I wish I was born during the Age of Discovery.
Sep 26, 2010
Sep 21, 2010
Death Meditation
Death meditation is a practice from Tibet whereby the practitioner focuses on his/her/its own death. This is a great method to look upon your own existence from a "bigger" picture than the usual day-to-day humdrum; and also remind ourselves of what really matters to us whenever we get too bogged down with life's trials.
1)Lie down on your back and relax your body
Lie flat on your back, and make sure your 100% physically comfortable. Once settled, take a few deep breaths slowly. Observe the inhalation and exhalation process while breathing, then allow yourself to breath normally again.
Next, try relaxing the parts of your body one by one.
Start taking a deep breath and while you inhale, stretch one of your leg. Stretch it hard, making all the muscle along the way contract.
When the air you are inhaling reaches inside the deepest point in your body, take a momentary pause. Hold the stretch at that moment. Then slowly start exhaling the air and (simultaneously) release the stretch. You have successfully relaxed one of your legs. Repeat the process with another leg.
Extend this process to relax your hands, neck/head and the torso. Inhale, stretch, hold for a moment and then exhale while releasing the stretch.
One you completely relax these individual parts of your body, apply this process to the entire body in one go.
By this time you will be feeling very relaxed and calm. You have successfully completed the first phase of this meditation. Keep lying in the relaxed position for a few moments. Now imagine.. that you are dying
2)Imagine you are dying
Imagine that all the muscles of your body, with all of their tissues and cells, all arteries and veins of the body are losing their strength and vitality. Imagine that your limbs are loosing their strength, vitality, warmth and energy. slowly move your attention from the lowest parts of your body to the higher parts and
imagine (as vividly as possible)…..
...that in whichever region of your body you are moving your attention that particular region is dying. Slowly, your body's metabolism is coming to a halt. Everything that constitutes your body is dying.
Now, remove all thoughts from your mind. There are many unfulfilled desires, many dreams to realize, many responsibilities to be taken care of. However, all these desires, dreams and responsibilities are loosing their relevance in this moment of death.
At this moment every thing is losing its relevance for you. You are dying. From now onwards there will be no future, there will be no past for you.
The center of all our emotions (like love, kindness, hate, lust, anger, generosity, compassion etc) is our heart. Imagine that your consciousness and all your emotions are mingling with each other and slowly coming out of your heart.
After making your body completely relaxed, making you mind almost completely free from all thoughts and removing all your emotions and consciousness from your heart, here is the third and the final stage.
3) Disintegrate your body into five basic elements and merge them into universe
Our body (and the entire universe as well) is made up of 5 elements according to Tibetan beliefs. These basic elements are - Water, Air, Fire, Earth and Space.
Imagine…
that all the water in your body is coming out of the body and is merging with a huge ocean. The water element of your body is again returning to its source - the water element of universe.
Then imagine that all the air in your body is coming out of your body and is merging with the air on the atmosphere. The air element going back to its source - the air element of universe.
Now imagine that a huge ball of cosmic fire has surrounded you. Imagine that all the warmth which is inside you is coming out of your body and is merging with this cosmic fire ball.
Imagine that the remaining portion of your body which is the earth element is merging into the earth element of universe. The earth on which you are lying and the earth of which you are made up of, both are merging into each other.
Everything in this universe occupies some space. Your body has also occupied some space in this world. Now after merging your physical body into water, air , fire and earth, imagine that whatever be the little space your body has occupied in this universe, that particular space is again merging with the infinite space.
Remain in this position. Keep laying silently. You have died. Your body has again merged into 5 elements. Your thoughts have gone. Your consciousness has gone. Your emotions have gone. Everything in existence that constitute you - your body, your mind, your emotions, your thoughts - are gone.
Is there anything that is still there? Feel its presence. Yes, still there is something which has not gone. The silent watcher that watches everything that comes and goes. This self is your true identity, the real you.
4) End the meditation by reversing the process of 3), 2) & 1)
The process of ending this meditation is the exact reverse of what you have done till now.
Imagine that your body is again appearing from the universe. Up to now you imagined that you are dying. Now imagine that you are taking re-birth. Imagine that life forces are again starting functioning in you.
All the basic elements of space, earth fire, air and water are coming from the universe and integrating with each other to form your body. Imagine the emotions and consciousness are coming into your body through your heart and is again spreading itself in all parts of your body.
Every part of your body is again brimming with consciousness. Imagine that slowly all your body parts are becoming active, gaining strength and vitality. Now slowly open your eyes and wake up. Sit easily and take some deep breaths. You have completed the death meditation.
Source: Meditation is Easy
Read More......
1)Lie down on your back and relax your body
Lie flat on your back, and make sure your 100% physically comfortable. Once settled, take a few deep breaths slowly. Observe the inhalation and exhalation process while breathing, then allow yourself to breath normally again.
Next, try relaxing the parts of your body one by one.
Start taking a deep breath and while you inhale, stretch one of your leg. Stretch it hard, making all the muscle along the way contract.
When the air you are inhaling reaches inside the deepest point in your body, take a momentary pause. Hold the stretch at that moment. Then slowly start exhaling the air and (simultaneously) release the stretch. You have successfully relaxed one of your legs. Repeat the process with another leg.
Extend this process to relax your hands, neck/head and the torso. Inhale, stretch, hold for a moment and then exhale while releasing the stretch.
One you completely relax these individual parts of your body, apply this process to the entire body in one go.
By this time you will be feeling very relaxed and calm. You have successfully completed the first phase of this meditation. Keep lying in the relaxed position for a few moments. Now imagine.. that you are dying
2)Imagine you are dying
Imagine that all the muscles of your body, with all of their tissues and cells, all arteries and veins of the body are losing their strength and vitality. Imagine that your limbs are loosing their strength, vitality, warmth and energy. slowly move your attention from the lowest parts of your body to the higher parts and
imagine (as vividly as possible)…..
...that in whichever region of your body you are moving your attention that particular region is dying. Slowly, your body's metabolism is coming to a halt. Everything that constitutes your body is dying.
Now, remove all thoughts from your mind. There are many unfulfilled desires, many dreams to realize, many responsibilities to be taken care of. However, all these desires, dreams and responsibilities are loosing their relevance in this moment of death.
"No matter how important they are for me, Since I am dying, nothing matters."
At this moment every thing is losing its relevance for you. You are dying. From now onwards there will be no future, there will be no past for you.
The center of all our emotions (like love, kindness, hate, lust, anger, generosity, compassion etc) is our heart. Imagine that your consciousness and all your emotions are mingling with each other and slowly coming out of your heart.
After making your body completely relaxed, making you mind almost completely free from all thoughts and removing all your emotions and consciousness from your heart, here is the third and the final stage.
3) Disintegrate your body into five basic elements and merge them into universe
Our body (and the entire universe as well) is made up of 5 elements according to Tibetan beliefs. These basic elements are - Water, Air, Fire, Earth and Space.
Imagine…
that all the water in your body is coming out of the body and is merging with a huge ocean. The water element of your body is again returning to its source - the water element of universe.
Then imagine that all the air in your body is coming out of your body and is merging with the air on the atmosphere. The air element going back to its source - the air element of universe.
Now imagine that a huge ball of cosmic fire has surrounded you. Imagine that all the warmth which is inside you is coming out of your body and is merging with this cosmic fire ball.
Imagine that the remaining portion of your body which is the earth element is merging into the earth element of universe. The earth on which you are lying and the earth of which you are made up of, both are merging into each other.
Everything in this universe occupies some space. Your body has also occupied some space in this world. Now after merging your physical body into water, air , fire and earth, imagine that whatever be the little space your body has occupied in this universe, that particular space is again merging with the infinite space.
Remain in this position. Keep laying silently. You have died. Your body has again merged into 5 elements. Your thoughts have gone. Your consciousness has gone. Your emotions have gone. Everything in existence that constitute you - your body, your mind, your emotions, your thoughts - are gone.
Is there anything that is still there? Feel its presence. Yes, still there is something which has not gone. The silent watcher that watches everything that comes and goes. This self is your true identity, the real you.
4) End the meditation by reversing the process of 3), 2) & 1)
The process of ending this meditation is the exact reverse of what you have done till now.
Imagine that your body is again appearing from the universe. Up to now you imagined that you are dying. Now imagine that you are taking re-birth. Imagine that life forces are again starting functioning in you.
All the basic elements of space, earth fire, air and water are coming from the universe and integrating with each other to form your body. Imagine the emotions and consciousness are coming into your body through your heart and is again spreading itself in all parts of your body.
Every part of your body is again brimming with consciousness. Imagine that slowly all your body parts are becoming active, gaining strength and vitality. Now slowly open your eyes and wake up. Sit easily and take some deep breaths. You have completed the death meditation.
Source: Meditation is Easy
Sep 16, 2010
Social Evolution
I am afraid I'll have to break my promise earlier this year about writing more on my travels. Needs for self confession override my consciousness for some reason. Today, I am going to write about my social evolution.
I had been told that I was a happy, friendly baby. I cannot recall this, as I was pretty much an outcast once I stepped into the confines of school. A shy kid with a bookish bent, I was an instant target of bullies in my less than ruly school. Uncommon habits and my dreamy ways didn't help either.
Fast forward to college, I was an angst-filled "bad boy", going to parties with popular chicks at the dead of the night, social smoking, alcohol binges, breaking "rules" that I had been instructed in before; all while keeping the occasional part-time job and studying for exams. I didn't know why I expanded so much energy to do all these things (other people usually did it out of boredom, or peer pressure - I did it even when I was dead tired, just because).
After graduation, I had a different social personality. I, like many others in the corporate world, put on a mask to "conform". I became so adept at hiding my less than palatable views (to "normal polite society") and even my feelings. And this extended even to my relationships. I hid who I am. The unassuming office drone. The dutiful boyfriend.
Recently, I have gone back to my early schooldays. I have mainly withdrawn to myself. However, I can now show my social, public face to the world whenever required; unlike back in those days - and go back into my inner world when I'm done. And I am happier for that.
Read More......
I had been told that I was a happy, friendly baby. I cannot recall this, as I was pretty much an outcast once I stepped into the confines of school. A shy kid with a bookish bent, I was an instant target of bullies in my less than ruly school. Uncommon habits and my dreamy ways didn't help either.
Fast forward to college, I was an angst-filled "bad boy", going to parties with popular chicks at the dead of the night, social smoking, alcohol binges, breaking "rules" that I had been instructed in before; all while keeping the occasional part-time job and studying for exams. I didn't know why I expanded so much energy to do all these things (other people usually did it out of boredom, or peer pressure - I did it even when I was dead tired, just because).
After graduation, I had a different social personality. I, like many others in the corporate world, put on a mask to "conform". I became so adept at hiding my less than palatable views (to "normal polite society") and even my feelings. And this extended even to my relationships. I hid who I am. The unassuming office drone. The dutiful boyfriend.
Recently, I have gone back to my early schooldays. I have mainly withdrawn to myself. However, I can now show my social, public face to the world whenever required; unlike back in those days - and go back into my inner world when I'm done. And I am happier for that.
Sep 10, 2010
Armed Services
Enemies and terrorists beware! I present the Armed Services of Lands From Afar:Infantry
Military Surgeon
Air Force
Artillery and Robotics
Special Operations
Military Dentist
Sep 4, 2010
Strange Habits
Almost everyone and every family has their quirks or habits which may seem weird or strange to others. Some stories I've heard from acquaintances:
My own weird habits:
Do you, or your family have any strange habits/customs?
Read More......
Whenever a member from my family leaves the room, they have to switch the light on and off eight times or someone dies.
When someone in my family audibly farts the other people around him will try to sneak up behind him and swipe his mouth with their hand. I've been told it's an old custom that everyone from my parents' village do.
Growing up, before we would sacrifice a goat every Tuesday night, people thought it was weird that we would massage the goat before doing so. Never knew why we would massage it, but I now feel it was to tenderize it a bit.
My own weird habits:
- Whenever I'm eating at home, I will get up and take walks around the house before I finish eating and come back to finish my food after.
- I roleplay conversations by multiple people I know sometimes when I am alone
Do you, or your family have any strange habits/customs?
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