To perceive the reality, the Divine, one needs to know how to use the consciousness in a very specific way, a state of consciousness called in various languages Dhyana, Jhana, Ch'an, Zen, or Sampten. This state of cognizant perception is the gateway to authentic spiritual experience. This lecture explains the steps to experiencing this state of consciousness. "Internal meditation is a scientific system to receive information. When the wise submerges into meditation, he searches for information. Meditation is the daily bread of the wise. Meditation has different steps. Asana (posture of the body), Pratyahara (serene mind), Dharana (internal concentration), Dhyana (internal meditation), Samadhi (ecstasy). Firstly, we must place our body in a very comfortable position. We have to place our mind in serenity before starting our concentration; that is to say, we have to remove every type of thought from our mind. After having accomplished the former steps, we then rise up to the steps of Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi." - Samael Aun Weor, Kundalini Yoga "If you want Samadhi, you must know well the process of Dhyana. If you want Dhyana, you must know accurately the method of Dharana. If you want Dharana, you must know perfectly the method of Pratyahara. If you want Pratyahara, you must know Pranayama. If you want Pranayama you must know Asana well. Before going to the practice of Asana, you should have Yama and Niyama. There is no use of jumping into Dhyana without having the various preliminary practices." - Swami Sivananda This is a lecture from the free online course Fuel for Spiritual Experience: Meditation and Energy Course Description: Spiritual experiences are not difficult to have if you know the laws of nature that manage them. Learn the exact science of spiritual practice that leads to the awakening of the consciousness, by means of harnessing the most powerful energies in the universe. Within us are the energies that can empower the realization of our full potential, through which we can become completely developed beings. Learn about the steps of meditation, vital energy, ojas, sexual transmutation, pranayama, kundalini, and much more. With these tools, we can reach complete liberation from suffering, and thereby be of great service to others.