Zazen Meditation How To

Silencing the Mind for Chakra Meditation

Methods of Silencing the Mind

In terms of exertion, silencing the mind is the most effortless thing you will ever do. It requires that you do not exert yourself.  Most of the things we do in life involve some form of active engagement of the conscious and subconscious mind. To achieve a state of Deep Meditation, it is necessary to silence the conscious mind. The subconscious will take over but you should never try and control the process. Just let go.

There are very several very effective techniques that are widely employed to help silence the mind.

Breath

The breath is one of our main tools for calming the mind. Our breath relaxes us and lulls us into a state of calm. Importantly, it provides a focus so we are not consciously thinking of the act of not thinking. Its most important function is to unify mind-body-spirit awareness.

There are many types of breathing used during meditation. To demonstrate, here are examples of two forms of breathing.

Ujjayi Breath

Ujayi breath is used throughout yoga postures to maintain a meditative state. It mimics the sound of the ocean. As we match the vibrations and resonate with this special sound, it helps us align our vibrations with universal energy.

Breathe in deeply through the nose. Let the breath flow down through the diaphragm, pumping oxygen and nutrients through your system.

Fill the diaphragm, and then let the breath rise out while activating the Chakras.

Breathe out through the nose.

Using Ujjayi breathing will help you achieve a meditative state faster. This breath, used in Hindu and Taoist yoga, creates deeper breathing rhythm and a nice full breath. It is associated with heat.  Also called the Ocean Sound, focus on making the sound you hear when you put a seashell to your ear, magnify the sound.

Zazen! Zen Breathing

Zen breathing is familiar to many.

Take a deep exhalation and maintain it until a natural inhale is required. Try not to hold the exhale too long. Like a singing exercise, you want to develop your lung capacity and be able to exhale for longer and longer periods of time.

Stay attuned to your body’s rhythm and inhale before you feel the breath cutting out. Otherwise, your air passage, acting like a spring, encourages you to inhale to refill your lungs and diaphragm with air. This forced breath can cause you to be out of breath, or hyperventilate.

Once you have achieved a state of rhythmic breathing, relax and let your mind take you there. The entire body falls into balance around your center of gravity.

Body Awareness

Body awareness helps to integrate mind, body and spirit. It is often combined with breathing.

Synchronize your breath with your stomach (diaphragm) moving up and down, or

Feel your nostrils fanning in and out with each breath, or

Starting from your toes and working toward the crown of your head, feel each part of your body relaxing. Activate the Chakras as you move up your body.
 
Mantra

A mantra has several functions, depending on the school of thought: it purifies the mind, provides a focus, and integrates the mind, body and spirit.

For most Types Of Meditation, choosing a mantra is a personal choice. Choose a mantra that resonates with you. A word with a meaning or sound that is significant to you is a good choice. Choose something with a universal meaning—happiness, peace, inner light, compassion. Do not choose a mantra that you strongly associate with a person, place or event. This may lead you to start making conscious associations and go off on a stream of consciousness in your meditation practice, which you want to avoid.

About the Author

There are many different forms of chakras and one of the simplest ways is meditation. The seven chakras of the body are Root chakra, Sacral chakra, Solar plexus chakra, Heart chakra, Throat chakra, Indigo chakra, The Crown chakra.

ZMA: Zazen Sitting Meditation, How to Meditate (Zen Martial Arts)

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