Techniques of Meditation: To Enhance Mind-Power

By Ma Yoga Shakti

Meditation is the key to unfolding the inner Self. It reduces stress, thereby promoting physical, emotional and mental health. Meditation increases concentration, in addition, meditation heightens awareness and higher levels of consciousness. Techniques of Meditation, describes the steps through which a student can experience ultimate truth and

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ma Yoga Shakti International Mission
• Release date: Jan 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9780965359702

Ma Yoga Shakti

Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati is one of the modern day torch-bearers for the worldwide yoga movement. She was born in Benares on April 6th, 1927 into a wealthy family and lived there during the early days of her life. In 1959 she began teaching yoga, and shortly thereafter she had a divine-calling and entered the holy order of sannyas. She was bestowed with the titles, "Shakti Sant Shiromani," "Maha Mandaleshwar" and "Maha Acharya" by the holy spiritual order of Shri Taponidi Niranjani Akhara at Maha Kumbha Melas in 1969, 1974 and 1989. She has redefined yoga in modern terms and presents it as the heritage of the past and the culture of tomorrow. Her natural dignity, motherly nature and broad-mindedness reveal the highest spiritual quality. A yogic adept, she views with equal vision the various paths of yoga that unlock the treasures of human happiness: bhakti, gyana, karma and raja yoga. Her belief is that spiritual salvation lies by following one or more of these paths according to one's inclination and abilities. Mataji, as she is affectionately known by her disciples and devotees, lived and breathed the virtues of Yoga Shakti Missions worldwide:Truth is our Religion Service is our Worship World is our Family Knowledge is our Breath Yoga is our Way Yoga Shakti Mission Centers have been established world-wide by Ma Yoga Shakti to teach the essence of yoga, meditation and spirituality to all those who seek guidance. Mataji's teaching has produced a mass effect on humanity. She was always in the whirlwind of work, believing firmly that yoga helps people both face and bear the stress and strain of modern life .Mataji has written many authentic books on yoga and philosophy. In this book "Techniques of Meditation," she reveals the secrets of ancient yogic practices coupled with her deep personal experiences. Mataji's honesty, integrity, sincerity and purity have inspired thousands as she traveled from ashram to ashram and country to country, bringing the light of yoga to all whom she met. Visit: https://yogashakti.org/

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Preface

Meditation is the key to unfolding the inner Self. This in itself may be a sufficient stimulus for a student to start practicing meditation techniques. However, meditation is also a state in which the practitioner experiences expanded consciousness, deep relaxation, alertness, and inner peace. Scientific research is confirming what yogis have taught for ages.

Meditation reduces stress and tension, thereby promoting physical, emotional and mental health. Meditation increases concentration, which decreases mental distractions and is an obvious benefit in whatever you do, whether it be work, study, sports or other activities of daily living. In addition, meditation heightens awareness and permits the student to achieve higher levels of consciousness. Lastly, spiritual progress is enhanced giving a feeling of joy and a greater zest for live.

The purpose of this book, Techniques of Meditation, is to describe the steps through which a student can experience ultimate truth and the benefits described above. The student is not expected to accept anything on blind faith. Experience is the true teacher. Once you have had the experiences, you need no further convincing. You know!

In this book Ma Yoga Shakti describes meditation techniques in a specific order. Generally, the techniques presented start with the physical and progress to the more subtle. It is easier for most who are unfamiliar with meditation to focus on tangible objects such as a picture, a flame, or an audible sound, than on a more abstract idea or the formless spirit. There is a natural progression though the techniques. It has been my experience that when you short circuit the approach by passing over steps, you invariably come back to master what you bypassed. The techniques also take into consideration that different students have different psychological dispositions, and what is best for one may not be best for another. Therefore, a wide range of techniques are presented so everyone is accommodated.

There are some obstacles which are commonly experienced by the beginner. Students may exhibit a tendency to go too fast, and proceed to a more advanced technique before mastering the preliminary techniques. The student will then automatically understand the reason for the preliminary technique and will return to master it. There is no harm in doing this, and it will happen. Students often have expectations that the techniques will be very complex whereas, in fact, they are so simple that anyone can practice them. This is the beauty of yoga meditation.

If the student practices conscientiously, results are guaranteed. Intellectual evaluation of the techniques can be another major obstacle to proper practice. Practice is the key.

Always remember that the techniques are experiential. When you practice, the experiences will come and the benefits are so tremendous that you will automatically be motivated to continue. It is important that you not discuss your experiences casually with others. Experiences come only with practice, and if you discuss the techniques with non-students, their reactions may impact you negatively.

Students often express concern that meditation is an eastern practice and may conflict with their religious beliefs. This could not be further from the truth. The practices described in this book can be practiced by anyone of any faith, and this includes atheists, agnostics, members of organized religions, and eclectics.

Meditation requires a subjective approach and will not be the samefor any two individuals. Many books on meditation elaborate in great detail on the experiences which you may have. This can create expectations in the student which may result in a self-fulfilling prophecy or discouragement if the specific experiences are not realized. This book does not predict experiences. Practice regularly. Experience the effects for yourself. Truth derived through direct experience is unshakable, permanent, and the key to perceiving reality as it is.

May the practice of these techniques presented by Ma Yoga Shakti bring you health, peace and enlightenment.

Maarkandey

Part I

Techniques of Meditation

18 Techniques to Practice

1. Pratyaahaar

What is pratyaahaar? Patanjali, who codified the science of yoga about two thousand years ago states:

"Swa vishayaa sam-pra-yoge chitta

Swaroopaanukaar ivendriyaanaam pratyaahaarah."

"When mind detaches itself from the sense objects the senses revert to their source, the chitta."

The word chitta embraces all forms of awareness and includes the mind, intellect and emotions. The technique of withdrawing the senses from the sense objects is known as pratyaahaar. Withdrawing the senses from the sense objects means abstinence by the senses from their food (objects of pleasure).

The Sanskrit word pratyaahaar is two words prati + ahaar which mean abstinence from food. Form, taste, sound, touch and smell are the food of the senses. The senses absorb these constantly through the sense organs. It is the mind which identifies itself with its objects of pleasure, and this is called imitation of its own form by the mind.

When the mind identifies itself with the object of its pleasure, it ceases to be conscious of such objects. This is a subtle truth and is best clarified by exemplification. Suppose you are listening to an exceptionally beautiful piece of music. What happens? You start by listening objectively. Then you become engrossed and finally you cease to be apart from the music. You are no longer listening to the music objectively. You have become the music itself. The mind ceased to be objectively conscious of the music and identified itself with the music.

Pratyaahaar is a preliminary process of meditation. If an object is placed before the mind and is meditated upon, the mind ultimately gives up that object and attains introversion. The cognition of the existence of the external object is lost. The mind gives up the pleasures obtained through external phenomenon experienced through the senses and turns inward, resulting in disassociation from the object. The relation between them is severed.

Pratyaahaar is a fascinating process wherein association with objects leads finally to disassociation. Practice of pratyaahaar leads to mental peace. The gates through which the mind leaves for wandering in the sense world, are the very gates through which it can also enter the inner world. When the technique of pratyaahaar reaches perfection, it transmutes itself into dhaaranaa which, when perfected, results in dhyaana. Perfection in dhyaana leads to samaadhi, cosmic consciousness or self-realization.

An aspirant desiring perfection in the technique of samaadhi, since it is a continuous process, is required to first practice the following seven stages of yoga:

Self-restraint (yama)

Fixed observances (niyama),

Posture (aasana),

Regulation of bioenergy (praanaayaam),

Abstraction (pratyaahaar),

Concentration (dhaaranaa), and

Contemplation (dhyaana).

Samaadhi may be compared with the fruit, it is the eighth and final stage of yoga. Just as fruits are the result of the coordination of various factors, including the earth, seeds, sunlight, rain, fertilizer, time and labor, so also, by practicing these different techniques of yoga, a person achieves the goal of self-realization, cosmic consciousness or samaadhi.

What does one gain through the practice of pratyaahaar?

Tatah Parama Vasyatendriyanam

Then there is supreme mastery over the senses.

The practice of pratyaahaar leads to control over the senses by the senses themselves! In the absence of unification with the mind, the senses are inert and unable to function. Therefore, the mind comes under control through pratyaahaar. The senses rest from their ceaseless activity by withdrawing into the mind.

The Technique of Pratyaahaar

At first, pay attention to the sense of hearing. For some time listen to the sound which reaches the ears. Listen only to the sound. Pay no attention to the meaning and implications of the words. While listening, the mind will gradually merge into the sound. Mind will become identified with the word without being conscious of it, because the mind will not have consciousness of its own existence.

This practice reduces unsteadiness of the mind while it gradually comes under control. It becomes an obedient servant and continues to remain wherever it is fixed. This is why it is stated: Wherever the mind is fixed, it will attain cosmic realization.

The mind experiences the world through the five senses. To achieve concentration, select any one of the five senses and concentrate on any one sense object until the mind disassociates itself from that object. This is known as pratyaahaar. It is necessary for spiritual students to achieve perfection in pratyaahaar. Unless pratyaahaar is perfected concentration cannot be practiced. Without perfect concentration there can be no meditation and without perfection in meditation one cannot achieve cosmic consciousness.

Pratyaahaar, dhaaranaa (concentration), dhyaana (meditation) and samaadhi(cosmic realization) are four stages of the same mind and are reached step by step. All of them are processes for perfecting the mind.

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2. Intensive Concentration Dhaaranaa

Dhaaranaa is confining the mind within a limited mental area. One practices pratyaahaar as the first step towards cosmic consciousness. Initially the mind attempts to deviate. It starts thinking of other things. If it is listening to a word, it will deviate to some other thought while giving up the word. It is advisable for the student to withdraw the mind and repeatedly bring it to the original subject.

The mind will attempt to escape but the student should repeatedly draw it back to the object. When such practice is continued, the mind learns to meditate upon that object or to accept it. This is called concentration.

Dhaaranaa, the Sanskrit word for intensive concentration, means to retain. When