This is the third part to our Beginners Yoga Series. Be sure to check back often for new instalments to this series.
In the first two parts of this series, we talked about how a beginner could begin Yoga, and also about the different styles of Yoga. In this instalment, we’re going to discuss one of the five principles of yoga: meditation.
The other four principles are proper exercise (also called asanas), proper breathing (pranayama), proper relaxation (savasana), and proper diet. Meditation, or dhyana, is the act of concentrating on an object, mantra or your own thoughts. Meditation relaxes your body and mind, and also sharpens your thinking.
There are three principles to keep in mind when learning the art of meditation. The first is that in order to concentrate, we need to focus on one object. That object could be your breathing or a word that you repeat or even a sensation within your body.
The second principle is that when your mind starts to wander you need to be able to quiet your mind and bring it back to your focus object. This is not as easy as it sounds, so give yourself a break if it doesn’t come quickly or easily. One way that you may want to deal with your noisy mind is to acknowledge the fact that you are having other thoughts and try to let them pass.
The third principle is to ignore irrelevant thoughts and sensations. Even though this sounds like a contradiction to the previous paragraph, it really is not. What I mean is that when you are meditating, you will be able to hear everything going on around you but you must try not to let it distract you.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
• Practice in a clean (uncluttered) and quiet place.
• Wear comfortable clothing and sit in a comfortable position and place.
• Perform some simple stretches to warm up your body.
• Try to empty your mind of all thoughts and try to prevent any other thoughts from entering into your mind.
If you find this exercise difficult, you can use a prop, such as a candle or other object, which you can focus and concentrate on. Again, don’t beat yourself up if you cannot master meditation right away – it is something that is going to take a lot of practice, but I promise you, once you have mastered it, the feeling that comes from meditating is something that cannot even be described by words.
Dan Massicotte
Although this might not be convenient to everyone…but I wonder if wearing no clothing is good. Might be a bit distracting…
January 28, 2009 at 9:50 am
a.k.satsangi
Yoga (Application) which was based on the control of the body physically and implied that a perfect control over the body and the senses led to knowledge of the ultimate reality. A detailed anatomical knowledge of the human body was necessary to the advancement of yoga and therefore those practising yoga had to keep in touch with medical knowledge. (Romila Thapar, A History of India, volume one).
I suggest : Mind and brain are two distinct things. Brain is anatomical entity whereas mind is functional entity. Mind can be defined as the function of autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is claimed that mind can be brought under conscious control through the practice of meditation. But how? ANS is largely under hypothalamic control which is situated very close to optic chiasma (sixth chakra or ajna chakra). Protracted practice of concentration to meditate at this region brings functions of ANS say mind under one’s conscious control.
ANS is further divided into parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). On the basis of these facts I have discovered a mathematical relationship for spiritual quotient (S.Q.). Spiritual Quotient can be expressed mathematically as the ratio of Parasympathetic dominance to Sympathetic dominance. PSNS dominates during meditative calm and SNS dominates during stress. In this formula we assign numerical values to the physiological parameters activated or suppressed during autonomic mobilization and put in the formula to describe the state of mind of an individual and also infer his/her level of consciousness.
Meditation is the art of looking within and science of doing nothing. We don’t use anything in meditation. We just try to concentrate to meditate at some point in human anatomy known as ‘chakra’ in Indian System of Yoga. The current of mind is flowing outward through the senses and unconsciously. The mind comes at rest gradually through regular practice of meditation. Then comes self realization and enlightenment. Protracted practice of meditation under qualified guidance will help to manage all sort of psychological problems.
Emotional Quotient can also be expressed mathematically as the product of I.Q. and Wisdom Factor. E.Q. stands for Emotional Quotient. An intelligent person may not be wise. But a wise man will always be intelligent. An intelligent person having certain level of positive emotions can be said as wise. An intelligent person lacking wisdom will turn autocrat. A wise man will always be a democrat who respects others existence.
Some may raise doubt that how could be the Wisdom quantified? The answer is simple -if Mental Age of I.Q. can be quantified then Wisdom can also be quantified, of course, comparatively with more efforts. Wilhelm Stern had given the formula of I.Q.. It is, Mental Age/ Chronological Age x 100. Spiritual Quotient (S.Q.) leverages both E.Q. and I.Q.
Radha Soami Faith is a branch of Religion of Saints like Kabir, Nanak, Paltu, and others. Soamiji Maharaj is the founder of this Faith. You may call It like New Wine in Old Bottle.
Maslow has given Hierarchy of Needs. At the top of it is need for self-actualization or self-realization.
In our society we should learn To Live and Let Live and help to satisfy others need. When the lower order needs, physiological and sociological both, are satisfied then only a person think to satisfy need for self-realization in true sense. Else he/she may spend all his/her life to satisfy at the most the need for self-expression instead of self-realization.
It is, therefore, the duty of every responsible person, at the least, of our society to give serious thought over it.
For the satisfaction of need for self-realization i.e. establishment of harmony of individual consciousness with that of universal consciousness we need following three things:
1. Mater or Guru (A Self-Realized Soul)
2. Secret of Levels of Universal Consciousness
3. Method for traversing the path.
Anirudh Kumar Satsangi
February 4, 2009 at 3:33 am
Guided meditation online
Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into … already there.” ~ Deepak Chopra Primordial Sound Meditation is a powerful meditation technique based on the ancient Vedic tradition of sound healing
June 17, 2009 at 1:28 am
spiritualtube
Yoga helps to promote a deeper awareness of the body and of its muscles and joints. This has a grounding effect, helping to calm the mind, which in turn slows down our emotions so that we feel more relaxed
July 3, 2009 at 12:34 am