Meditation : Science and Practice
Contents: Preface. Acknowledgements. List of abbreviations. I. Practice of meditation: 1. Preparation of meditation. 2. Asanas for meditation. 3. Mudras and Bandhas for Pranayama, Pratyahara and meditation. 4. Pranayama before meditation. 5. Pratyahara preparatory to meditation. 6. The practice of meditation. II. Theory of meditation: 1. What is meditation? 2. The four-fold existence of the self. 3. Tanha: unquenched thirst. 4. The six-fold enemy. 5. Yama: the five great vows. 6. Niyama: the performance of five prescriptive duties. 7. Vitalisation and withdrawal. 8. The tripod of meditation. 9. Equanimity: contradictions dissolved. 10. Universal love. 11. A dedicated life is Yoga. 12. A Yogi\'s vision -- all in one, one in all. 13. The root of evil. 14. A flame without flicker. 15. Yoga for peace. 16. A middle path in Yoga. III. Benefits from meditation: 1. Psychosomatic and somatopsychic effects. 2. Physiopathology of stress disorders. 3. Meditation on psychophysiology and psychopathology. 4. Meditation and psychoimmunology. 5. Meditation on specific organs and functions. 6. Meditation for the retardation of geriatric process. 7. Meditation for the promotion of mental and spiritual health. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
"Yoga, contrary to the popular perception, is not merely a system of physical culture. It is, in fact, a uniquely Indian discipline aiming to bring about the "union" of an individual spirit with the universal spirit: the cosmic consciousness -- through what in Yoga is known as samadhi, a state of profound meditation. Patanjali\'s Yoga-sutram, written sometime around the second century BC, is the first, systematic, at once authoritative presentation of Yoga: in both its theoretical and practical aspects.
Prof. N.C. Panda, who has had a lifetime involvement with the science and practice of Yoga, outlines the eight limbs of Patanjala Yoga, with added emphasis on meditation -- in all its three stages: dharana, dhyana and samadhi; and how this ancient system of bodily and mental control is found to have a strong scientific basis. Offered in three parts, the book focuses, in Part 1, one the practice of meditation, with detailed guidelines concerning the relevant Yogic postures, Yogic breathing and breath-control. Part 2 presents Patanjali\'s classical Yogic theories, showing how these are validated: by modern science. In part 3, the author explains, in pure scientific terms, the physical, psychic, therapeutic and spiritual benefits surfacing from the practice of meditation.
Comprising comprehensive glossary of Sanskrit technical terms and numerous illustrations, it is invaluable to medical scientist/researchers/anyone interested in Yogic meditation and leading to a holistic, healthy and creative life." (jacket)
