Windsor Acupuncture

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The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation has a long history among religious traditions. Ancient Indian religions have written about meditation practices from a variety of perspectives. Additionally, Western religions have practiced meditation in an assortment of forms. In short, meditation is recognized as a beneficial practice by many great religions that millions of people follow in our modern day.

The Buddhist teachings, especially, has given meditation an important role and is practiced in order to purify the mind.

There are two different meditation types according to the Buddhist tradition: Samatha (tranquility) and Vipassana (insight). These two types have been practiced from the dawn of Buddhism, spanning over two thousand, five hundred years (2,500). The variety of meditation approaches, within Samatha and Vipassana, are many but forty main techniques exist that are used to train the mind.

A person who practices meditation will receive many benefits according to the technique that the person follows. There are two meditation techniques commonly practiced in the Buddhist tradition, which includes, breathing meditation (Anapanasati) and loving kindness meditation (Metta).

If a person correctly practices meditation, that person is able to gain great benefits in many different ways. According to the Buddhist teachings, meditation practice is used to train the untrain mind and purify the impure mind. The ultimate goal of Buddhist meditation is to attain a peaceful state of Enlightenment.

The Buddhist discourses also explain that meditation practices can be used to overcome problems that we suffer from in our daily lives. If a person practices breathing meditation, that person can develop mindfulness. With the power of mindfulness, a person can achieve a calm and peaceful mind state; whereby, maintaining improved mental health.

Loving kindness practice is another common Buddhist meditation technique. Through the practice of loving kindness meditation, a person can gain eleven (11) benefits that contribute to a happy live. The (11) benefits for loving kindness practice include the following: The person sleeps easily and wakes easily and will not experience any evil dreams. The person is dear to human beings and dear to non-human beings. Deities protect the person. The person will not be harmed by fire, poisons or weapons. The person’s mind is concentrated very quickly. The person will have a bright complexion. The person will die unconfused. If the practitioner does not achieve the highest Enlightenment in this life, then that person will be born in the pure Brahma world.

People of all religious backgrounds can practice mindfulness and loving kindness meditation and receive benefit in their daily life. With meditation, it’s possible to have a peaceful life that is free from worry and hate. Having a peaceful mind will lead you to many good things.

If you are a student, meditation skills will benefit your studies. If you are in the workforce, meditation skills will assist you in your daily work. If you are husband or wife, you will have a good family life; whereby, avoiding unmindful mistakes. Finally, you can live a great life, refrain from hating, and adhere to noble activities. You will enjoy a peaceful life with good health and happiness.

Bhante Rahula
Windsor Buddhist Vihara

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Yoga and Ayurveda Integration

By now, most of the world is familiar with Yoga. It has quickly become a popular tool for fitness and physical health. Although not as many people are familiar with Ayurveda, the ancient wellness principles are quickly gaining recognition for its benefits to physical, mental and emotional wellness.

When combined, Yoga and Ayurveda can be a powerful tool to maintaining optimal health and living a longer, more satisfying life.

Yoga

Yoga originated in India and combines the practices of physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. The word Yoga refers to the connection one achieves through a series of asansas (yoga poses) and meditation. This connection develops by allowing us to slow down, relax, and concentrate our focus within ourselves. The exercises of yoga are a combination of breathing, stretching , balance, and meditation to achieve peacefulness not only within our minds, but within our physical bodies as well.

Because our lives are so hectic, stressful, and constantly bombarded with sensory stimulation from our surrounding environment, yoga is often the first step to disconnecting from external forces and increasing the inner connective forces for peacefulness.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is based on the idea that each individual is connected tot he world through a series of doshas, each of which represents different parts of nature that influence how we develop as human beings. All individuals are unique and so there are three doshas that help us define the main characteristics that affect us. The dosha are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and just like our personality traits, they are unique to each individual. The Doshas help us to determine our Ayurvedic Body Type.

Once we know our Ayurvedic Body Type, we have the tools to discover our imbalances and the knowledge for how to avoid them. Imbalances can be treated through a carefully planned blend of exercise, diet, holistic and conventional medicine, and mental and emotional treatments.

Yoga and Ayurveda

The principles of yoga and ayurveda are closely interwoven. Knowing our Ayurvedic Body Type gives us the knowledge of how we interact mentally and physically with the world around us. Yoga has the tools to address each of the areas defined by the Doshas. The most important of these is mindfulness. Through discipline, yoga allows us to connect to our inner selves, to focus on our mind and body. Once we become more aware of how we interact with our world (or react to it), we become mindful of thoughts, eating habits, and physical ailments that we previously may have overlooked. Yoga gives us the peacefulness to pay attention to what ails us.

Weight gain, for example, could be due to the fact that we eat when we’re stressed. Or perhaps we eat too fast causing digestive issues. If our lives are too hectic, we may not have the time to prepare proper meals resulting in eating in an unhealthy manner that causes weight gain. Yoga helps us to focus, connect, and notice the behaviours that may be causing our weight gain, giving us the opportunity to make beneficials changes. Yoga also uses physical exercises which may help with weight gain. And lastly, meditation allows us to slow down, relax, and find harmony which reduces the stress that may be contributing to weight gain.

No matter whether you are suffering a physical, mental, or emotional ailment, the integration of Yoga and Ayurveda give us the chance to discover the natural causes of our imbalances, and the tools to correct those imbalances.

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Ayurvedic Body Types

Ayurveda is based on the principles of 5,000-year-old science of holistic wellness. The main principle is that of balance and harmony within the body. The body is made up of elements that exist in nature which are defined and categorized by the three Doshas.

The three Doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Vata

Symbolizes air and space. Governs the nervous system and body movements. Vata’s tend to be thin, talkative, and restless, with delicate constitutions. Because of that, they are more likely to suffer an imbalance with problems such as low body weight, dry skin, brittle nails.

Pitta

Symbolized by fire and water. Is associated with the functioning of certain internal organs – stomach, sweat glands, small intestine, blood, fat, eyes and skin. Pitta’s are described as being active, good-looking perfectionists, are intelligent, but who may be short-tempered. Because of their tendency toward having intense personalities, an imbalance suffered by Pitta’s are more likely to include hair loss or early greying.

Kapha

Represents the combination of the elements earth and water. People who are categorized by Kapha tend to be laid back, calm, and relaxed. Kapha’s are more likely to have a larger body type and may be prone to becoming overweight. Such people are almost always cheerful, very giving, and live their lives unbothered by rules and deadlines. When Kapha’s are out of balance, they tend to suffer negative emotional states such a greed, jealously, and depression.

Finding Harmony

The Vata, Pitta, and Kapha provide us with a blueprint to optimal health. Knowing your Ayurveda body type is important in order to reach and maintain balanced wellness. When imbalances occur, Ayurvedic body typing helps us to diagnose imbalances and correct them. After your Dosha is determined and your imbalances discovered, it is much easier to make the adjustments necessary to bring you back into harmony. This can include a combination of diet, exercise, holistic and modern medicines, and even counselling, to influence the physical, mental and emotional character traits that are defined by the Dosha. This is different for everyone. No two people are the same, nor are their Dosha strengths and weaknesses, or their imbalances.

Knowing your Dosha, gives you the tools for understanding personal challenges and nuances involved with interacting with the world around you. It allows you to navigate your life to avoid imbalance and use the strengths of your Ayurvedic body type to maintain harmony.

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