The Power of Om

Reverend Richard Coles explores the world of spiritual sound and meditation and tries to understand what it is about certain sounds and chants which gives practitioners a sense of proximity to the Divine.

Richard meets neuroscientist Dr Alan Watkins of Imperial College who has worked with the Dalai Lama and his team in Tibet and found that people who meditate together showed signs of "entrainment" in their brain activity, the same phenomenon that allows flocks of birds or shoals of fish to move together. Is this the sense of "one-ness" people talk about when meditating?

Originally posted by Proper Knob
This was on BBC Radio 4 a few weeks back.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012mzsp

A snapshot of what it's about -

Reverend Richard Coles explores the world of spiritual sound and meditation and tries to understand what it is about certain sounds and chants which gives practitioners a sense of proximity to the Divine.

Richard meets n ...[text shortened]... o move together. Is this the sense of "one-ness" people talk about when meditating?

Originally posted by karoly aczel
Sumtimes it's really annoying (the chanting of "OM" ) 🙂

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
Karoly,were you chanting Om mechanically when you felt it to be annoying? Please do not chant it mechanically. Remember,Hindus consider it to be the symbol of God.If you cannot put your heart into it i.e.knowing it to be God's symbol,the best thing to do is to stop chanting. There is no need to chant it 108 times,usually recommended for one sitting. If y ...[text shortened]... sized copper ones,one pair or two.The overall effect,at least for Hindus,is good,if not great.

Originally posted by JS357
108? You are supposed to keep track? No wonder it takes the mind off things.

I recommend Music for Zen Meditation,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_Zen_Meditation

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
There is an endless string of beads, usually called Rosary and used by Hindus,Muslims,Christians alike.The string contains 108 beads,with the starting bead distinguished from others by having the string come out of the hole and knotted to secure all the beads. You have to turn the beads in your thumb and two next fingers. You do not have to count the bead ...[text shortened]... rning of the beads.
Instead of listening to somebody's efforts,best to make one's own effort.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
There is an endless string of beads, usually called Rosary and used by Hindus,Muslims,Christians alike.The string contains 108 beads,with the starting bead distinguished from others by having the string come out of the hole and knotted to secure all the beads. You have to turn the beads in your thumb and two next fingers. You do not have to count the bead ...[text shortened]... rning of the beads.
Instead of listening to somebody's efforts,best to make one's own effort.

Originally posted by JS357
108? You are supposed to keep track? No wonder it takes the mind off things.

I recommend Music for Zen Meditation,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_Zen_Meditation

Originally posted by JS357
Thanks, I suppose over time the bead turning would become automatic.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
This was on BBC Radio 4 a few weeks back.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012mzsp

A snapshot of what it's about -

Reverend Richard Coles explores the world of spiritual sound and meditation and tries to understand what it is about certain sounds and chants which gives practitioners a sense of proximity to the Divine.

Richard meets n o move together. Is this the sense of "one-ness" people talk about when meditating?

Originally posted by RJHinds
My wife and I knew a minister in the United Methodist Church who stated
in his Sunday morning sermon that he would tell a lie if it was to his
benefit. After the sermon one of the women praised this preacher for
his honesty. So unbelievers are invading the organized church at all levels.
Fortunately for the church the majority of the members were not willing to
renew his term or service there.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
That's very nice. But what exactly does that have to do with the OP?

Originally posted by RJHinds
I don't think it is nice at all. It may not have anything at all to do with the
OP, but Christians should be on the alert to not allow false teachings to
enter the church or to allow Satan to influence us.

Originally posted by RJHinds
I don't think it is nice at all. It may not have anything at all to do with the
OP, but Christians should be on the alert to not allow false teachings to
enter the church or to allow Satan to influence us.