Meditation FAQ’s
Frequently asked questions about the value of meditation
Q. Can meditation actually change the brain’s structure?
A question that is asked by Psychology Today - shows that research found measurable changes in the brain after an eight-week meditation program. A report of the study from the Harvard Gazette, published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, pointed out that the study is the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the brain’s gray matter.
So yes, in other words - and current explorations of meditation are turning up more evidence of profound changes for those who meditate.
FAQ’s
Q. How does the Deepak Chopra technique differ from other styles of meditation?
Other forms of meditation focus on concentrating the mind of a thought or movement keeping the mind active. PSM uses a mantra, a word that has no attachment for you, which helps us to effortlessly transcend the mind and our thoughts.
Q. Do I have to be able to stop my thoughts to meditate this way?
No. With this technique we understand that thoughts arise in the brain as a matter of course. When they come up we acknowledge them and set them aside by using the given mantra as the mantra is far juicier for your brain than any thought you could ever have. It is effortless and easy to meditate with a mantra.
Q. Is this a religion?
No. It is derived from the ancient philosophy of India known as the Veda. This is a philosophy that embraces the integration of mind, body, spirit and environment. Meditation is an aspect of that philosophy. It is free of all dogma and used by individuals from all formal world religions as well as atheists and agnostics.
Q. Do I have to sit a certain way?
No. Our goal with PSM is to make it comfortable and effortless as possible. You sit comfortably and relax wherever feels good eyes closed or eyes lowered if closing your eyes is uncomfortable for you.
Q. Will I become so relaxed I will lose my day to day focus?
Absolutely not. The stress reduction you experience with has been proved to enhance brain efficiency, memory, perception, creativity,intuition and problem solving.
Q. Do I have to become a vegetarian, stop drinking or smoking?
No. You live life as usual although one of the subtle benefits of meditation is that we often start to automatically lean away from foods, substances or beverages that make us feel heavy and tired.
Q. Can I learn to meditate if I am suffering from depression?
From the medical perspective its best not to start a new practice if you are struggling with acute depression and are not under medical supervision. If your depression is diagnosed and treatment in place, and you are not in acute crisis, meditation is an excellent tool to start to re set your inner landscape.
Q. How long before I feel the benefits?
You will feel the effect of your meditation immediately: a sense of peace, calm and ease. With daily practice this becomes your new baseline self.
Q. Do I need an app?
No. There are many useful apps available but they tend to focus on guided imagery meditation which has value but does not take us past the level of the active mind so therefore not as effective in inducing the meditation state where we know the benefits lie. The timers can be very useful and since they are often linked to meditators worldwide. There is great benefit in knowing you are part of a community all focused on this experience for all the same reasons and benefits.
Q. What kind of follow up support can I receive after I learn the technique?
I offer free regular meditation meet ups where we do a group mediation, share experiences, book reviews, have the occasional guest speaker, and share a general conversation around the cultivation of the practice in our lives. As a Chopra certified teacher, I am engaged in ongoing study and have access to many online resources from Deepak that I am happy to share to support you in your practice. I am also connected with teachers worldwide who offer excellent regular online resources.
Q. Is PSM the same as TM?
Both styles have their roots in the Vedic tradition of India. Both use a mantra as a tool to take us from chaos to calm.
Dr Chopra’s first experience of meditation was with Maharishi Yogi in the 1970’s who was the first teacher from India to bring meditation to the West. Based on his own powerful experience with TM, he developed Primordial Sound Meditation where the mantra used is customized to a person’s date and location of birth, heightening its effectiveness as a meditation tool and facilitating effortless gentle meditation.
The questions above and others like them will be addressed by Siobhan O’Connell to help you transition to a positive routine by using meditation as a central tenet for a more thoughtful and disciplined way of living.
Other questions concerning the practice of meditation
Q. What is the purpose of meditation and using a mantra?
All meditations that use mantras have a similar goal; to take your awareness beyond thought, into pure silence and pure awareness. In the Chopra style of meditation our experience is that the practice is a direct path to self knowledge. It is important to note that each of us can experience the benefits of meditation without adopting an entirely new belief system.
Q. How long until I notice the benefits of meditation?
The benefits of meditation accrue from our first experience. Each of us grows at our own pace. Some people notice dramatic changes immediately, while for others it may take weeks or months. It is not uncommon for other people to notice changes in you before you do. If you meditate regularly, the benefits will become evident over time.
Q. Do I need to make changes in my life style?
The only change or adjustments you will need to make is to allow time to meditate regularly, twice-daily. You don't need to adopt any other behavior, though you may find that you naturally gravitate towards healthier choices as you continue your meditation practice.
Q. Will meditation cure my health problems?
Meditation is a process for restoring balance, harmony and the memory of wholeness throughout the mind-body system. Although many people have noticed beneficial changes in their lives, meditation should not be regarded as a treatment for any particular health problem.
Q. What should I do to clear my mind of unwanted thoughts during meditation?
Thoughts are normal part of the meditation process so there is no need to resist them. The mantra itself is just a thought that has no meaning. Think the mantra and, whenever you become aware that you have drifted away to other thoughts, gently come back to it. Practicing meditation effortlessly, your thoughts become more refined, and the mantra becomes more refined, until you slip beyond thought, into pure awareness.
Q. How can I avoid being disturbed by noises in my environment?
To meditate, you simply need to be able to think a thought. No matter what is happening around you, you continue to have thoughts, and therefore you can experience more refined thinking. Have the attitude of non-resistance and you will find your awareness effortlessly moves in the direction of increasing inner silence.
Q. What does it mean when I experience tingling, twitching, or movements in my body during meditation?
As your mind quiets in meditation, your body releases tension. This may be expressed as subtle, involuntary movements. Have an easy attitude with these movements and they will pass. When you realize your attention has been drawn to sensations in your body, gently bring your attention back to the mantra.
Q. Can I meditate more than twice a day?
Under normal circumstances, twice a day is sufficient. You need the experience of meditation alternating with activity to integrate the benefits into your life. Balance is the key to success. However, if you are ill, pregnant, or going through a temporary period of high stress, you can do extra or longer meditations if it is comfortable.
Q. Will I have profound insights when I meditate?
During meditation, we encourage you to not invest any particular importance in the thoughts or ideas you have. When you become aware that you are engaging in thinking something other than the mantra, gently come back to the mantra. If a particular thought is worthy of your attention, it will be there after meditation.
Q. Is there an advantage to meditating with other people?
People often find that meditating in a group supports a deeper experience of quietness. As our awareness expands we find an individual's consciousness affects a collective awareness, and collective awareness influences individual consciousness. People meditating together support the expansion of Peace in their own lives and in those around them.