Meditation Ananda Marga Yoga
Knowing the Mind The mind is the instrument to be utilized during the practice of meditation. Knowing how it works and its potential is the first step in the practice of meditation.
Some Functions of the Mind Thinking Only one object at a time. Fast moving from one thought to another. Remembering Recollection of previous thoughts. Meditation helps concentrated thinking
Layers of the Mind Crude mind: Conscious mind Subtle mind: Subconscious mind Causal mind: Supramental mind Subliminal mind Subtle mind
Conscious mind: Crude mind Sensing: eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. Desire: attraction or aversion. Acting: hands, feet, vocal cord, sexual and excretory organs. Activates basic instincts: hunger, sleep, sex and fear.
Subtle mind: Subconscious mind Deep thinking Memory: - cerebral memory; - extra-cerebral memory. Experience pain and pleasure Dreaming
Meditation Is Practiced at the Subconscious Layer of the Mind Meditation develops the potential of the deeper layers of the mind.
Causal mind: Supramental mind Creative insight Intuition: Including para-normal phenomena. The seed of samskaras (potential reactions to past actions) find first expression here.
Causal mind: Subliminal mind It can grasp the total existence of the objective world. Development of: - discrimination; and - non-attachment.
Causal mind: Subtle mind The feeling of I is latent. Intense attraction for the Supreme Consciousness.
Pure Consciousness: Atman The Spiritual Self Beyond duality, change, pain and pleasure. The realm of pure peace.
Atman Subtle Causal Subliminal Causal Supramental Causal The Mind Subconscious Conscious Subtle Crude
Meditation Posture: Weight on the base Back straight Shoulders relaxed Chest open
Then take the step of: mind withdrawal
Science of Mantra for Meditation Qualities of Mantra Pulsative Incantative Ideative
Breathing in Pulse with the Mantra Abdominal Gentle Deep
Incantation To purify and still your mind. So that the mind will be in the position to maintain proper parallelism with your spiritual flow.
Chanting the Mantra Baba Nam Kevalam Love Is All There Is
Ideation Meditation is concentrated effort. Ideation is the specific thought (of the Infinite) to be concentrated on during meditation.
Ideation I Am That (Eternal Presence)
Ideation I feel infinite love and peace all around me
Relationship of Body and Mind
The relation between body and mind is very close. Understanding this link is essential for a successful practice of meditation.
Cakra or Plexus These are a collection of gland and subglands located at specific nerve centers. These sub-glands influence the mental propensities (such as emotions) attached to each cakra. Cakras are sub-stations of the mind.
Cakras are located at the intersecting points of the three subtle energy channels which run along the spinal chord.
Mental correlation: Layers of the mind (kosas) Muladhara Cakra Svadhistana Cakra Manipura Cakra Anahata Cakra Vishuddha Cakra Ajina Cakra Sahasrara Cakra Conscious Mind Subconscious Mind Supramental Mind Subliminal Mind Subtle Mind Mind Controlling Point Seat of Consciousness
Mental Propensities (instincts and emotions) 1 st cakra: Psycho-spiritual longing Psychic longing Physical longing Spiritual longing 2 nd cakra: Indifference Lack of common sense Indulgence Lack of confidence Helplessness Cruelty 3 rd cakra: Shyness Sadistic tendency Envy Staticity Melancholia Peevishness Yearning for acquisition Infatuation, blind attachment Hatred, revulsion Fear
Mental Propensities 4 th cakra: Hope Worry Endeavor Attachment Vanity Conscience Nervous break down, numbness due to fear Ego Avarice Hypocrisy Argumentativeness Repentance 5 th cakra: Sa, Rsa, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni 7 sounds of creation Onm - acoustic root of creation, preservation, dissolution Kundalini rising Practication Expression of mundane knowledge Welfare in subtle sphere Performing noble actions Surrender to the Supreme Repulsive expression Sweet expression 6 th cakra: Mundane knowledge Spiritual knowledge
Yoga Postures (Asanas) Physical benefits Keep the body healthy Cure specific diseases
Yoga Postures (Asanas) Psychic benefits Balance emotions and moods by regulating the hormonal secretions
Food for Thought
We are what we eat. Food habits directly influence the mind. A balanced diet is a condition for a balanced mind.
Food Classification Static: harmful for body or mind, may or may not be harmful to the other. Mutative: beneficial for body but is neutral to mind, or vice versa. Subtle / Sentient: beneficial for both, body and mind.
Static or Tamasic Food
Mutative or Rajasic Food
Subtle / Sentient or Sattvika food
Vegetarian Diet For Physical Health and Mind Expansion
Health reasons for a vegetarian diet: Human anatomy and physiology are naturally developed for a vegetarian diet. Meat consumption brings a great deal of diseases to our human organism.
Humanitarian reasons: Animal life has existential value in itself. Animals don t give their life willingly, they undergo fear and pain before being slaughtered. It is possible to be more healthy without causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
Spiritual reasons: To maintain one s own existence without taking other s existence brings peace of mind. To feel compassion and respect for any form of life expands our mind beyond our limited individual self.
Water Drinking The body is composed of up to 80% of fluids Balance liquids in the body Eliminates toxins Keeps the system cool Prevents diseases
Fasting Purifies body and mind Eliminates toxins Gives rest for the digestive system Develops mental strength and concentration
Yogic Ethics Meditation affects every aspect of our lives.
The Ethics of Love Yama: Principles of harmony with society / surrounding environment Niyama: Principles of harmony with the self
Yama Ahimsa: not inflicting pain or hurt on anybody by thought, word or action. Satya: proper action of mind and the right use of words with the spirit of welfare. Asteya: not to take possession of what belongs to others. Brahmacarya: cosmic feeling for each and every object. Aparigraha: not indulge in amenities that are superfluous for the preservation of life.
Niyama Shaoca: purity of body, mind and environment. Santosa: state of proper ease or containment. Tapah: shoulder sorrows and miseries of others to make them happy render service to others. Svadhyaya: clear understanding of any spiritual subject. Iishvara Pranidhana: establish oneself in the Cosmic Idea.
Moral principles Assist in establishing a stable, strong, subtle mind for meditation practices.
Golden Rule Proper adjustment according to: Time Place Person
Life is God-given desire for self-preservation with the simultaneous urge to expand into perfection.