Meditation is the method of choice for spiritual practice in many religions. The benefits of meditation don't stop at this level though. Your mind and body benefit immensely from meditation . There are few drawbacks though, one should be aware before taking up meditation.

The problem is ... within us. We all carry a baggage of traumas buried deep down in our subconscious minds. These are unpleasant events, consequence of our own or other people actions that affected us. Our minds try to protect us by covering up these experiences. In other words, we forget. Or do we? Keep on reading to find out ...

Autobiography of a Yogi   It’s a classic. Most people inclined to eastern religions consider it so.Yogananda is one of the most famous Hindu representatives in the West. He introduced to the Westerners kriya yoga, a form of meditation that has its roots in the many millennia of Eastern Indian wisdom. Like Maharishi, he brought into the Western Spirituality a different perspective. Also an alternative for many to the rigid dogmas of the more consecrated religions.This book is about Yogananda’s path to spiritual evolution. He shares his experiences and feelings starting with his early years to his passing. It is also a compelling insight into Indian culture, religion mysticism and spirituality. There is a perennial truth that springs out from Yogananda’s autobiography: spirituality, and the divine is personal experience. Some may emphasize the role of the organized religions, scriptures, gurus and priests, still, only the burning desire of going beyond the apparent truth can lead one to a higher purpose in life. Something to notice through out the book is also Yogananda’s desire to accommodate the other religions. Many quotes from other holy books, either the Christian Bible, the Islamic Koran or the Hebrew Tanakh. For example, talking about the essence of meditation, a focused and still mind, he quotes from the Bible “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.

The key ingredient in any meditation technique is to focus your mind on a single thought. It can be a mantra, an object, a feeling, or even a spiritual symbol or person. This is not a simple task in the beginning. You will eventually loose that focus and find your mind wandering in the past or the future. The goal of meditation is to keep you in the present and this is what "the power of now" (reference Eckhart Tolle's book) is all about.

One of the simplest still highly efficient way to meditate is breathing meditation. This is the meditation technique Buddha chose for his own meditation practice. Breathing can be both conscious and unconscious. So focusing on breathing may help us transcend our consciousness into the realm of peace and happiness beyond our thoughts hence making breathing meditation very effective in calming and focusing our mind. Keep on reading to find out how to perform this meditation.