Mahayana

Mahayana (Sanskrit, “Great Vehicle” or “Great Way”) is, along with Hinayana (“Small Vehicle” or “Small Way”), one of the main directions of Buddhism. In both cases, the motivation for following the spiritual path is the realization of suffering and the desire for salvation. In Hinayana, this desire refers to one’s own person; in Mahayana, however, it refers to all beings, whereby one’s own well-being is subordinated to that of other people.

MBCL

MBCL (Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living trainings) is a mindfulness-centered method that promotes the development and experience of compassion and thus mental and physical health. It supports the development of a friendly and compassionate attitude towards oneself and others. As in MBSR, exercises are practiced that specifically help to develop self-compassion and compassion for others. MBCL exercises help the individual to experience security, safety, acceptance and connectedness with themselves and others.

MBSR (Mindful Based Stress Reduction)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a method developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn for coping with stress by directing attention (e.g. to body perceptions) and developing mindfulness. The method is helpful in cases of psychological stress or psychosomatic disorders such as burn-out, depression, anxiety; it is also used in the clinical field and its effects are well documented.

Meditation

Meditation is a centuries-old method for unifying consciousness, which is widespread in both Western and Eastern cultures and religions. The unified consciousness is awake, present, timeless and trans-personal. The Latin term meditatio means “reflection, senses” and encompasses the inner immersion in the contemplation of an object. Meditation is therefore initially the silent contemplation of a word, an image, a story. A distinction is made between non-objective meditation, in which the unification of consciousness is achieved in the opposite way: through the emptying of objects of contemplation. Usually certain postures (e.g. lotus seat) or movements (e.g. yoga) are connected with meditation. But since meditation is a posture of consciousness, it can be practiced anywhere and at any time.

Meditation of loving kindness

Metta (pali “kindness, loving kindness”) is one of the 40 meditation goals taught by the historical Buddha Siddharta Gautama. In the “Meditation of Loving Kindness” (Metta Meditation) a benevolent attitude towards the environment is practiced, starting with oneself, through people who are close, far away and in opposition, to all sentient beings. This is done through visualization and mantric affirmations (for example: “May all beings be happy”).

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a form of unfocused attention – this distinguishes it from concentration, for example, which is focused. Mindfulness can be described as conscious alertness to all impressions that are conveyed through the senses and penetrate the consciousness. These can be external (optical, acoustic, haptic) as well as internal impressions (how does the body feel, which moods, emotions and thoughts arise?) All these impressions are neither evaluated nor suppressed or recorded, but only perceived. Mindfulness makes you present and conscious and helps gain inner distance.

Mysticism

The content of mysticism (from Greek mystikos “secret”, “mysterious”) is the experience of the transpersonal source, the divine, the nature of being. Mysticism describes, explores and communicates the possibility of this experience and thus belongs to the innermost core of all religions. Mysticism is therefore analogous to spirituality.