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‘T’ is for Temple, some god’s habitat, Though often the cosmos itself is like that.

Modern life with all its distractions and features seems particularly unsuited to silence. Even if we have actual outer silence our mind is rarely silent. If we analyse our thoughts there seem to be a never ending stream of worries, anxieties, and regrets.

In meditation we try to do a very difficult thing - silence our thoughts completely. It is difficult only because we are so unused to this idea. The mind is so used to thinking that it is easy to think our existence is defined by our thoughts and this must be our only existence. To quote the famous saying of Descartes “I think therefore I am” However meditation teaches that what we are is unencumbered by thoughts. The real “I” is our self which is beyond thought.

There is an interesting exercise to prove this. Whenever a thought arises in the mind, ask yourself where is the origination of this thought? This leads you to part of yourself which is beyond thought. Also be aware of the fact that you can choose which thought to accept and which to reject. This again shows us that what we are, is not our thoughts. There is some inner self which can decide whether to pursue thoughts or not. It is when we are able to stop thoughts entering our mind that we will start to experience real silence. This technique of meditation on the question “Who am I?” was particularly recommended by Spiritual Master Ramana Maharshi.

Silence of Meditation

The silence of meditation is not just quietness. It embodies a dynamic and vast consciousness far beyond our usual experience of everyday life. It is in this mental silence that we can access our own hidden consciousness. By silence we really mean the silence of the mind.

Difficulties in achieving Silence

A difficulty we face in experiencing silence in the mind is that part of us is uncertain what will happen. It is like stepping into the unknown, this fear of the unknown keeps us from diving deep into our meditation. To experience the silence of meditation it is necessary to give up worries about the future, regrets about the past. It is also necessary to give up our own notions of what we are. We have to feel the need for giving up these negative qualities and suspending the judgement of the mind. If we can experience the silence of meditation it is liberating because unencumbered by our own thoughts we can make ourselves receptive to the inner peace of our own soul.

Aromatherapy was first practiced thousands of years ago. It has only been in recent years that is has been making a come back. The main reason it is on its way back is because we have entered into a time of the holistic lifestyle. This means we are now taking the connection of the mind, body and spirit into account where health and wellness are concerned.

Research today has shown and continues to show the benefits both emotionally and physically that aromatherapy provides. Today we actually get those benefits without realizing it sometimes. For instance, when we buy fragrant candles we are using aromatherapy. Or when we take a walk in a fragrant garden or path we are using aromatherapy once again.

Now we can take the occasional benefits of burning candles or walking through fragrant gardens and utilize them in our everyday life. We do this by becoming familiar with the different aromatherapy scents and how they will help in our bodies and minds.

Today there is a whole host of illnesses that are plaguing our society. Medical science has made tremendous breakthroughs in many areas however there are still so many area left without treatment options or answers. This is where we can apply our new aromatherapy knowledge.

One way to utilize aromatherapy for ourselves is to get acquainted with essential oils. Essential oils are the concentrated essences from aromatic plants. You have probably heard of some of these aromatic plants like Lavender, Oregano, Yarrow, and Echinacea for example.

Ok, now stay with me here, the essential oils from the aromatic plants can be used alone or in combination with each other to produce the desired results. Let’s take Lavender for example.

Lavender’s effect is calming and therapeutic. Its properties include: Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, insecticide, sedative. Some of the things you would use Lavender for would include but are not limited to: Acne, anxiety, bronchitis, burns, circulatory problems, colds, dandruff, flu, and headaches.

The essential oils used in aromatherapy come from different parts of the plant. For instance the flowers, twigs, leaves, barks, and the rind of the fruit. Some examples are: roses you would find the essential oils in the flowers, basil you would find them in the leaves.

Because it takes a large quantity of the plant to produce essential oils they have become very expensive. However, they are highly effective. For example you would only need a drop or two of the essential oil to produce a positive result.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Aromatherapy, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Essential oils work because they have an immediate impact on our sense of smell. Therefore when we take in a whiff of an essential oil the olfactory receptor cells in our body are stimulated and the impulse is transmitted to the emotional center of our brain or the “limbic system.”

The limbic system is connected to areas of the brain linked to memory, breathing, and blood circulation, as well as the endocrine glands that regulate hormone levels in the body. The properties of the essential oil and its fragrance determine which of these areas are stimulated and how.

Strokes, heart attacks and other stress-related ailments are among the most common causes of death every year.

As Americans, we experience many situations that cause us much stress in our daily lives. Sometimes it seems like pressure is everywhere. Traffic and pollution are major irritants that affect our health and well-being. We go through stressful situations everywhere and are constantly in conflict because of expectations from other people in our homes, workplaces and other venues where we end up in the course of daily life. Beyond that, we also work longer hours, consume less healthy food and hardly undergo any exercise. Add to that the fact that many Americans smoke heavily, drink heavily and indulge in illegal drugs. That sounds like a recipe for a heart attack right there.

As we search for relief, we quickly realize that mental and physical health costs are way too expensive and paying for them may only cost us more stress. We know we need some kind of relief but are not sure where we can find it or if we can afford it.

Here’s an idea that can ease all that stress out of your system. Why don’t your give meditation a try?

Banish all thoughts of those bohemian-looking character seated with their legs folded under them and making all these inane moans and chants. That’s the stereotype that comes to mind when we think about meditation. But the fact is that this is only one way to meditate. If it isn’t for you, there are other ways you may want to try.

As defined by the dictionary, meditation is simply “an engagement in contemplation, especially that which is spiritual, religious or devotional in nature.” The chanting and leg curling are merely optional. What is important is that meditation gives us a means through which we can look inward and reflect upon our days and our lives. This kind of reflection achieves several things. It relaxes our minds and relieves stress. Reflection also puts things in perspective and, oftentimes, this is all that’s necessary to remind us that we don’t have that much to worry about in the first place.