindu Mythology have in common - the caste system and soma.

This study was part of an ongoing investigations with a group of Tibetan monks and lay practitioners who have practiced meditation for a minimum of 10,000 hours.

Can we train ourselves to be compassionate? A new study suggests the answer is yes. Cultivating compassion and kindness through meditation affects brain regions that can make a person more empathetic to other peoples' mental states, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Do things keep getting in the way of your ability to meditate? Cucan Pemo has some tips to make your meditation sessions more fruitful.

Meditation is an intensely personal and, for some people, private experience. It is a complete and total relaxation technique and some may need unique circumstances to help bring upon that level of rest.

Simply put, karma is the consequences of your choices. This is why we should never make choices without considering the consequences.

I am sure you have heard the song "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club, but have you ever given much thought to its meaning? While on Earth, you are living in a world of reincarnation which is governed by the law of karma. Karma begins to propel you as Soul on a personal journey through the universe. Karma ends when you have reached enlightenment and fully realise that this physical reality and the Universe itself is just an illusion. When you reach a state of knowingness that there is but One all pervading essence and that essence or consciousness is You!

Here in the U.S., a healthy sexuality is often looked upon with suspicion. In India, however, sex is seen as something that can be very sacred.

Many traditions see desire of all kinds, but sexual desire in particular, as negative, as something that must be suppressed. Desire is certainly complex. It can overwhelm us and interfere with our better judgment. In this society, we are conditioned to be ruled by our desires; desires that are replaced by new ones just as soon as they are fulfilled. And yet desire is a powerful force, a force that can motivate and inspire us. Suppressing desire entails suppressing our fundamental humanity, and most people pay a heavy price for doing this.

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On a cold winter's day, at an austere spiritual retreat outside of Vancouver, a young woman finds her connection with body, mind and spirit.

I guess it was my time or, rather, Gods time. I was 29 years old. I had a good husband and I was a successful model and dancer. By conventional standards, I had an enviable life and yet I felt somehow empty. Something was haunting me.