10 Jan 2020 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Dhyata, Dhyana, and Dheya are three components of Yoga. Dhyata (Practitioner) uses Dhyana (Meditation/means) for Dheya (Aim/mission). Dheya is Yoga, which means a state of missionary. Meditation is the final key or switch for Yoga. Yoga is more about meditation(Dhyana Yoga). By ethics, Meditation is itself yoga; or Yoga is itself Meditation. Meditation is the seventh limb of Ashtanga Yoga and the sixth limb of Hatha Yoga.
“Yogashchittavrittinirodhah”-PYS 1.2. Maharshi Patanjali has defined Yoga. Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of thoughts in Chitta; Chitta is more about the Mind with Egos, Intellect, and Conscious. Yoga is the restraint of the whirls of the mind stuff. Yoga is the absolute purity of Mind and soul, whereas Meditation is the means for keeping the purity of mind and also making the cessation of mind from firing of thoughts. Meditation is the state of being devoid.
Meditation is simply a journey from the outer world to inner world. It is an adventure into silence. Meditation means the act of exercising the mind in contemplation. One meditates on a subject when one focuses one’s attention on it in this manner. Calmness and stillness are not the natural properties of the mind, which is always in motion and whirling motion. The natural motion of mind is vertical. It is usually in whirls.
The Bhagavad Geeta emphasizes the fact that the mind is always in motion and that the moving nature of the mind is to be controlled. The Geeta admits that it is difficult to control the mind; still, it prescribes yogic methods to restrain and calm the mind if one sincerely and silently practices the prescribed yogic methods and techniques.
“Tatra pratya yaika-taanataa dhyaanam”.- PYS 3.2. That is the condition for the singular, uninterrupted reflection of a profound spiritual character that is Meditation (Dhyana). Patanjali had recognized the importance of dhyana yoga at an earlier point. It is useful in helping yogis overcome the residual dispositions that remain after the yogi had undertaken the psychoanalytic exploration into the historical root of a present aversion.
Preparation for Meditation
Meditation is a common tool for each yogic Kriya. Every practice in Yoga is itself meditation or a way of meditation.
Some fundamental things for meditation are:
The Place, Time, Nature, Atmosphere, Purity, Punctuality, Clothes, and The bath
Prayer – OM Chants 3 times and Guru Mantra -3 times “Om Shree Gurave Namah”
Pre-Activities for Meditation
Subtle Exercise (Pre meditative Acts): Toes flex, Ankle rotate, Knee bend, Hip rotate, Baby Rock, Butterfly, Shoulder Joint rotate, Neck rotate, Simple spinal twist
Asana – As need assessment, different asanas series on counter base and effort.
Pranayama – attempt Nadi Shodan, Ujjayi, and Bharamari at least,
Mudras – Gyana Mudra, Prana Mudra, Aakashi Mudra,
Bandhas – Jalandhara, Uddiyana, Moola Bandhas
Yoga-Nidra – An art of physical, mental, and emotional relaxation and balance and Sleeping Meditation
Dhyana Yoga (Meditation): There are thousands of techniques for meditation, such as Vipasana Dhyana, Aajapa Japa Dhyana, Nadabrahma Dhyana, Mantra Dhyana, Bhagavatiya Dhyana, Mudra Dhyana, etc.
To be continued…..
By Swami Yog Subodh – School of Dhyana Yoga (Meditation)