Dhyanajyothi

By Srinivasa Prasad Pillutla

Dhyanajyothi, Light of Meditation, is a collection of various ancient meditation techniques, aimed at achieving peace of mind. It includes techniques based on Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Bhagavad-Gita and other generally available ones. It is a practical how-to guide, rather than elalorated lengthy philosophical discussions. Authored by a person who has studied the ancient art of Dhyana under the guidance of Sadguru M. Narasimha Prabhu of Bangalore, India.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srinivasa Prasad Pillutla
• Release date: Sep 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301190287

Srinivasa Prasad Pillutla

I was born in 1971 in India. I work as a yoga instructor in bangalore, India. I learn, practice and teach yoga, meditation and spirituality.My blogs are :http://dhyanajyothi.blogspot.inhttp://jayakavya.blogspot.inI broadcast online yoga classes daily at my channel http://www.youtube.com/user/Yogajyothi at 530am - 630am IST. Recorded videos are available at same location.I conduct meditation classes, yoga asana classes at my home. Details are available at http://sppillutla.wix.com/yajnam .

Book preview

Chapter - Dedicated to Guruji

Sadguru M.Narasimha Prabhu

The words in this book are written by me, but the meaning came from the teaching of my Guru. Words fail to express my gratitude to my Guru, who is compassion personified.

One can never repay the debt owed to Guru. It is only by carrying forward the teaching, can one repay that debt.

I dedicate this compilation of Dhyana techniques as an humble offering to him.

Guruji is the founder of Light of the Self foundation, bangalore, india.

Guruji’s recorded talks are available online at http://www.youtube.com/user/AtmajyothiSatsang/videos.

Guruji’s website is at http://www.atmajyothi-satsang.org and http://www.lightofself.org

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Chapter - Introduction

Dhyana, Meditation is a practical science. It has to be practiced to experience it.This is the first lesson I learnt from my Guruji, on which I have based the structure of this book. Each Dhyana is explained only on how to do with a little bit of theory.

The focus is on reducing negative tendencies,and improving positive tendencies of mind, and make mind peaceful.

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Chapter - Aana pana sati (2013-08-16 05:18)

'Aana pana sati' is taught and propagated widely by Buddha and buddhists. It is a simple and extraordinary technique to calm the mind. Since it is simple, people will find it difficult to practice. It takes a minute to explain this to a person. The onus is on the practitioner to practice it all the time. Patience is the key. Continued practice will yield great results.

How to do :

Observe the in-breath and out-breath. Keep your attention on the breath that is going in and the breath that is coming out. Do not hold the breath, or breathe forcefully or alter the breathing pattern. Just observe the breathing and observe that the mind is slowed down and becomes calm and serene. This can be practiced anytime. While walking, eyes open or closed, talking, sitting, and lying down.

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Chapter - Centering (2013-08-16 19:52)

Our thoughts are scattered over our past and future. We are never in present. Our body is present, but mind is absent in present moment. To bring ourselves into present moment, we need to be within our body.

How to do:

Feel the boundaries of your body. Your skin is your boundary. Bring your focus of mind well within the boundary of your skin. Align your sight with your physical eyes. See what is in front of you. Whatever be your physical height, feel that you are that much height only. The top of your head is one end of your boundary, and toes are your other end. Be within the body. Center your focus within the body. If mind runs away thinking about something else, bring it within the body. This I am calling as centering technique. Body is always in present moment. Mind is always running away to past and future. By centering your focus to be within the body, we are bringing the mind to be in present moment.

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Chapter - Fill the pot (2013-08-16 20:04)

What you think, so you become as the Sanskrit proverb yad bhavam tad bhavati goes. Visualization is a powerful technique to fill your being consciously with whatever you want. Your body is the pot.

How to do:

Visualize your body as an empty pot. Take in deep breaths filling your entire body and with each in-breath visualize that peace, joy and happiness is filling the entire pot. Hold for 3 to 4 seconds, and exhale slowly enjoying the peace and happiness in the body. Practice for 10 minutes or as long as you want.

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Chapter - Four combinations of breath (2013-08-16 20:16)

Breath and mind are inter-connected. Making the mind peaceful by consciously altering the breathing pattern is called as pranayama. This technique which I am calling 'Four combinations of breath' is about using the four combinations in which one can breathe. Our breath is either short or long, which gives rise to four combinations.

They are, a) short inhale and short exhale b) short inhale and long exhale c) long inhale and short exhale d) long inhale and long exhale

How to do:

Start with short inhale and short exhale for 3 minutes. Move to short inhale and long exhale for 3 minutes. Then move to long inhale and short exhale for 3 minutes. Then move to long inhale and long exhale for 6 minutes. Stop the practice and sit silently and enjoy the peace of mind.

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Chapter - So ham (2013-08-16 20:23)

In-breath makes a subtle sound which resembles the sound 'sooo'. Out-breath makes a subtle sound which resembles the sound 'ham'. Human beings do this so-ham japa continuously, thus this japa of soham is called 'ajapa japa'. Becoming aware of this sound while breathing is called soham dhyana.

How to do:

Sit silently, close your eyes and listen to the sound of your breathing. Do not mentally chant so-ham or try to listen to sounds that resemble 'so' and 'ham'. Instead just listen to the natural sound of breathing. For some people the sound may be more, for some, it may be very silent. No matter of the volume of the sound, listen to the sound of breathing. As we listen to the subtle sound of breathing, mind becomes extremely peaceful.

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Chapter - Scan and relax (2013-08-17 16:56)

Relaxing the body is very important if you want to relax mind. There will be so many places in the body that we may have pain. Small or large, there will be some tension, pain in some body parts. I am not talking about pain due to a disease. In general, in the body some parts may have stiffness, tension, and pain. Relaxing those body parts which are stiff or tense helps in relaxing the mind. Pay attention to the body first.

How to relax:

Sit or lie down comfortably and close your eyes. Take few deep breaths to settle down your mind. Now, scan your body from top to bottom and find out where is all in the body there is pain. Take your mind to the stressful area, and relax your body part using your mind. Visualize in your mind that the tension is melting away. Do this 'scan and relaxing' repeatedly over entire body. Once you feel that body is sufficiently relaxed, and then relax your mind. You can practice this before going to sleep. You can also practice this during working hours. Take a small break from work, and while sitting in a chair, you can scan your body and relax the body parts which are in tension

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Chapter - Forgive yourself (2013-08-17 17:13)

Mind keeps on jumping from past to future. When your thoughts are mostly related to guilt, regret, or 'I should have done like that', hurt, then understand that your mind is in past. Most people suffer from guilt consciousness if they have a conscience. While we cannot change past, we can change future by altering present. Forgiving ourselves will give peace; it will reduce the guilt consciousness.

How to do:

Remember one of your past actions, which you regret to have done. Contemplate on how that action has affected your consciousness in the form of guilt. Contemplate on how with better understanding you have now; you could have acted in a better way. Learn from that mistake. Now, tell yourself that you