View of FOCUS MEDITATION AS A NEW EMERGING LEARNING STRATEGY IN ACHIEVING ACEDEMIC SUCCESS

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FOCUS MEDITATION AS A NEW EMERGING LEARNING STRATEGY IN ACHIEVING

ACEDEMIC SUCCESS Ranjna Devi

Research Scholar, University of Rajasthan Jaipur, India Dr. Mudit Rathore

Research Advisor, University of Jaipur, India

Abstract- Yoga techniques have been practiced from ancient time in India. These techniques have been developed by Indian saints around or before second century BCE. It has been observed and found in literature that many chronic and incurable diseases are cured by adopting yogic techniques in our daily life. Meditation is the yogic practice that makes mind and body relaxed. The regular practice of meditation helps in improving concentration and induces peace in mind. Meditation can be used for different purpose depending upon intended purpose. Focused meditation involves in focusing on a single point. The single point may be breath, a mantra, a word, a object or image of a deity etc. In the beginning time focusing of mind is difficult but regular practice makes it easier. In focused meditation we generally focus on a single point. But in present study we replaced that single point with study material. The study material may be a particular subject, a particular topic or subtopic which is already taught in class room.

Keyword: Yogic techniques, meditation, concentration, academic achievements.

1. INTRODUCTION

Yoga is an ancient science that has been practised by humans far before modern science. It was primarily utilized for self-enlightenment and spiritual advancement thousands of years ago. Although the precise origin of yoga is unknown, indications of it have been discovered in historical study such as the Indus Valley culture, where stone curving deities sitting in yoga- like poses have been discovered. Yogic techniques and their benefits for self-realization can also be found in historic documents such as the Vedas. Many descriptions of yoga as a discipline to manage mind and body may be found in the holy text Rigveda. The yoga-sutra, which was composed by Indian sages, has a textual account in systematic form. Yoga in schools has a brief history; gradually, the world has recognized the value and benefits of yoga in the educational system; previously, yoga had never been considered seriously enough to affect health, academic performance, or personality until the last decade. In the future, the government and other organizations will continue to invest in yoga education for kids as part of the school curriculum, as some schools regard it as an alternative to physical education. Many studies in the fields of yoga and behavioral disorders in children have concluded that the benefits of yoga practise in terms of physiological, psychological, emotional, and psychosocial functioning may be applicable to the impairments observed in these areas in behavioral disorders among students. Yoga also teaches youngsters how to self-regulate, focus on the job at hand, and confidently face obstacles. Yoga can help you improve your balance, release tension, and build physical strength if you practise it on a regular basis. Students are frequently sidetracked by their own minds, bodies, and material possessions. They lose sight of their own blissful genuine nature. They feel imperfect, confined, regretful, and bereft as a result of the erroneous identification. As a result, the ultimate purpose of yoga in education is to offer pupils with a means of casting off ignorance, removing imperfection, and uniting them with their real divine essence.

2. FOCUSED MEDITATION

Meditation is a yogic technique that relaxes both the body and the mind. It aids in the improvement of attention and the induction of mental tranquilly. Meditating entails concentrating on a single place. This could be a mantra or a breath. Is it a word or a thing? It's

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difficult to focus your mind at first. As a result, beginners should begin by meditating for a short period of time and gradually extend the duration.

a) Practices for focused meditation

Sit in a relaxed manner. Your hand should be placed on your knees. Sit up straight, gently close your eyes, and take regular deep breaths. Pay attention to your inhalations and exhalations. Your thoughts will wander during this procedure. Concentrate solely on your breath. Only concentrate on your breathing. Slowly open your eyes and relax by removing your hands.

b) Benefits of Focused Meditation 1. It induces a deep state of relaxation.

2. It aids in the reduction of stress.

3. It aids in the control of emotions.

4. It aids in concentration.

3. INNOVATION IN FOCUSED MEDITATION AS NEW LEARNING STRATEGY IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

As we already know that, in focused meditation we generally focus on a single point. But in present study we replaced that single point with study material. The study material may be a particular subject, a particular topic or subtopic which is already taught in class room. The following steps are followed during this practice.

1. Students are instructed to sit in meditative position.

2. We instruct the students to focus on particular topic which is already taught.

3. We instruct students to think and memorize the particular topic in meditative position.

4. Initially students are asked to spend at about five minutes is this process and then gradually increase the duration.

For starting intended focused meditation practices as a teaching learning strategy doesn’t require a special set of skill. In its most basic form we need a comfortable seat, a conscious mind and to be mentally present. This technique will work very well as a teaching learning strategy for students to get fully engaged in their study.

4. SUPPORTIVE ARGUMENT TO CHOOSE FOCUSED MEDITATION AS A TEACHING LEARNING STRATEGY

During focused meditation process our focus of mind is fixed on the particular topic of subject (e.g. for class 10 student the particular topic is arithmetic progression). As a result of it we get a chance to fully concentrate on that topic because in focused meditative position we are fully conscious about what is going in our mind. If we learn a particular topic in meditative position, our mental faculties like memory, reasoning, perception, imagination will improve in positive direction.

In focused meditation process we try to learn the topic deeply with full attention and neglect other intervening thoughts, imagination, and a site which can distract out concentration. During this process we get absolved on learning material (a topic which is already taught in class), we learn better. Consequently our attention span of memory will increase in this process. The practice of focused meditation for education purpose also help to achieve educational learning objective developed by Bloom in Bloom’s taxonomy of learning.

The level of revised Bloom’s taxonomy of learning are remember, understand, apply, analysis, evaluate and then to create. Because in focused meditation techniques students will get full opportunity to pay attention on various level of learning. We remember the basic concept of the topic in meditative position very clearly, also in focused meditative position we try to understand topic in our own word as we are in full conscious state in meditative position. After that when we remember and understand the basic concept regarding any topic, then we able to apply these concept in actual real mathematical problem. Consequently we are also able

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evaluate, analyze the different mathematical problem. Hence we learn and practice any topic coupled with focused meditation technique we will definitely learn better, understand things in better way and then will be able to solve different types of problem in particular subject. As result of it our academic achievement will improve and we will get good marks in achievement test.

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR INTENDED RESEARCH

"Knowledge is not power until it is applied," says a well-known saying. This is a topic on which we shall work. It has been scientifically shown that working on muscles makes them stronger.

Similarly, meditating can improve brain function (concentration and memory). In our daily lives, we've noticed that whenever a student receives poor grades in their subjects, everyone advises them to focus on their studies. Concentration is defined as the ability to devote all of your attention to a single task. It's the act of carefully considering what we're doing.

Concentration is an important aspect of the learning process as well as academic success. Poor concentration refers to a person's inability to stay focused on a task because they are easily distracted and so cannot complete the activity on time. Students are easily diverted from their studies as a result of technological advancements, resulting in a reduction in attention span and, as a result, worse academic accomplishment. Focused meditation will play a critical part in resolving this issue.

6. CONCLUSION

The main purpose of our research study is to access the effectiveness of specific yoga practices focused meditation in relation with academic achievements of secondary level students. We worked on a new learning technique which is emerged from focused meditation yoga practices.

It is found that this strategy worked very with respect to academic success.

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