Gurugram April 2014 | Preface

Blessed Self,
Om Namah Sivaya

The Winter Season is been very busy throughout the Organization. Yoga Vacationers and TTC/ATTC Courses gather yoga students together in peaceful Ashrams, with attendance reaching almost to the maximum at a time. The Organization’s Centres are extremely busy, with lots of extra programs and asana classes packed to capacity, evidence that the Organization is able to continue with Swamiji’s vision in propagating Yoga in it’s true spirit.

This month the GURUGRAM continues a Raja Yoga series, reviewing Swami Vishnudevananda’s Instructions on Meditation Series, with excerpts from book The Sivananda Companion to Meditation (2003).

We thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with us always.

Pranams to all.

Religion, philosophy and meditation go hand in hand. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Swami Vishnudevananda Instructions on Meditation Series

Swami Vishnu-devananda would say that it is not possible to teach someone how to meditate, any more than it is possible to teach them how to sleep. Sleep overtakes us only when we detach our mind from its concerns. Meditation also cannot be forced, but unlike sleep, it is a conscious state. We need a degree of willpower to remain in the state of heightened awareness that occurs when we meditate. However, at the same time we need to relax, letting go of all expectations and desires. This subtle balance between the effort needed to sustain concentration on the one side and detachment from all distractions on the other is the art of meditation. We learn to focus the mind without struggle, yet maintain enough control to avoid a drift into reverie. To attain this state of relaxed awareness we need to prepare ourselves, and there are several steps that will help us. It is important to reiterate that meditation is a process, and as such, takes time. Be gentle and patient with your mind; do not expect miracles. The more care and attention you give to the preparation, the more positive the results.

Here are the basic guidelines for the beginner:

3 – THE HABIT

It is important that you maintain consistency in your practice as well as meditating at the same time each day. The subconscious mind needs regularity to develop the habit of settling down and focusing easily. Start with fifteen to twenty minutes’ daily practice and gradually build up to an hour. If you can’t manage this, aim for thirty minutes daily. It is better to meditate every day for thirty minutes than once a week for two hours. Even when you travel, meditate every day. As you establish the practice, you will actually
feel the need to meditate every morning; if circumstances prevent you from practicing,
you will experience an inner discomfort, similar to how you feel if you start your day
without washing. You will realize that meditation is a mental cleansing, necessary for
mental wellbeing. You will find you do not want to miss even a single day of practice.

“Be gentle and patient with your mind; do not expect miracles. The more care and attention you give to the preparation, the more positive the results’. Face north or east to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations.” – Sw. Vishnudevananda

Next month… the sitting position while meditating.

Excerpts from The Sivananda Companion to Meditation (2003) – The Sivananda Yoga Centre; Gaia Books, New York.

Regular meditation alone can give you true happiness. – Sri Swami Sivananda

Chapter VIII: The Yoga of the Indestructible Brahman

ARJUNA UVAACHA:
VIII.1. KIM TADBRAHMA KIM ADHYAATMAM KIM KARMA PURUSHOTTAMA;
ADHIBHOOTAM CHA KIM PROKTAM ADHIDAIVAM KIMUCHYATE.

Arjuna said(to Krishna):
What is that Brahman? What is Adhyatma? What is action, O best among men? What is declared to be Adhibhuta? And what is Adhidaiva said to be?

VIII.2. ADHIYAJNAH KATHAM KO’TRA DEHE’SMIN MADHUSOODANA;
PRAYAANAKAALE CHA KATHAM JNEYO’SI NIYATAATMABHIH.

Who and how is Adhiyajna here in this body, O destroyer of Madhu (Krishna)? And how, at the time of death, art Thou to be known by the self-controlled one?

COMMENTARY: In the last two verses of the seventh discourse, Lord Krishna uses certain philosophical terms. Arjuna does not understand their meaning. So he proceeds to question the Lord.

What is the highest achievement? It is not wealth, position, power or titles or degrees. What then? It is Self-realization/Atma-Jnana (Knowledge of Self). – Sri Swami Sivananda