No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

Vipassana: The word ‘vipassana’ means ‘clear seeing’. This is an ancient Buddhist practice that was made popular by S.N. Goenka. It starts with a deep focus on your breath, down to the minute details like airflow, temperature and the nostrils. It then moves on to a deep scanning of the body and thoughts. You observe without attachment and label whatever you notice as a passive observer. Vipassana is supposed to make you realise that you are different from your thoughts and once you realise that, you can reach a state of pure tranquillity. Mindfulness meditation: Also of Buddhist origin, but made popular in the West by Thich Nhat Hanh and Jon Kabat-Zinn, this meditation boils down to cultivating the habit of being ‘in the moment’. According to practitioners, there is no past or future, only the present moment. In the middle of an active day or while taking a break, just pay attention to the present moment in a completely non-judgemental way. Mantra (Om): The object of focus in mantra meditation is a particular symbol or sound. ‘Om’ is obviously the most popular one, but there are many variations, designed for specific vibrations that each mantra generates. These vibrations from our vocal cords travel through the brain, further enhancing the frequency modulation and also drowning out other thoughts. This technique is quite easy to practise and very effective. Transcendental Meditation: If you can believe it, this is a copyrighted version of Mantra meditation by Maharishi Mah...