Let a Lama teach you the art of concentration

Recently, the New Acropolis Cultural Association held a lecture on the art of concentration, combining elements of Greek philosophy with that of Tibetan paintings. italk dropped by

Recently, the New Acropolis Cultural Association held a lecture on the art of concentration, combining elements of Greek philosophy with that of Tibetan paintings. italk dropped by

Philosophy is negligible, going by the amount of time you take to spot an elusive signboard establishing a new school of thought, the New Acropolis Cultural Association in a croisette of South Mumbai.

Yaron Barzilay, the director of the centre, is not short on humour when he supposes no more than him in the empty hall will attend his lecture on the art of concentration.
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He clicks on a laptop, and routes a PPT presentation on a whiteboard through a projector; snap happy at the possibility of philosophy becoming accessible through a mouse.

Concentration Through Picture Art

On the white board is drawn out a chart focusing on how to develop concentration. This motivational philosophy model will help attendees hard wire the concept into their heads.

A 17th century painting by a Tibetan lama becomes the focal point to drive the lecture and further discussion.
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In the pictorial representation of a school of thought imparting concentration knowledge, the trajectory of the man, his mind, and dedication to a higher knowing of himself is charted through the use of symbols.

An elephant becomes the mind, peeling and shedding its pachyderm skin from black to white as it would be to emerge from a dark cave into pure light.

What Must You Do To Improve Concentration?

Barzilay piques the attention of his audience by throwing the gauntlet at his hopefuls. "How many of you are here with me in this room?

You could be physically present, but how am I to ascertain if your mind is not somewhere else?" he adds.

In the first stage, that of Dana, your presence is veryu00a0 important, and for that you must be on board in both, body and mind when you commit yourself to knowing yourself better.
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If you know where you are, you have established a connection with yourself. Being aware of your presence will allow you to take a decision to the next level.

The Inspiration

In this 17th century painting by a Tibetan lama, the elephant becomes the mind, shedding its pachyderm skin from black to white as it would to emerge from a dark cave into pure light

7-Point Focus Plan

Don't let your mind wander, reward yourself after completing a job

Redirect your thoughts.u00a0 When you find your thoughts straying from what you should be concentrating on, redirect them. Don't be tempted to wander off, either thinking about your problems or worries.

Set up an award system for yourself.u00a0 Promise yourself rewards for maintaining concentration.

Keep yourself fit. If you are too sleepy to concentrate, it is unlikely that you will be able to finish a paragraph of a book you are reading or write that important email.

Get your rest. It might seem obvious, but the biggest factor affecting concentration is rest. If you aren't well rested, your mind will wander. It's also important not to sleep too much. Oversleeping disrupts your natural rhythm and leads to grogginess. Avoid this by having a set wake-up time.

Make a plan. When you sit down to work without a plan, it's easy to get caught up in crutch activities like checking email and browsing the web. Without a purpose, your mind will be pulled in different directions.
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Eat light and healthy. Nothing slows down the mind and body like a greasy meal. Overeating puts a huge load of digestion on the body, sapping strength from the mind.
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Take breaks and mix up your environment. Stagnation and fatigue are other factors that can negatively affect concentration. When you've been working too long in the same place, you start to lose focus. The best remedy is to take breaks.

How can you make meditation a daily indulgence?

Concentration is a less popular word than meditation. Meditation can send out wrong signals of being in a trance-like state.

What is meditation if not higher concentration? You need to follow the Sila-Ksanti-Virya stage when you have acknowledged your presence.

Following self-discipline will enable you to reach the Dhyana state, which is the meditative-concentration stage.

The 6-point concentration pyramid (Sixth being the highest level)

Dana: Presence
Sila: Order & Right Discipline
Ksanti: Patience & Trust
Virya: Energy and Commitment
Dhyana: Meditative Concentration
Prajna: Wisdom and Observation

The Asana That Improves Focus

Method: Stand up straight. Lean lightly against a wall if feeling unsteady. After a few days, you can dispense with this prop. Fold your right leg at knee.

Flare it out sideways. Place the right sole on your left thigh, as high as you can. Place palms together in a namaste at the chest.

If confident, you can also hold the palms together aloft, over head. Hold for as long as you can, breathing normally.

In order to stay steady, keep your eyes focused on a spot in front of you. This will enhance your balance. Release.

Repeat the entire sequence for the other side. You should be able to hold the pose on each side for a minimum of one minute for proper effect.

Benefits: Boosts mental focus. Calms the mind.

Balances right and left brain hemispheres, creating equilibrium of the mind, and helps create a dialogue between both the emotional logical sides to our personality.
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Improves posture and confidence.