| Meditation is a part of the yogic tradition of India. | | | | including acupressure, are known to release healing |
| It is a union of body, mind, soul, spirit and | | | | substances such as endorphins which are |
| environment. This union is possible through | | | | responsible for a feeling of well-being. But if we |
| meditation, as described by the sage Patanjali | | | | pinch or slap somebody, that is a negative touch |
| many years ago. According to Patanjali, yoga is | | | | influence and liberates jittery molecules. |
| the progressive settling down of the mind, into | | | | Self-massage with oil (abhyanga) is excellent for |
| the field of pure silence. When the mind is silent, | | | | health. |
| we are in our essential state, which is pure | | | | Smell Energy: Fragrance, smell or aroma also |
| unbounded consciousness. In the course of our | | | | energises us, though the effect varies among |
| daily routine, our essential state is overshadowed | | | | individuals. The smell of spirit may cause nausea in |
| by the activity of the mind. | | | | someone, while the smell of incense may have a |
| Our expression or existence has three levels - the | | | | healing influence on the same individual. |
| physical body, the subtle body and the causal | | | | Sound Energy: Certain sounds have the power to |
| body. The physical body, according to quantum | | | | energise us. Invocations and chants such as Om, |
| physics, is a space and time event. It has two | | | | Ameen and Amen fill the body with a healing |
| components: (1) the material component, which is | | | | force. |
| made up of food, and (2) the energy component, | | | | Taste Energy: Gustatory or taste sensations also |
| or what we call the vital force. Some of us are | | | | energise us. All the tastes, including sweet, sour, |
| very energetic and some of us are lethargic. If | | | | salty, bitter and pungent, should be consumed in |
| we derive adequate energy from our sensory | | | | moderation depending on the dominance of our |
| inputs such as vision, hearing, touch, smell and | | | | dosha - vatta, pitta or kapha. |
| taste, then we will be energetic. | | | | The various types of meditation are |
| Sight Energy: If we visualize colourful, attractive | | | | transcendental meditation, Raj yoga meditation, |
| scenery, it will energies us. On the other hand, if | | | | Japa meditation, primordial sound meditation, |
| we watch horror movies or violent scenes, it will | | | | mindfulness meditation, breathing meditation, |
| de-energies us. | | | | Gregorian chanting and Tibetan chanting. Though |
| Touch Energy: Touch is also a very important | | | | the methods are different, the objectives of all |
| part of healing energy. Shaking hands, kissing, | | | | these techniques are the same. |
| hugging, embracing, petting and massage therapy, | | | | |