Yoga Meditation

Mantra Yoga
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This means chanting of phrases, words which when chanted in full attention and could give you a sense of calmness and tranquility. It can also be stated as the achievement of the ultimate salvation by the chanting of verses. Most of the chants and phrases in Vedas are used for this purpose. A mantra is a word or sound one repeats aloud or silently that brings one to a focussed state of peace. Often it is a name of God or a spiritual phrase. The Hindu and Buddhist traditions have identified many mantras and elaborated upon their various characteristics and effects upon the meditator. Mantras are used in most every other mystical tradition as well. The mantra is a spiritual tool worthy of deep study by the spiritual seeker. Yet, one can benefit from the use of a mantra without adhering to any particular set of beliefs.

In his book The Relaxation Response, Herbert Benson describes how his research found that physiological changes associated with the relaxation response, for instance, decreased oxygen consumption; decreased carbon-dioxide elimination; decreased rate of breathing, could be elicited using a meaningless word or phrase, just as they can be elicited with a sacred mantra. Benson suggested using the word “One” as a mental device to shift the mind from logical, externally oriented thought. Repeating the word in coordination with the breath shuts off the flow of thoughts that keeps us revved up in our normal waking state. This was a way to gain knowledge about the universe and find unison in you. When the mantras are chanted it helps in keeping the individual away from the material world and be focused on the essentials of life. It is also a way to supreme consciousness which was a part of mans life.

There are many mantras which can be used and are mainly in Sanskrit. The most common and used worldwide is the “Om” mantra which helps in creating that feeling of ease and calmness. These mantras can also be found in English to let each and everyone practice it. It relaxes your body and mind and keeps you away from the distraction and a continuous focus is on the Mantra which creates the energy level making it beneficial for you. The Mantra is the only thing that remains in your mind, which increases your concentration and self-awareness level.In a practical sense, any soothing word or sound can be used as a mantra. Some teachers suggest using a nonsense word. Others prescribe a word of deep spiritual meaning. We suggest you use one that will grow in meaning for you through repetition. While meditation has physiological and psychological benefits as a mental exercise alone, it is also a fundamental tool for attaining deeper meaning in life, for reaching a higher level of consciousness. Its benefits are transformational if you allow them to be. One could do hatha yoga or Tai Chi in the same spirit as one approaches calistenic exercises and receive benefit. One could do meditation as a relaxation exercise and obtain benefits. But one would also be missing out on the wondrousness of it all.

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This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in saftey,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

Everyone learns differently, learning about yoga and Buddhist meditation is no different. Some people try out yoga because their friends are trying it - word-of-mouth is enough to get them started.

Others choose to start yoga and meditation driven mainly by a health scare, or a chronic health condition such as back pain, arthritis - even temporary conditions such as weight loss and pregnancy can
benefit from yoga and meditation.

Then, there are those (and I happen to fall into this camp) who like to understand WHY something works. Not necessarily a scientist, but we would like to know enough about the premise of yoga and meditation
to be able to satisfy our own minds and more important, any skeptics out there, why yoga and meditation has an impact on your mind and body.As psychology developed, its practitioners believed they needed to focus on the observable in order for psychology to be considered a true science. So they ignored ideas like the soul. Some took this exclusion a step farther and ignored the mind, focusing their studies merely on behavior. These relatively few individuals had a powerful influence on the way many of the rest of us think about ourselves.

One of the most common problems I’ve experienced is tight shoulders or shoulder “kinks” and stiff necks. Early on, it became obvious that yoga and meditation helped tremendously with this chronic 20+
year-old problem.

Yoga helps back, shoulder and neck pain in two main ways: reducing stress leading to chemical build-up in your muscles and joints and stretches that keep muscles loose and limber. A combinaton of
meditation, breathing and yoga asanas that focus on upper body stretching are extremely effective in reducing this pain.

So maybe we should take another look at this whole soul issue. What if, as innumerable sages and spiritual masters have believed through the millennia, we are a soul that has acquired a body? If we do not live inside our bodies, but our bodies live inside us, how does that change the way we do our lives? How does that change what we feel about ourselves? What if our spirit does survive earthly death? How would that change the way we live before death?

If the soul survives death, and perhaps returns to a new body, what is it that survives? What characteristics of your so-called self would persist if your body was no more? What might cause consciousness to persist in the absence of a body? Where might the idea of attachment fit in? Could the soul be persistent, but not permanent and unchanging?

Continuos flow of thought or awareness on one subject is meditation: Swami Sivananada.

Meditation is an integral part of Hatha yoga. Meditation is a practice of mindfulness. It is to take time out to relax within to be a better person.

Meditation improves concentration, increase energy level and productivity, help heal the ailments, and expand spirituality. Meditation helps relax within while taking few moments to understand ourselves as well as others. Meditation allows the person to take care of the daily disturbances quietly and peacefully.

Ultimate goal of meditation is to experience the divine nature or power within which everyone has it as Swami Vivekananda said ?Every soul is potentially divine?. Mahatma Gandhi said ?What one not do for the body, the temple of the soul?. Swami Sivananda said ?You are a moving temple of God. What you do is an offering to God?. Holding on to these precious quotes we can always be conscious of what we do and take few moments to correct ourselves and feel better in the process.

What I like most in Swami Sivananda’s meditation teachings is that he greatly emphasized .Mistakes should be our best teachers. Mistakes should help us to grow and evolve and it is not to feel guilty and suffer?.

There are many way you can practice meditation. Meditation can be practiced in your favorite asanas, or in a comfortable sitting position such as sukhasana, ardha padmasana or padmasana. You can also practice meditation sitting in a chair, while taking a walk, or basically any time.

Practicing meditation in the asanas help the chakras(energy centers or spiritual centers) to relax. In return, we start thinking positively and spiritually. Further, in the pranayama, all the pranic channels are purified and assists us to experience peace within.

Patanjali gave so much importance for practicing pranayama prior to meditation. When the prana level is increased, we naturally think powerfully and spiritually. As a matter of fact, meditation naturally unfolds in the pranayama practice.

Counting breath meditation helps improve concentration. Deep breathing and Alternate nostril breathing(Nadi Shuddi) meditation increase and balance the energy. They are highly beneficial to balance and strengthen the emotions. They are also proven to prevent and heal hypertension, allergy, asthma, heart ailments, nervousness, and anxiety. It is one of the best methods for strengthening immune system.

Vipasana meditation and Mantra chanting meditation helps purify and emotions and expand spirituality.

Simple breath meditation is the simplest form of meditation and can be practiced often. It is the base for all other forms of meditation.

Practice

Sit in your comfortable position. Close your eyes. Feel your breath flow in and out through the nostrils. If your mind wanders do not get disturbed. Simply take few moments to understand the situation. When you analyze the issue with an open mind, you tend to get suitable or appropriate answers to your concerned thoughts as generally, unsolved and suppressed matters come on our way in the meditation.

You can also practice this to improve concentration, relieve anxiety, control upcoming anger, to appreciate what you have, and most importantly to be grateful to God for his guidance.

To conclude, meditation makes the practitioner feeling wonderful within and helping to see the same in others. It is to respect your soul and others as well.