UNDERSTANDING MEDITATION - 05 th.June,2020.

                                                              

A Fit body , smooth movement of Prana ( Energies / Breath ),  & steady / alert mind are the basic ingredients for MEDITATION. This is the reason , regular practice of Yoga / physical workout  & Pranayama are the prerequisites for MEDITATION.

MEDITATION is not that simple a word as it seems. One can be some what meditative but can never do meditation - its a certain quality. Meditation is not that can be learnt by paying money. Now a days , "Doing Meditation" has become a status symbol , and many are earning good amount of money by just selling "MEDITATION".

As per Yogic anatomy physiology there are 72000 Nadis (the channels through which the energies such as Prana of the physical body, the subtle body and causal body are said to flow) in our body, out of which 36000 connected to the Ida  nadi and other 36000 are connected to the Pingala nadi. Of these 72000, 108 are major & of these 3 are most important - Ida , Pingala & Sushumna. . As discussed in my previous BLOG about PRANAYAMA, the Ida & Pingala can be balanced by manipulating  the rhythm of our breath. These 2 Nadis acts as anode (Pingala) & cathode (Ida) to ignite the coiled ENERGY (Kundalini) dormant in MULADHARA Chakra and pass through the Sushusmna Nadi upwards to the SAHASRARA Chakra.

 Dharna + Dhyana + Samadhi.

Rishi Patanjali's (Sage) Yoga Sutra describes how the mind works & how we can integrate YOGA into our lives. Patanjali's  Ashtanga  Yoga ( Ashtanga  means 8 limbed )  includes 8 components of practice, of which Meditation ( Dhyana ) is the 7th limb , this process cannot be attained without the combination of Concentration ( Dharna ) the 6th limb & the final limb is Enlightment (Samadhi). The first 5 Angas are - Yama , Niyama , Asana , Pranayama & Pratyahara. 

The last 3 limbs are often studied together & are called ANTARATMA SADHANA , or the innermost quest. 

If only the body, mind, emotions & energy are brought to a certain level of preparedness , then only meditation will blossom within you. Meditation has to happen , it cannot stop, similar to our breathing process. A flower blossoms only when the Soil, Sunlight, Atmosphere around become conducive for it to blossom, it will never blossom if we sit and peal it . Similarly , if we just sit for meditation , it will  not happen, it is not about going somewhere, it's home coming , it's getting back to it's original nature, instead of being on the surface you are going back into the core, it can not be done, but we can make it happen.

For Dhyana or Meditation to happen , Dharna or Concentration is the key. Dharna can be found whenever a person is fully present & focused on an activity or object. This focus cures the inner conflicts so commonly experienced. When one is completely focused, you cannot be of two minds about something. This ability to focus all the mind's attention towards one thing is the foundation of Dhyana or meditation, this is also totally necessary if the practitioner is to reach the liberation or Samadhi. Meditation is a deep sense of unity with an object or activity.

Most of our great Rishis & Yogis have referred to focusing on the breath ie watching / following your breath as the object for Dharana or concentration . Few also suggested - focusing on a continuous sound, a static object , flame of the candle / lamp, etc... its totally ones own choice.

Gautama the Buddha introduced a meditation technique - BIPASANA (awareness), aware of your breath, then heart beat, then flow of blood in your veins, the functioning of other body organs, then the awareness slowly gets subtler and subtler.... then ultimately you are aware of  "The Whole Thing - NIRVANA". Buddhists called this  ANAPANA or ANAPANASATI meaning mindfulness of breathing, this is a form of Buddhist meditation originally taught by Gautama Buddha. ANAPANASATI is now common to Tibetan, Zen, Tiantai & Theravada Buddhism as well as western based mindfulness programs .

A general guideline for better results  for all those who  intend to practice meditation : 

1) Preferably in early morning or evening (Sandhya Kala).

2) Practice in a particular place facing East or North..

3) Have your own ASANA (small sitting mattress) , no one else to use it.

4) Wear a fresh washed loose dress.

5) Before you start , Chant some Divine Mantra  for 3-5 minutes of your like, for example : Aum Namaha Shivaya , Hare Ram Hare Krishna, or any of your choice  , or can even do a GURU VANDANA if you are initiated. If you have nothing to chant then just chant AUM in very slow pace : Aaaaa, Ooooo, Mmmmmmmmm (Mmm to be stretched).

6) Doing a BHAMRI Pranayam before start of meditation helps in mental calmness. This Pranayama also known as ad Humming Bee Breath, is a calming breathing practice that soothes the nervous system and helps to connect us our truest inner nature. 

Sit in a cross-legged position, close your eyes and breath deeply.Now close your ears with your thumbs, place your index finger just above your eyebrows and the rest of your fingers over your eyes, with your middle fingers of both hands apply very gentle pressure to the sides of your nose. Now concentrate your mind on the area between your eyebrows.

Keep your mouth closed , breath out slowly through your nose with making a humming sound of "AOOMMMMMMM". Repeat this process for 5 times. Important thing is that while doing this PRANAYAMA assume that you are being connected to all the positive energies of the cosmos.

7) Sambhavi Mudra : Sitting in a cross-legged position, your back should be comfortably straight, whole body to be lose , with palms on your knees facing upwards in Gyana / Vishnu Mudra (where in both hands, the tip of your index finger touches the tip of your thumb forming a ring 👌). Then slightly raise your head upwards, focus both your eyes at a centre point between your both eyebrows & close your eyes, then slowly inhale (count of 6-8) & exhale (count of 8-10) through your nostrils, this should be very smooth and with no sound . your should fully concentrate on the air going in & going out , in other words fully concentrate on your inhalation and exhalation, so that your mind do not get engaged in some other thoughts. Sambhavi Mudra is said to be one of the ideal posture for meditating.

My next blogs will be on PHYSICAL FITNESS (both Female & Male) for those who are going to be 50,  are 50 and above 50 years of age - Introduction, Diet, Warm-ups , Stretching exercises, cardiovascular exercises, strength & endurance training, Body-part wise muscle development exercises , etc.    Please follow my page and share among your contacts.