Kriya Yogameditation derives from an ancient Indian tradition, revived in the nineteenth century by the Indian Yogi Mahavatar Babaji. Despite its huge growth in popularity in the West and the attendant growth in numbers of teachers, many Gurus claim direct student-teacher lineage back to the students of Babaji. Its goals are to achieve inner tranquility and spiritual union with the divine. Its methods are similar to many other yoga systems, using breathing in particular as a means of achieving self-control. This technique of breathing and energy control is known as Pranayama, and has been linked to medical benefits including asthma and stress relief.
Kriya meditation is a strictly disciplined form of meditation, intended to become a regular habit within daily life. Adherents believe it must be practiced regularly and carefully, and often under the supervision of a teacher, in order to build up the required levels of focus and concentration. Teaching is generally one-to-one, in the guru-student tradition of the art.
The meditation itself is practiced in the dark, away from any direct light – even that of a candle. Any outside sensation is merely a distraction that takes away from the practitioners chances of achieving truly deep meditation – contrary to popular images of the guru meditating under a tree or by a river! Meditation is practiced sitting, on a cushion, or even a block of wood – the aim is not to get too comfortable and doze off, but to actively seek out inner calm and silence.
The Pranayama breathing techniques are designed to focus the mind on the here and now. The student sits comfortably, back erect and straight, focusing on the area between their eyebrows (the so-called “spiritual-eye, a center of spiritual power). They then begin to inhale and exhale slowly, mentally saying Hong as the breath is taken in, and Sau as it is breathed out. Together, the phrase Hong-Sau means “I am Spirit”. Gradually, more and more attention is focused on the breath, trying to feel it higher and higher in the nose as it is breathed in. As the mind becomes calmer and more focused, it begins to relax, and the amount of breath diminishes, creating a deeper meditative state. The student is encouraged to constantly refocus their mind on the breathing, not allowing their thoughts to wander too far. The meditation ends by simply sitting for a few minutes to experience the deeply relaxed and meditative state.
Deeper levels of the Kriya yoga are revealed to practitioners only. Masters of the art claim that a person must be prepared for the profoundly life-changing effects of Kriya, or they will not be able to handle it. Someone seeking these effects must therefore build up a daily meditation habit – some masters will not take students before they have spent a year building up their meditation and concentration skills. While the teachers are not jealous of their positions – many recognize the validity of other paths – they certainly guard the secrets of their art from the uninitiated. Perhaps this is just as well – it is said that Paramhansa Yogandana (the man who popularized Kriya in the West) practiced this for hours on end as a boy, at the end of which he was left in a higher state, with no breath at all!
www.encognitive.com MEDITATION MUSIC – Feng Shui- Kokin Gumi – Zen Garden A Japanese rock garden (枯山水, karesansui?), sometimes mistakenly called a Zen garden, is an enclosed shallow sandpit containing sand, gravel, rocks, and occasionally grass and other natural elements. The main elements of karesansui are rocks and sand, with the sea symbolized not by water but by sand raked in patterns that suggest rippling water. Plants are much less important (and sometimes nonexistent) in many karesansui gardens. Karesansui gardens are often, but not always, meant to be viewed from a single, seated position. Some Westerners believe that karesansui gardens can be used to calm human minds, but they were not intended for such in their native Japanese settings. en.wikipedia.org
We all hear about Yoga, meditation and other similar disciplines or philosophies. Some of us think it’s good exercise and some that it’s good for dealing with stress. Well, actually it is much more.
Yoga is something that can quite literally change your life. It starts by showing you what is really going on with your life, you see truly how your body functions, how your energy flows, how your emotions can be out of control and most importantly how your mind really works. And then you understand yourself much more. You can suddenly see clearly why you behave as you do and how blind we are most of the time.
Actually Yoga can do much more for you. It is a system so ancient and magical, it will touch your soul and transform your perception of reality; you will be one of the few who can truly see. (as said in Zen: Satori, which simply means direct vision).
Of course, at this point the biggest question most of you will ask is: so which Yoga is the real Yoga? I mean, there are so many styles of Yoga out there, which should I choose?
There is no one answer to this question. Most Yogis (adepts of Yoga) will obviously vouch for their style. But the question you need to ask yourself is not which Yoga path is right for you, but actually to look inside and try to feel your own heart and soul and simply answer this question: What do I want from my life?
When you ask Why? you will discover that the answer is not as clear as you thought all along. Because if you are sincere with yourself, you will realize that most of life’s so-called objectives are actually just cravings of your ego and what you really want in life is something else. Not a firm sexy body, not a lot of energy, not to be rich and famous etc. but actually one simple thing: To be truly happy.
That should be the first step. So how does that relate to Yoga? Well, it does very much. You see, when you truly understand what it is that we all need and ask for, to be happy, then you can make your choices in life much easier and with much more clarity. So which Yoga style is good for you? It is that style of Yoga that when you try practicing it, you find it gives you an inner feeling of touching your heart. That you have finally reached home.
Agama Yoga is, in my opinion, exactly that kind of Yoga school. I have seen countless people coming to Agama Yoga school confused, troubled, angry, pleading for help and after just 1 month of Yoga course turning into centered and clear minded human beings. It is a little bit like waking up from a dream (or a nightmare in some cases) and realizing for the first time what the true purpose of life is Much more about Yoga, Tantra and spirituality coming soon.
There are as many types of meditation techniques as there are wonderful flavors of ice cream. This allow each person to find a flavor that is delicious to them. In this article series I will provide an overview of many of the different meditation techniques that exist and hopefully this will help you find the style that is sweetest to you.
Some meditation styles suit those of an intellectual disposition, while others are more attractive to those who prefer the path of love and surrender. Still others, with an active approach to life, may like the meditation techniques involving movement, while those with a strong mind would enjoy the approach of visualization and concentration. Overall, there are several broad categories under which we can capture most of these various meditation practices and in Part 1 I will explore Insight Meditation Techniques and Sound (Mantra) and Intention Meditation Techniques.
1. Insight Meditation Techniques: These are the meditations of choice for the Gyan Yogis or those drawn to the intellectual path. It incorporates the advanced meditation techniques from the Zen school of Buddhism, the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism, certain schools of Western Religions among others.
A. WHO AM I Meditation Technique: This techniques comes from the school of Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism / End of Knowledge). The meditation was popularized by Shri Ramana Maharishi and is based on negation of the false self in order to realize one’s True Nature. Here is an example of my experience with WHO AM I Meditation Practice.
B. Koan Meditation Technique: These meditations come from the Zen school of Buddhism and are designed to break down the ordinary pattern of conceptual, dualistic thinking. By breaking down the interference created by the thinking mechanism the practitioner is brought to confront the non-dual reality of “what is” directly and thus Awaken.
C. Contemplation Meditation Technique: These meditations utilize introspection, self-study, reflection, self-dialogue and contemplation to cut through the layers of false conditioning and false understanding that deludes the mind. These meditations have their roots in many Western Religions and are also a part of Eastern philosophies.
D. Silent Mind Meditation Technique: This meditation technique is my contribution to this category and it involves directly perceiving the fact of what is by acute observation of the thinking process. This is the flavor that I enjoy best and I have explained it in detail in the The Silent Mind Meditations, which are part of the Silent Mind Meditation Program. These meditations are an extension of the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti.
2. Sound (Mantra) & Intention Meditation Techniques: The meditations that fall under this category use the science of sound and thought vibrations (Naad Yoga), along with rhythm and music (Laya Yoga) to purify the heart and mind. These meditations have a wide range of applications, from bestowing Enlightenment, to improving health, wealth, happiness, peace etc…
A. Mantra Japa Meditation Technique: This meditation method uses the repetition of a mantra (a particular sound, word or phrase) verbally or mentally to create the necessary conditions for purification, refinement or expansion to take place. Mantras are essentially keys which allow one to tune into the individual energy field or tune into the Universal Energy field to produce certain desired results. Here is an example of using OM Mantra to activate the Third Eye Chakra.
B. Rhythm Meditation Technique: This form of meditation uses the combination of rhythm, chanting, music and breath to calibrate and perfect the system. The excellent Three Step Rhythmic Breathing (3srb) meditation technique of Sage Pantanjali and many Kundalini Yoga meditations fall under this category, among others.
C. Meditation via Song: Most of the meditations from the path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and Love, designed to dissolve the ego belong in this category. This is a path most dear to those who are emotional in nature and feel a deep love for the divine. Christianity, Gospel, Sufi Meditations, Hare Krishna Meditations, Kirtans and Bhajans are some examples of techniques in this category.
D. Meditation via Prayer & Intention: All religions have meditations involving prayer and worship. The meditations that also use the power of intention to manifest desires fall under this category.
So you can see from above, these is a rich diversity to the Art of Meditation and certainly something for everybody. If one of the styles above does not catch your fancy, not to worry, I will be serving up more tasty flavors in part 2 of this series.
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi talks about how the Kundalini knows and understands you. Please see www.sahajayogavideo.com for the transcript of this video and to see other videos not found on Youtube.
Meditation is the very existence of Man in peace with the nature and oneself. Meditation helps one to identify who is he? What inner principles should be enriched to feel the divine happiness?
Meditation gives one the chance to “live life to the full…!”
History speaks the existence of Yoga and Mediation in pre-historic times. It is a holistic approach to the healing of mind and soul in song with the nature. More interestingly meditation and Yoga were little known to the Western Countries until the 19th Century but the growth it achieved since then shows the value it depicts in the society.
Mediation aims at removing the negative life forces with in one and fills one’s life with the positive energies that the nature can offer. On a broader spectrum it is a humble beginning towards a peaceful mind, peaceful people, peaceful society, peaceful country and a peaceful universe.
What you achieve?
In this most competitive world of existence; one has to learn many a technique to survive the grueling test the life offer on path to the destiny. Each day, we end up tired, tense, and most importantly listless.
We will surely love to have an external bliss or a helping hand, a cool wind, a stream of cool water; to run through us and to provide us the necessary calmness, rest to our body, mind and soul. We would love to have a healing/soothing touch that would rejuvenate and make us ready for the challenges that lies ahead.
Meditation is the path to that dream of having a healing touch of divineness, which would keep you fit and ready for the day-to-day challenges. It gives you a wing of joy, peace and harmony where you will find the life most beautiful and each moment of life to be cherished.
So, take a moment to decide; to give yourselves a chance to be with you for at least some minutes of your day, to be allowed to that divine healing power; to be allowed to that stream of musical joy within you; called the Meditation.
Meditation concepts in religions
Mediation in one or another form exists in each and every religion since each religion or spiritual living aims at providing one the eternal happiness. From time immoral, it was believed that the Hindu religious ceremonies encouraged the practice of Meditation and Yoga and further, it carries its existence in Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity etc.
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to control”, “to unite”, which combines the techniques and disciplines of asceticism and meditation. It suggests that the practice of Yoga/Meditation would help one to transcend the ego within and achieve the liberation of mind and soul.
Meditation Techniques
“Meditation” is based purely at one’s breath; the vital force of energy behind one’s existence. Our body acts as a bag for the air to get filled in and in the process; it gives us the energy/life to respond to the nature, to other fellow beings and to ourselves.
Two most general technique of Mediation involves the breath; the “Concentrative Meditation Technique” insists one to concentrate on his/her breathing and to a single object or sound from the nature and to encourage the mind to the same fully. Slowly, one would identify that their mind is glowing with an eternal peacefulness and the body is relaxed providing the necessary healing touch to one’s life.
In Mindfulness technique one has to pay attention and focus to all the sensations and feelings but to be within themselves. During the process, the person will be conscious of their thought patterns and will analyze them the most objectively without allowing them to be caught up in the process themselves. One will slowly identify that they are freed from their emotional state of mind and their body is getting a gentle massage of cool water/wind; which is the ultimate state of joy we aim for.
Is your intelligence quotient “carved in stone?” Some researchers might believe it, but we know if a person makes up his or her mind to learn, this same person will become more intelligent. The idea of enhanced intelligence comes with the desire to change, learn, and achieve.
Did you realize that low levels of oxygen can result in brain deterioration? Your brain, and vital organs, need rich supplies of oxygen. Yogic breathing techniques (Pranayama), especially deep breathing techniques, will increase the dosage of oxygen to the brain.
This might make you consider Udgeeth Pranayama, Bastrika Pranayama, Abdominal Breathing, Brahmari Pranayama, Dirgha Pranayama, Ujjayi Pranayama, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, Kapalabhati Pranayama, and “Breath of Fire,” in a different way. Maybe the “ancients” were on to something with 5,000 years of Yoga and Pranayama research.
Sorry to say this, but only an uneducated person would refuse to breathe correctly for a better quality life and a marginal increase in brain power. If you have decided to breathe deeper, from this point on, you have already enhanced your intelligence. Meditation is taught in all forms of Yoga. Meditation increases concentration and allows the mind to relax. The first requirement of meditation is to keep the spine straight. After that, a mindful meditation session, focusing on breath awareness, would give your brain many benefits and enhance your intelligence.
A healthy body is one of Hatha Yoga’s main objectives, and we all know that a healthy body has a symbiotic relationship with a healthy mind. Consider the opposite: If you have a severe headache, can you focus, concentrate, and solve problems quickly? Why not? Is it because all you can think of is pain?
Your body and mind are linked, whether you like it or not, so you have to take care of both. Hatha, Kundalini, and Raja Yoga contain postures (Asanas), which develop a healthy body. When you connect the power of Asana, with Pranayama, and meditate, you have made a wise choice toward mental health, physical health, and enhancing your intelligence.
After all this nurturing of body and mind, you may want to meditate before bedtime. You could start with a ten minute session of breath awareness, good thought, and mindfulness.
The results will be that you sleep better and your dreams will be better. That’s right – If you think good thoughts during meditation, at night, your dreams tend to be good ones.
When you wake up the next morning, your intelligence must be enhanced, with all of the educated choices you made the day before. At the very least, you will wake up with the power of Yoga in your heart and your mind.
Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications About the Author:
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.
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