Self-Realization through Yoga Meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra

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Yoga Nidra Meditation CD by Swami Jnaneshvara
Yoga Nidra CD
Swami Jnaneshvara

 

A One-line "Short Course"
in Yoga Meditation:

World > Senses > Body > Breath > Mind > Silence 

At Meditation time:

Then (after Breath) is the Mind

  • Next, after exploring the world, senses, body, and breath, you begin to allow the conscious mind to still itself.
  • First, be aware of the process of mind, while continuing to focus on the breath at the nostrils. Become a witness to the inner functioning of the mind. (more on functions of mind)
  • Allow the streams of thoughts to flow naturally, without interruption, yet remaining focused. (more on inviting thoughts)
  • Next, allow your attention to rest either in the heart or the eyebrow center, following your own predisposition. In the heart, it is a palm-sized space, and in the eyebrow center, it is a tiny circle.
  • Keep attention in that space, not allowing it to wander either to the left or right, or up or down.
  • Then, bring your attention to your chosen object of meditation (inside that space), whether a seen, heard, or felt object; whether gross, subtle, or beyond. For example, it may be a point of light, an inner sound, a visualized object or a mantra. (more on meditation objects)
  • Remain aware of only this inner focus--not body, nor senses, nor breath, nor the streams of the mind--only this one space and object.
  • Allow the natural insights of the subtler mental processes and insights to emerge, and to flow through the field of mind.
  • Continue to allow thoughts to flow, cultivating two skills: remaining focused in the space, while at the same time letting go of the thought patterns.
  • Then, after the conscious mind is no longer a distraction or disturbance, the unconscious and latent aspects of mind are allowed to come forward, are examined, and then allowed to let go. Mind is not stopped or suppressed, but rather is gone beyond, into silence. (more on functions of mind; more on witnessing) (Next)

Preparation, Daily Life, Meditation in Action:

Mind: Yoga meditation deals systematically with all the levels of our being, including training and witnessing the mind and its mental/emotional aspects, as well as the senses, body, and breath. (See Yoga Sutras, including sutras 3.1-3.3 and 3.4-3.6 on Meditation and Samadhi.)

Everybody benefits from training the mind: Everybody has a mind, and its mental and emotional processes. The mind is worthy not only of being well utilized in daily life, but also examined and understood, so as to make the mind a tool rather than an obstacle on the inner journey.

Observation and self-training: Yoga meditation involves observing, accepting, understanding and training the mind through contemplation and meditation. These practices are done both in daily life and at the time of seated contemplation and meditation. Most involve learning non-attachment, letting go of the coloring of attraction or aversion, so that the mind can be focused for the deeper journey beyond the mind.

Doorway to spiritual unfoldment: Many psychological and therapeutic methods of working with the mind and emotions can be useful adjuncts to yoga meditation, such that the purified mind is prepared for deeper spiritual unfoldment.

Next is Silence

 

 

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This site is devoted to presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of the Tradition of the Himalayan masters in simple, understandable and beneficial ways, while not compromising quality or depth. The goal of our sadhana or practices is the highest Joy that comes from the Realization in direct experience of the center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha, which is one and the same with the Absolute Reality. This Self-Realization comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which complement one another like fingers on a hand. We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha, and Tantra Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the Absolute.