CONCENTRATION IN MEDITATION

                              HOW TO CONCENTRATE

                                      IN MEDITATION

                       MIND CAN BE EASILY CONCENTRATED WHILE WATCHING TV SERIALS, MOVIES AND INTERESTING DOCUMENTARIES. MIND CAN BE FOCUSED WITHOUT ANY EFFORT WHILE READING NOVELS AND COMICS AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES. MOST OF THE PERSONS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE MIND ON TEXT BOOKS AND OTHER BOOKS WHICH REQUIRE SERIOUS READING. MIND IS EASILY CONCENTRATED ON ACTIVITIES THAT IT WANTS TO DO . IT IS ATTRACTED TO PLEASING AND APPEALING OBJECT THINGS.

                    THIS IS THE QUALITY OF MIND . IT IS IMMEDIATELY PERTURBED WITH A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHT. A STONE THROWN IN A STILL WATER HAS THE POWER TO CREATE MANY RIPPLES.

                   MIND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN BUT ALSO FOR ADULTS. IT WANDERS HERE AND THERE AND JUMPS ON IRRELEVANT THOUGHTS. ITS RESTLESSNESS IS A BIG OBSTACLES TO CONCENTRATE ON ONE POINT. ONE SHOULD FOCUS MIND ON ONE POINT TO ATTAIN BETTER RESULTS. SURPRISINGLY, THE WORK IS DONE IS LESSER TIME. ONE SHOULD STRENGTHEN THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION THROUGH PRACTICE AND PATIENCE AS IT CLARIFIES IDEAS, MAKES COMPLEX THINGS SIMPLER, REMOVES CONFUSION AND ENHANCES EFFICIENCY AND WORKING CAPACITY. WITH THE RESULTS, ONE CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE WORK IN LESS TIME THUS CAN EARN MORE.

                    CONCENTRATION IS THE FIRST STEP OF MEDITATION. BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHERE CONCENTRATION ENDS AND MEDITATION BEGINS BECAUSE ONE FALLS INTO MEDITATION MUCH LIKE ONE FALLS INTO SLEEP - AN ACTIVITY WHICH CAN'T BE CONTROLLED BY AND HAPPENS JUST LIKE A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF WATER FROM ONE CONTAINER TO ANOTHER. ON SWAMI SAID, THE MORE YOU PRACTISE, THE CRISPER THE CONCENTRATION.

                     ONE'S MIND IS ABSORBED IN SENSUOUS OBJECTS. ONE FEELS ATTACHED TO THOSE OBJECTS. ONE CAN RISE ABOVE THIS BONDAGE CONTROLLING THE MIND. MIND SHOULD BE TRAINED IN SUCH A MANNER SO THAT IT IS NOT ATTRACTED TOWARDS THE GLITTERING OF MATERIALISTIC WORLD. NON-ATTACHMENT TO SENSE OBJECTS LEADS TO LIBERATION. IF MIND IS WITHDRAWN FROM SENSUAL OBJECTS THAN IT BECOMES ONE'S FRIEND. IF MIND IS TRAPPED IN THE PLEASURE SEEKING FROM SENSUAL OBJECTS THEN IT IS ONE'S BIGGEST ENEMY. ONE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE SENSUAL PLEASURE FROM THE EXTERNAL OBJECTS. MIND WANTS TO SEEK MORE AND MORE. HENCE ONE'S OWN MIND BECOMES ONE'S ENEMY.

                    LORD KRISHNA IN THE BHAGAVAD GITA SAYS THAT ONE MUST ELEVATE ONESELF BY ONE'S OWN MIND, NOT DEGRADE ONESELF. THE MIND IS THE FRIEND OF THE CONDITIONED SOULD, AND ONE'S ENEMY AS WELL.

                           RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 

                             MIND AND BREATHING

                           MIND IS A SPACE WHERE THOUGHTS GENERATE AND REST. THE THOUGHTS GENERATE IN THE INNER SPACE JUST LIKE THE CLOUDS GENERATE IN THE SKY. RAMANA MAHARSHI SAYS THAT MIND IS ONLY A BUNDLE OF THOUGHTS. STOP THINKING AND SHOW ME THEN, WHERE IS THE MIND? STILL MIND LEADS TO THOUGHTS-LESS STATE.

                           PRANAYAMA IS THE GHEE AND SOUL IS THE FIRE. SOUL IS PURIFIED BY DOING PRANAYANA AND MEDITATION. PRANAYAMA IS SIMPLIFIED TERMS MEANS CONTROL OVER PRANA OR REGULATING BREATH BY INCREASING THE TIME PERIOD OF KUMBHAKA, RETENTION OF BREATH. ACCORDING TO SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATHI, "PRANA IS A SUBTLE INVISIBLE FORCE. IT IS THE LIFE-FORCE THAT PERVADES THE BODY. IT IS THE FACTOR THAT CONNECTS THE BODY AND THE MIND, BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED ON ONE SIDE WITH THE BODY AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH THE MIND. IT IS THE CONNECTING LIKE BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE MIND. THE BODY AND THE MIND HAVE NO DIRECT CONNECTION. THEY ARE CONNECTED THROUGH PRANA ONLY.

                               THERE ARE VARIOUS PRANAYAMA (BREATHING EXERCISE) WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW:

 

                        BHASTRIKA - THE FIRST STEP IN PRANAYAMA IS DEEP BREATHING. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE EXERCISE. INHALE DEEPLY AND FILL THE FRESH AIR IN LUNGS AND EXHALE IS SLOWLY. THE SLOWER IT IS DONE, THE BETTER RESULTS IT GIVES. PRACTICE THIS DAILY IN FRESH AIR FOR A FEW MONTHS. EVEN A BED-RIDDEN PATIENT CAN DO THIS EXERCISE WHILE LYING ON BED. THE WINDOWS AND DOORS OF THE ROOM SHOULD BE OPEN.

                      KAPALABHATI - THE AIR IS EXHLAED WITH FORCE WHICH IS BRIEF, ACTIVE AND LOUD WHERE AS NORMAL AIR IS INHALED SILENTLY. IT ALSO GIVES GOOD RESULTS AS IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN REMOVING NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM THE BODY. THIS EXERCISE PROVES TO BE A BLESSING FOR A FATTY PERSON IF DONE REGULARLY.

                     ANULOMA VILOMA - INHALE FROM LEFT NOSTRIL WHILE KEEPING RIGHT NOSTRIL CLOSED WITH THUMB, CLOSE LEFT NOSTRIL WITH MIDDLE FINGER, LIFT THE THUMB FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL TO OPEN IT AND EXHALE FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL AND INHALE FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL. CLOSE RIGHT NOSTRIL WITH THE THUMB. LIFT MIDDLE FINGER TO OPEN LEFT NOSTRIL AND EXHALE FROM LEFT. REPEAT THIS CYCLE.

                     SURYA BEDHA - CLOSE THE LEFT NOSTRIL AND INHALE AND EXHALE SLOWLY FROM RIGHT NOSTRIL. IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE IN WINTERS. IT GIVES WARM EFFECT ON BODY.

                      CHANDRA BEDHA - CLOSE THE RIGHT NOSTRIL AND INHALE AND EXHALE SLOWLY FROM LEFT NOSTRIL. IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE IN SUMMERS. IT HAS COOL EFFECT ON BODY.

TO FEEL GOD

                  

                                     VISION OF GOD

                    WHEN MIND IS CONCENTRATED FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THEN ONE HAVE VISIONS OF GOD. GENERALLY A GOLDEN LIGHT WILL APPEAR IN WHICH YOU WILL SEE THE DEITY. THE SOUND OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WILL RING IN ONE'S EARS. ONE SHOULD NOT GIVE MUCH IMPORTANCE TO SUCH VISIONS. ONE HAS TO CONTINUE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TILL ONE HAS ATTAINED IMMENSE PEACE AND SELF REALISATION.

                   FEELING OF SEPERATION

                WHILE CONTINUING THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, ONE WILL EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF SEPARATENESS FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FROM ONE'S OWN BODY.

                   I LOST LOVE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. THE SHOWER OF MY LOVE TOWARDS THEM HAS DRIED UP. I LOOK AT THEM AS STRANGER. EARLIER I HAD LOVED THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. ALL THE AFFECTIONS HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT OF ME. MR "Y" EXPRESSED THE CHANGE IN HIS FEELINGS AFTER AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI ENERGY. I AM COMPLETE STRANGER IN MY OWN BODY, I AM SCARED . I FEEL IT IS PERILOUS TO LIVE IN THIS BODY.

                   THIS GIVES IMMENSE JOY MIXED WITH FEAR. JOY IS FELT AS ONE ENTERS AS NEW PLANE AND FEELS LIKE ONE IS FLYING IN AIR ROTATING IN MID-AIR. ONE IS STARTED BY THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE FEAR OF FALLING DOWN. GOPI KRISHNA IS HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY WROTE, "MY WHOE BODY WAS SO ENGROSSED IN THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE LOTUS THAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME I LOST TOUCH WITH MY BODY AND SURROUNDINGS. DURING SUCH INTERVALS I USED TO FEEL AS IF I WERE POISED IN MID-AIR, WITHOUT ANY FEELING OF A BODY AROUND ME. THE ONLY OBJECT OF WHICH I WAS AWARE WAS A LOTUS OF BRILLIANT COLOUR, EMITTING RAYS OF LIGHT".

                   WHEN MIND AND EGO DISSOLVE, ONE EXPERIENCES SAMADHI. ACCORDING TO SWAMI SIVANANDA, " THROUGH CONCENTRATION, YOU RISE ABOVE BODY-CONSCIOUSNESS, THROUGH MEDITATION. YOU RISE ABOVE MIND, AND FINALLY THROUGH SAMADHI, YOU BECOME ONE WITH BRAHMA. THESE ARE THE THREE IMPORTANT. ANTARANGA SADHANAS (INTERNAL MEANS), IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF FINAL BEATITUDE. WHEN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF DAWNS, IGNORANCE, WHICH IS THE SEED FOR BONDAGE AND THE CAUSE OF KARMA IS TOTALLY ERADICATED AND THE ASPIRANT ATTAINS IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL BLISS".

                  ❤     TAKE WHAT YOU LIKE AND LEAVE WHAT YOU DISLIKE  .❤

                          USELESS CONVERSATION

                   MOST OF THE TIME, ONE IS BUSY IN SUCH USELESS CONVERSATION. SUCH CONVERSATION EAT UP A LARGE PART OF OUR ENERGY TIME. ENERGY WHICH CAN BE UTILISED FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOD REALISATION IS WASTED IN USELESS AND EXCESSIVE CONVERSATION. TOO MUCH TALKING MAKES ONE'S MIND RESTLESS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY UNFIT FOR MEDITATION. KEEPING SILENCE FOR SOME TIME DAILY IS THE BEST OPTION TO MINIMISE IT. IN SILENCE ONE FINDS TIME TO LOOK INSIDE. TO OBSERVE AND ENJOY ONE'S COMPANY. SILENCE SHOULD BE KEPT DURING THAT TIME WHEN ONE IS FEELING THE NEED TO CONVERSE THE MOST.

                      AS SOON AS ONE SITS IN SILENCE THE NAUGHTY MIND STARTS TALKING. OM SWAMI SAID, EACH TIME TO CONTROL OF CURB IT,  INSTEAD STOP IT EITHER BY IGNORING IT OR BY CONCENTRATING ON THE POINT OF YOUR FOCUS. REMEMBER, YOU MIND ONLY TALKS IF YOU LISTEN TO IT.

                          FAULT FINDING, SELF-PRAISING, BACK-BITING AND TRYING TO PULL DOWN OTHER PEOPLE ARE THE MOST ABOUT TOPICS DURING CONVERSATION. THE ROOT CAUSE OF SUCH THINKING IS JEALOUSY AND IGNORANCE. THESE CAN BE EASILY OVERCOME BY ENGAGING ONESELF IN THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY AND CHANTING MANTRA.

                      EGO

                   EGO MEANS WHATEVER I AM SAYING IS CORRECT. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING WRONG. WHATEVER WAY I HAVE CHOSEN IS THE RIGHT PATH. THIS HOUSE CARE, WIFE, CHILDREN, STATUS AND MONEY ARE MINE. I WANT TO DOMINATE. I WANT TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM OTHERS. I WISH THAT OTHERS PRAISE ME FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE. I CAN'T BEAR THE CRITICISM OR ANY OTHER SORT OF DISAPPROVAL FROM OTHERS. I KNOW EVERYTHING AND OTHERS KNOW NOTHING. I AM SUPERIOR AND OTHERS ARE INFERIOR. I CAN'T FORGET AND I CAN'T FORGIVE. EGO IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN NEGATIVE EMOTIONS LIKE ANGER, LUST AND GREED. IT IS THE ATTACHMENT WITH THIS MERE BODY WHICH CREATES SO MUCH PRIDE IN ONE'S MIND.

                     SOUL IS VEILED BY THE EGO. IT IS THE EGO WHICH HAS CREATED THE IDEA OF SEPARATENESS FROM SOUL AND GOD. REMOVE THE BIGGEST HURDLE EGO TO EXPERIENCE THE DIVINE SELF. THE SPACE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE TUMBLER IS THE SAME. BUT ONE HAS TO BREAK THE GLASS TO EXPERIENCE THE VAST SPACE. SIMILARLY ONE HAS TO DESTROY THE EGO TO FEEL THE SELF. BY REGULAR CHANTING OF THE MANTRA, BY DOING KIRTAM, BY SURRENDERING TO GOD, SELFLESS SERVICE, LIVING WITH SPIRITUALLY MINDED PEOPLE AND STRONG DESIRE TO ERADICATE EGO, A SELFLESS WILL IS DEVELOPED.

COLOURS AND SOUNDS DOING MEDITATION

 

               

                         EXPERIENCES IN MEDITATION

                  WHEN ONE CLOSES EYES FOR MEDITATION, ONE SEES ONLY DARKENESS. IN THE DARKNESS MIND WANDERS HERE AND THERE AND JUMPS FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. WITH PRACTICE, ONE LEARNS TO FOCUS MIND. AS SOON AS THE MIND STARTS CONCENTRATING ONE SEES A LIGHT OF THE SIZE OF STRAIGHT PIN HEAD. MIND WONDERS ABOUT THE SIZE. COLOUR OR BEAUTY OF LIGHT. IT DISTURBS THE CONCENTRATION OF MIND AND HENCE THE LIGHT DISAPPEARS. SOON THE MIND BECOMES HABITUAL OF SEEING LIGHTS. ITS EVER CHANGING SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR. THE CONCENTRATION OF MIND IS NOT DISTURBED WITH ALL THESE VIBRANT LIGHTS. ALTHOUGH THE APPEARANCE OF LIGHTS PROVES THAT ONE IS MOVING ON THE RIGHT TRACK BUT THEY ARE OBSTACLES AS THEY DISTURB ONE'S CONCENTRATION. SO, IT'S BETTER TO IGNORE THESE LIGHTS.

                    SEEING INNER LIGHTS

                 AFTER PRACTISING CONCENTRATION FOR SOME TIME A TINY LIGHT APPEARS IN THE FRONT OF FOREHEAD. IT REMAINS THERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AS ONE'S CONCENTRATION INCREASES THE SIZE AS WELL AS THE DURATION OF LIGHTS APPEARING INCREASES. LIGHT CAN BE OF VARIOUS COLOURS LIKE RED, YELLOW, WHITE, GREEN, BLUE OR MIXTURE OF TWO. THESE LIGHTS ARE ELEMENTAL LIGHTS REPRESENTING EARTH, WATER, FIRE, AIR AND SKY. SEEING LIGHTS IN MEDITATION HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW:

                 1. RED - IT UPLIFTS THE ENERGY.

                 2. ORANGE - IT PURIFIES THE BODY.

                 3. YELLOW - IT STIMULATES WAKEFULNESS.

                4. GREEN - IT RELAXES MIND. IT REDUCES SLEEP.

                5. BLUE - IT LESSONS TENSIONS.

               6. INDIGO - IT PURIFIES THE MIND.

               7. VIOLET - IT GIVES VAIRAGYA (DISPASSION) IT DETACHES THE MIND FROM EARTHLY MATTERS.

               8. WHITE - IT IS THE SYNTHESIS OF ALL COLOURS. IT IS SEEN AT THE TIME OF BLISSFUL EXPERIENCES AND JUST BEFORE THE DAWN OF SAMADHI.

         

                      BEGIINERS GENERALLY SEE RED, ORANGE AND YELLOW LIGHTS WHEREAS THE VIOLET IS SELDOM NOTICEABLE.

                      SOMETIMES SUN OR FLASHING LIGHTS APPEAR IN THE FRONT OF FOREHEAD. THESE LIGHTS CONFIRM THAT ONE IS PROGRESSING. BUT ONE SHOULD AVOID PONDERING TOO MUCH ON THESE LIGHTS RATHER STOP THINKING ABOUT THEM. THE BEST WAY TO PROGRESS FURTHER IS TO SHUN THEM. SEEING A SNAKE AFTER KUNDALINI IS AWAKENED IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS. SOMETIMES GOD AND SAINTS APPEAR TO BLISS. THE MANTRA DEITY AS ONE HAS IMAGINED WILL APPEAR, WEARING BEAUTIFUL DRESS, VARIOUS ORNAMENTS, GARLANDS, FLOWERS AND WITH MUSICAL INTRUMENTS IN WEAPONS IN HIS HANDS.

                         TRIANGLE IS SEEN BY ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE VAIRAGYA (NON - ATTACHEMENT) FOR WORDLY THINGS, WHO CONSIDER FRIEND AND FOE A LIKE, CONSIDER PAIN AND PLEASURE A LIKE, WHO HAVE GIVEN UP EGOISM AND WHO DON'T CURSE OR BLESS ANYONE.

                           VISIONS AND DAZZLING LIGHTS CAN BE OF WIDE VARIETY. ONE SHOULD NEITHER BE TOO DELIGHTED TO SEE THEM NOR TOO FRIGHTENED BY THEIR WEIRDBESS. ONE SHOULD ONLY IGNORE THEM TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP.

                                  HEARING INNER SOUNDS

                          DURING MEDITATION EARS ARE CLOSED WITH THUMBS AS IN YONI MUDRA AND DISTINCT INNER SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD BY BEGINNERS. IF ONE PRACTISES TO HEAR THESE SOUNDS DAILY THEN IT INCREASE ONE'S ABILITY TO HEAR DISTANT SOUNDS WITH EASE. ACCORDING TO HAMSA UPANISHAD, THE SOUNDS THAT ARE GENERALLY HEARD ARE LIKE THE SOUND OF WORD CHINI, CHINI-CHINI , BELL, CONCH-BLOWING, TANTIRI (LUTE), TALA (CYMBALS), FLUTE, BHERI (DRUM), MRIDANGA (DOUBLE DRUM) SOUND, THUNDER SOUND OR SOMETIMES A COMBINATION OF HARMONIOUS AND MELODIOUS SOUNDS. SOMETIMES ONE ALSO SMELLS FRAGRANCE OF INCREASES, ROSE AND OTHER FLOWERS.

HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES DURING MEDITATION

 

                          OBSTACLES IN MEDITATION

                    OBSTACLES APPEAR IN MEDITATION SOMEWHAT LIKE THE OBSTACLES WHILE PERFORMING ANY OTHER WORK. WHATEVER OBSTACLES COMES ONE MUST TRY ONE'S BEST TO OVERCOME IT. ONE SHOULD NEVER STOP PRACTICE, ONE SHOULD NOT LOSE HEART. ONE SHOULD KEEP MOVING FUTHER WITHOUT GETTING DISTRACTED BECAUSE OF THE OBSTACLES. ONE SHOULD NOT BE DICOURAGED BY THE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD TAKE LONG TIME. IT IS A LONG JOURNEY WHICH CAN NOT BE COMPLETED OVERNIGHT.

                      

               WATCH YOUR MIND VERY CAREFULLY. BE ALERT, DO NOT ALLOW THE WAVES OF JEALOUSY, LUST, GREED, HATRED AND ANGER TO DISTURB YOU. THESE WAVES ARE THE OBSTACLES OF MEDITATION. THEY SPOIL YOUR PEACE OF MIND AND WISDOM. THESE THOUGHTS CAN BE CHECKED BY KEEPING VIGILANCE ON THEM. YOU SHOULD TRAIN YOUR MIND TO OVERCOME INTELLIGENTLY THESE STUMBLING BLOCKS ON THE PATH OF GOD REALISATION. YOU SHOULD NEVER BE DISCOURAGED. NEVER LET THE LAZINESS AND LETHARGY SETS IN. IN DAILY ROUTINE, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR BUSINESS TO HAMPER YOUR REGULAR PRACTICE OF MEDITATION.  EGO AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS EMERGING IN YOUR MIND SHOULD BE UPROOTED. EAT NUTRITIVE  DIET FOR HEALTHY BODY AND SANE MIND. NEVER LOSE FAITH IN GOD AND NEVER STOP PRACTICE OF MEDITATION, KEEP MOVING AS PATH IS VERY LONG. MR "Y" EXPLAINED TO MS, "G".

                                IRREGULARITY IN PRACTICE

                     I HAVE STARTED BLOGGING WHICH MEANS WRITING POSTS REGULARLY ON INTERNET". NEAR ABOUT ONE YEAR BACK, MR. "X" ELATEDLY TOLD MR."M" THE ELDEST MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY.

                    OTHER PERSONS VISIT YOUR SITE AND LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE POST, "M" SAID. YES.

                   YOU WRITE ON WHICH TOPIC?

                  I PEN DOWN MY MINUTE OBSERVATIONS. I AM WRITING IN ENGLISH AND NOT IN HINDI. I KNOW MY ENGLISH IN NOT SO GOOD BUT I  AM GIVING IT A TRY.

                  NEVER BE IRREGULAR IN WRITING POSTS. NEVER CEASE THE PRACTICE OF WRITING AS AFTER SOMETIME IT WILL MONOTONOUS. KEEP WRITING REGULARLY, ONE DAY YOUR ENGLISH WILL DEFINITELY IMPROVE" HE ADVISED.

                MR. "X" RECALLED THIS CONVERSATION AFTER HEARING THE NEWS OF HIS DEATH.

                                                                       ❤

                        A KID WAS NOT DOINNG THE MORNING YOGA EXERCISES PROPERLY EVEN ON MS. "B" S REPEATED ADVICES. WHY YOU ARE NOT CONCENTRATING ON EXERCISE? AT LAST SHE LAST HER TEMPER AND SCOLDED HIM.

                       MA' AM , TODAY I FORGOT TO BRUSH MY TEETH" HE REPLIED 

                      INNOCENTLY.

                 DON'T MAKE USELESS EXCUSES TO ESCAPE OF EXERCISE, REGULAR PRAYERS AND MEDITATION. DUE TO BUSY ROUTINE OR MONOTONY IN PRACTICE ONE SHOULD NEVER STOP MEDITATION. MINDS WANTS VARIETY.  SOON IT GETS BORED WITH THE ROUTINE OT MEDITATION ONE SHOULD CREATE VARIETY BY CHANTING MANTRA LOUDLY OR WHISPERING. ONE SHOULD LISTEN TO RECORDED MANTRA. ONE CAN DANCE ON THAT MANTRA. ONE CAN PAINT THAT MANTRA, ONE CAN CREATE LORD'S IMAGE BY WRITING THAT MANTRA ALL OVER. ONE CAN CHANGE THE SCHEDULE OF MEDITATION BUT MEDITATION SHOULD NEVER BE COMPLETELY STOPPED.  SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN UP WHATEVER SITUATION MAY ARISE IN ONE'S LIFE. IN THE BEGINNING ONE IS FULL OF ENTHUSIASM AND HOPES TO GET RESULTS IN VERY SHORT TIME. ONE NOT ACHIEVING THOSE RESULTS, GENERALLY ONE GIVES UP PRACTICE. ONE SHOULD MEDITATE WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS . PROGRESS HAPPENS BUT SLOWLY. SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA SAID, YOU HAVE TO PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE, UNTIL THE MIND BECOMES MANTRA AND MANTRA BECOMES THE MIND. CESSATION OF PRACTICE IS A GRAVE MISTAKE, SADHANA, SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES'.

                                 HEALTHY FOOD IN MEDITATION

                        THE BODY SHOULD BE KEPT HEALTHY AND STRONG IT IS A VEHICLE FOR GOD REALISATION. AS THE SHARP TOOL GIVEN GOOD RESULTS IN LESS TIME SIMILARLY HEALTHY BODY HELPS IN ACHIEVING GOAL SOONER. REGULAR EXERCISES, PRANAYAMAS, GOOD DIET AND MODERATE SLEEP HELP IN MAINTAINING THE BODY IN GOOD SHAPE. GOOD HEALTH HELPS IN KEEPING THE MIND IN CHEERFUL STATE.

                    ROAMING UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IN ORLANDO CITY, VIEWING EXCITING THINGS AND EXPERIENCING THRILLING ADVENTURES IN THEME PARKS, NOT ONLY MADE MR. "F" TIRED BUT HUNGRY ALSO. THERE WERE OF EATING PLACES THOUGH VEGETARIAN FOOD WAS AVAILABLE ONLY AT A FEW COUNTERS. H SEARCHED ONE, ORDERED PIZZA, CHILLED CAKE AND SWEET CHOCO COOKIE.

                   AS SOON AS HE ATE THE FIRST MORSEL OF PIZZA, HE REALISED WHY IN AMERICA MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE NON-VEGETARIAN. IT WAS STICKY, DIFFICULT TO CHEW AND WHAT TO SAY OF TASTE. IT WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THE HOSTEL RATIS IN INDIA. HE WAS NOT SURE WHETHER HE COULD FIND SOMETHING VEGGIE BETTER THAN THIS, SO CONTINUED EATING TILL IT WAS FINISHED.

                     THAT'S A TOTALLY  DIFFERENT STORY THAT PIZZA REMAINED IN HIS STOMACH FOR TWO DAYS CAUSING HIM ALL THAT BLAH BLAH. HE FELT WEAK AND COULDN'T CONCENTRATE HIS MIND WHILE MEDITATING BECAUSE OF GASTRIC PROBLEM AND HEAVINESS IN STOMACH.

                     IMPROPER DIET IS AN OBSTACLES IN MEDITATION. IT CAUSES MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS LIKE STOMACH ACHE, POOR DISGESTION AND SLEEP DISORDER. FOOD SHOULD BE LIGHT, NUTRITIVE AND EASILY DIGESTIBLE.

THE DETAIL ABOUT KUNDALINI

 

             

                                  SYPTOMS OF

                    KUNDALINI AWAKENING

                                                                 👀

                   ACCORDING TO SWAMI SIVANANDA, "DURING MEDITATION YOU BEHOLD DIVINE VISIONS, EXPERIENCES DIVINE SMELL, DIVINE TASTE, DIVINE TOUCH, HEAR DIVINE ANAHATA SOUNDS. YOU RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD. THESE INDICATE THAT THE KUNDALINI SHAKTI HAS BEEN AWAKENED. WHEN THERE IS THROBBING IN MULADHANA, WHEN HAIRS STAND ON THEIR ROOTS, WHEN UDDIYANA, JALANDHARA AND MULA BANDHA COME ONVOLUNTARILY, KNOW THAT KUNDALINI HAS AWAKENED".

                   SOME OF THE KUNDALINI AWAKENING SYMPTOMS 

                                         ARE LISTED BELOW"

                                                              ❤

                               1. THROBBING AT THE BASE OF SPINE.

                              2. INVOLUNTARY BODY MOVEMENTS LIKE JERKS, FORCE PUSHING BODY STRANGE WAYS OR MAKING UNUSUAL POSTURES ESPECIALLY DEDITATION, REST HOURS AND JUST BEFORE ENTERING THE SLEEP.

                           3. CHOKING IN THROAT.

                         4. OVERWHELMING FATIGUE OR HYPERACTIVITY.

                        5. DISTURBED SLEEPING PATTERN AND SLIGHT PAIN IN HEAD.

                      6. BAD DIGESTION.

  

                     7. ELECTRIC CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SPINE.

                     8. ROLLING OF EYEBALLS OR MOVEMENT OF EYES UPWARD AND 

                         NOT ABLE TO OPEN EYELIDS DESPITE EFFORTS MADE FOR THAT.

                    9. FEELING OF ENERGY MOVING INSIDE THE BODY, MUSCLE TWITCHING, 

                      HOT AND COLD CHANGES IN BODY TEMPERATURE.

                   10. FEELING OF SENSATIONS LIKE CRAWLING OF INSECT, TINGLING,

                   AND ITCHING.

  

                  11.  TEARS IN EYES WHILE MEDITATING.

                 12. HEARING INNER SOUNDS.

                13. SEEING INNER LIGHTS OF VARIOUS COLOURS AND IN VARIOUS FORMS.

                 14. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INTEREST IN MUSIC, ART, POETRY,

                  CROSSWORD ETC.

                15. FEELING OF BLISS.

               16. ECSTASY.

                   DIFFERENT PERSON'S EXPERIENCES VARY BECAUSE THE NATURE, PAST KARMAS AND THOUGHTS OF PERSONS DIFFER. SOME MAY EXPERIENCE ALL THESE SYMPTOMS WHILE OTHERS MAY EXPERIENCES ONLY A FEW.

                 MR. 'V' MEDITATING IN HIS CLOSED ROOM. HIS MIND STARTED TO FOCUS ON THE OBJECT. SUDDENLY HE FELT THAT HE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. HIS BACK VIBRATED SO INTENSELY THAT HE HAD TO OPEN UP HIS EYES WHETHER IT WAS SOMETHING INSIDE HIS BODY OR OUTSIDE.

                 MS. 'L' WAS RESTING IN HER ROOM. HER BODY VIBRATED. SHE FELT JERKS IN HER LEGS. SHE FELT THAT EARTHQUAKE HAS HIT HER CITY. SOON SHE REALISED IN NOT OUTER QUAKE RATHER INNER SERPANT MAKING ITS WAY TOWARDS THE CROWN OF HER HEAD.

THE POWERFUL MANTRAS

 

                          

                             TYPES OF MANTRA AND

                                       JAPA MEDITATION

                              SRI RAM JAYE RAM JAYE JAYE RAM

                       THIS IS THE MANTRA FOR LORD RAM. IT GIVES INNER STRENGTH AND IMMENSE PEACE OF MIND. IT GIVES DISPASSION AND SALVATION.

                               OM SRI MAHA LAKSHMYAI NAMAH

                      THOSE WHO WISH TO WORSHIP GODDESS LAKSHMI CAN CHANT THIS MANTRA. IT GIVES PROSPERITY. IT BELOWS WEALTH OF MATERIALISTIC AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL NATURE.

   

                                         OM SRI RAMA NAMAH

                I BOW TO LORD RAM, THE SUPREME DEITY WHO REPRESENTS THE SELF. THIS IS THE BEST MANTRA FOR THE HOURSEHOLDERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES.

                                         OM SRI HANUMATE NAMAH

                   IT GIVES STRENGTH, POWER AND DEVOTION. IT GUIDES TO TRUMP ALL THE OBSTACLES COMING IN THE PATH OF GOD REALISATION.

                                               OM NAMAH SHIVAYA 

                   I BOW TO LORD SHIVA THE DEITY OF TRANSFORMATION. IT DESTROYS ONE'S LOWER NATURE. IT ANNIHILATES NEGATIVE QUALITIES GIVING WAY TO POSITIVE QUALITIES TO GROW.

                                JAPA MEDITATION

               JAPA MEDITATION IS THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST COMMONLY USED TECHNQUE OF GOD REALISATION. SWAMI SIVANANDA SAID, "NAMA (NAME OF GOD) AND NAMI (THAT WHICH IS DENOTED BY NAME) ARE INSEPARABLE. REMEMBER HIS NAME. CHANT HIS NAME. SING HIS NAME. GLORY TO HIS NAME ! VICTORY TO HIS NAME, WHICH BLESSESS US FOR EVER AND CONFERS IMMORTALITY, SUPREME PEACE AND ETERNAL BLISS!

                THERE ARE SO MANY MANTRAS OF VARIOUS DEITIES. ONE HAS TO SELECT THE MANTRA BEFORE STARTING JAPA MEDITATION. ONLY THOSE MANTRA SHOULD BE SELECTED FOR WHICH ONE HAS FULL DEVOTION AND COMPLETE FAITH. THE FAITH SHOULD BE SO STRONG THAT ONE HAS TO WORSHIP THEM THROUGHOUT ONE'S LIFE, WITHOUT FEELING BORED. MANTRA AND DEITY ONCE CHOSEN SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE ARE MANY PATHS THAT LEAD ONE TO THE TOP OF MOUNTAIN. SIMILARLY THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO GOD REALISATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT WHATEVER PATH ONE MAY CHOOSE ONE SHOULD BE CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL LEAD TO SUCCESS IN LIFE.

THE TYPES OF HINDU MANTRAS

                             

                                  TYPES OF MANTRAS 

                     SAGUNA MANTRAS - MANTRAS WHICH GIVE RISE TO THE ACTUAL FORM OF A PARTICULAR DEITY AND HAVE A PARTICULAR SHAPE ARE KNOWN AS SAGUNA MANTRAS. ON CHANTING, THEY LEAD TO GOD REALISATION. THEY HAVE FORM, QUALITIES, AND VISUAL SYMBOLS. THE MANTRA IS THE DEITY ITSELF. THE MANTRAS SHOULD BE CHANTED PROPERLY WITH FULL CONCENTRATION ON EACH AND EVERY WORD.

                    OM NAMAH SHIVAYE'  IS LORD SHIVA'S MANTRA. HARI OM' IS THE MANTRA OF LORD VISHNU.

                     NIRGUNA MANTRAS - MANTRAS WHICH DO NOT GIVE RISE TO THE ACTUAL FORM OF A PARTICULAR DEITY ARE FORMLESS ARE CALLED NIRGUNA MANTRAS. THESE MANTRAS HELP IN BECOMING ONE WITH NATURE. THEY HAVE MYSTICAL ENERGY. THEY SHOULD BE PRONOUNCED OR CHANTED CORRECTLY. MISPRONUNCIATION CAN CAUSE SEVERE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON ONE'S BRAIN.

                    AHAM BRAHMA ASMI' MEANS I AM BRAHMA. IN THIS MANTRA ONE DENIES BODY CONSCIOUSNESS AND AFFIRMS UNITY WITH BRAHMA.

                      MANTRAS FOR JAPA - THESE ARE SOME OF THE MANTRAS CHANTED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

                     1. OM

                          IT IS THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE AND ORIGINAL VIBRATION OF GOD. ITIS THE MANIFESTATION OF ABSOLUTE. IT REPRESENTS GOD AS OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT AND OMNIPOTENT OM LETTER BY LETTER A-U-M REPRESENTS SHAKTI, DIVINE ENERGY UNITED IN THREE ELEMENTARY ASPECTS BRAHMA SHAKTI (CREATION) , VISHNU SHAKTI (PRESERVATION) REPRESENTS THE SLEEP STATE AND "M" REPRESENTS THE DEEP SLEEP STATE AND THE COMBINATION AUM REPRESENTS TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS. ACCORDING TO MANDUKYA UPANISHAD, "AUM STANDS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD".

                    2. OM SRI MAHA GANAPATAYE NAMAH

                I BOW TO LORD GANESH WHO IS THE KING OF "GANAS" TROOPS. HE REMOVES ALL OBSTACLES AND GIVES PROTECTION. IT GIVES SUCCESS IN MATERIALISTIC AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL LIFE.

                   3. OM NAMO NARAYANAYA

           

               THIS MANTRA IS FOR LORD VISHNU. NARAYANA IS ONE OF HIS NAMES. HE IS THE PRESERVER OF THE WORLD. PEOPLE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE RUNNING OF ANY INSTITUITION OR SOCIETY CAN CHANT THIS MANTRA.

               NAMBI GAVE INITIATION OF RAMANUJA FOR THE MANTRA "OM NAMO NARAYANAYA" AND ASKED RAMANUJA TO MAINTAIN ITS SECRECY AS IT IS A VERY POWERFUL MANTRA. ON CONTINUOUS REPETITION IT GIVES SALVATION. IT SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY TO A WORTHY DISCIPLE. ON REALISIN THAT IT IS A POWERFUL MANTRA, RAMANUJA ASSEMBLED PERSONS OF ALL CASTE, CREED AND SOCIAL STATUS AND TOLD THEM THE MANTRA TO SALVATION. HE WAS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND KIND. HE WANTED THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD ENJOY THE ETERNAL BLISS OF LORD NARAYANA.

                    4. HARI OM

               HARI IS THE NAME OF LORD VISHNU. IT DESTROYS PAST KARMAS AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS. IT GIVES SALVATION.

                 5.  OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA

             IT IS THE MANTRA OF LORD KRISHNA. VASUDEVA IS ONE OF LORD KRISHNA'S NAMES. IT GIVES VAIRAGYA (DISPASSION) AS WELL AS MUKTI (SALVATION)

                6. OM SRI DURGAYAI NAMAH

              MOTHER DURGA IS SHAKTI, SHE HAS EIGHT ARMS IN WHICH SHE CARRIES WEAPONS AND LOTUS FLOWER. SHE RIDES A TIGER. THIS MANTRA GIVES POWER AND REMOVES FEAR.

                7. OM SRI MAHA KALIKAYAI NAMAH

            THIS MANTRA IS FOR GODDESS KALI WHO REMOVES NEGATIVE QUALITIES FROM INDIVIDUAL AND HELPS IN  COSMIC UNION OF INDIVIDUAL SOUL.

                  8. OM AIM SARASWATYAI NAMAH

               GODDESS SARASWATI IS THE SOURCE OF LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE. SHE SHOWERS KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELDS OF ART AND MUSIC. THIS MANTRA HELPS IN CREATING INNOVATION IDEAS. IT ALSO INCREASES KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.