[1] Ajapa jap. Stages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
The constant repetition of
a Mantra is called Jap-Yoga. The prefix A implies that Jap is
spontaneously produced. The entire universe is affected by vibrations of
contraction /expansion, absorption / emission, PRAN & APAN. Every factor
of life including even the smallest particle of an atom is regulated by
these vibrations. Every thing or being is in a state of constant flux,
through this emanates resonance of Mantra.
Human life is affected
with these innumerable vibratory waves. The most prominent among these
is the breathing and heart beating. Ancient Yogis discovered that
breathing in an uninterrupted rhythmic flow reiterates a Mantra without
a break. In phonetic terms this Mantra was said as SO-HAM. Diligent
practice of this Mantra Meditation exudes high intuitional, intellectual
and spiritual power.
The sole purpose of Ajapa-Jap
Meditation is to produce and develop a state of mind where meditation
starts happening automatically. It becomes so natural that it engulfs
your whole consciousness and becomes a background of all day to day
activities. This drastically raises your concentration power, alleviates
mental agitation and depression.
A Mantra should be
associated with the act of respiration. In reality if one accomplishes
Ajapa-Jap Meditation, one would recite this Mantra approximately 21,600
times a day. That is 15 breaths per minute or 900 breaths per hour. When
this is done the breathing rate starts declining. This is because the
practice of meditation relaxes the mind and body. The tranquility
incredibly reduces the rate of breathing and sometimes remains at 2-3
breaths per minute.
Ajapa Jap Meditation is
taught in several steps. Students require to be in continuous contact
with a Guru practicing non stop, for days, months and even years until
one accomplishes all the stages.
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[2] Antarmaun. Inner Silence.Stages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6:
The mind is highly potent
and creative when it is calm, silent, still and pacified. It becomes a
powerful apparatus to receive knowledge and spiritual ecstasy. Life has
abundance of happiness and everything seems to flow easily. However,
this is only possible till the mind is in a state of balance and
tranquility. The mind cannot be at ease and peace until one overcomes
the conflicts, emotional struggle and agitation. The inner silence is
explored only when we free ourselves of the topsy-turvy of the world.
The Inner Silence
Meditation therefore is a tool to achieve a peaceful state of mind
ridding ourselves of the perturbed state. Stress is a byproduct of a
modern competitive life, which makes us frustrated and depressed. If
this stress and mental tension can somehow be destroyed then the glimmer
of hope and happiness will evolve. Life will again become meaningful and
worth living.
Antermaun Meditation is
very systematic. It promotes resistance against the worldly bustle and
excitement towards a sensual pleasure so that the mind can remain
untainted. It helps to expel all the pent up feelings and suppresses
thoughts, emotions and unfulfilled desires. Feelings such as fear,
hatred, jealousy and impressions of memories of the past are confronted
and finally overcome. Eventually SADHAK achieves an uplifted state of
mind where all these things are insignificant. Antermaun meditation is
very useful for people who have an unbalanced state of mind. This
meditation is divided into several stages. As one progresses in each
stage he should proceed to next stage with the guidance of a true
master.
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[3] Trikuti Anusandhan [revealing third eye]
Anusandhanam is a Sanskrit
word which means reveal or discover. Trikuti means the third eye. This
technique is unique because you can practice it at any time of the day.
It can be practiced while walking, eating, talking, working with
colleagues or even when relaxing. Lie down on a blanket or sit in a
comfortable meditation posture and try to feel the sacred space between
your eyebrows. Make sure you do not fall asleep. Feel the rhythmic
pulsation of a nerve or feel blood-oscillation. Between 5 to 10 minutes
you have to contemplate on a vibration at your eyebrow centre
associating each vibration with Om, Om, Om, Om, Om, Om, Om, Om, Om, Om,
Om, Om, and so on. Initially it may not be very vivid or clear but
constant practice with patience and perseverance will realize or reveal
the third eye.
[4] Chidakash Dharana or [realizing the seat of consciousness]
The wide spread physical
world around us is known as MAHAKASH or ether. MAHA means grand or great
and Akash means emptiness. However, another subtle empty space exists
within us which may be experienced by only a few people. This is regret.
We are so pre-occupied in the elemental world that we completely forget
our inner world. We never try to peep inside us, as we only see the
outside world. We are unaware of the inner pleasure and acquaint
ourselves with sensual pleasure.
This is regret. This
meditation technique particularly is designed by TANTRA to help mankind
realize the inner world and inner treasure. This meditation technique is
widely practiced in Yoga along with other techniques. It is affiliated
with our subconscious awareness. We close our eyes and commence
visualizing the empty space. It is sixth stage of ASTANG YOGA. It is
called DHARANA or contemplation.
This
meditation also has many stages and should be learnt under expert
supervision.
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[5] Chankraman or Roaming]
It is a simple practice
but extraordinarily effective for people who fervently practice Yoga for
spiritual development. In addition, the practice gives physical
relaxation with achievement of mental concentration. If one feels
relaxed while practicing meditation or breathing exercises then it is
advisable to use this technique. The Sanskrit word CHANKRAMAN means
roaming around. The essence of this is moving here and there without any
purpose. There are two important words in psychology – one is introvert
and other is extrovert. An extrovert is an outgoing person interested in
the material world. Yoga considers thoughts to be a kind of
extroversion, therefore an extroverted person's life is related to both
the states the introvert and extrovert and this is a level of worldly
awareness in day to day life.
Chankraman has been used
through the ages by all Yogis, Sufis and monks. It is a meditation which
continues effortlessly without being separated from the worldly people,
thoughts and environment. It can be called active-meditation. In this
practice the mind is introverted while the body roams and the meditation
continues. Many scriptures elucidate that Yogis and Ascetics use to
wander everywhere with a Mantra going on in their mind. Buddhist Monks
and Christian Religious practice CHANKRAMAN meditation in a modified
version. They would enter a common prayer room for meditation and then a
bell would ring when they would go out to a garden to practice
CHANKRAMAN. Later they would return to the same meditation hall and
merge themselves into meditation. Sufis have also been found to practice
CHANKRAMAN meditation.
This
technique has been adopted universally in each era and age. It is not
difficult to teach or preach this technique but arduous to accomplish.
The benefits are incredible.
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Some
of the commonest benefits are mentioned below
[1]
The physical pain and stiffness that is often experienced during
mediation practices, can be overcome with the practice of CHANKRAMAN
meditation. In addition the practice revitalizes the body and mind.
[2]
Sleep is one of the prominent obstacles in meditation. This meditation
enhances blood circulation in the brain, hence sleep can be dispelled.
[3] Meditation is not
achieved in a day or an hour; it requires diligent pursuance for hours,
months and years. Therefore when one sits for a long period of time, the
body gets tired and the blood supply in certain limbs gets sluggish.
CHANKRAMAN makes the body agile, active and strong, so that you can sit
comfortably and effortlessly. It accelerates blood supply in the body
and improves your breathing and digestion.
[4] One should do
CHANKRAMAN if one yawns during meditation. It helps one's mind to focus
on the present and prevents daydreaming, which is a very common problem
in meditation. If, during meditation thoughts revert to the future,
business or family matters then, one should practice CHANKRAMAN.
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[6] Nad-Yoga Dhyan { Sound-meditation}
Nada-yoga meditation is
mentioned in the Bible by Saint John as "the word". The Greek
philosopher Pythagoras has named this meditation as "the music of the
spheres". Pithagoras has imagined that the cosmos and every living
creature in it are like a guitar. This symbolic guitar has a string
connected at one end with the physical world and the other end is
connected with the higher power or God. According to him the bottom,
middle and top strings of this musical instrument consists of various
cosmic melodies. This is Nad-yoga.
A Nad-yoga practitioner
enters through several layers of cosmic sound until he finally reaches
the supreme cosmic sound which is known as Logos in the Bible and Om in
the Vedas. In India there are many religious traditions and sects who
undergo this method of meditation, such as Kabir Panthi {followers of
Kabir}, or Radha Swami Satsang etc. Some call it VANI, SURAT, HOLY
SPIRIT, DHUN etc.
Nad-yoga is a simple but
magnificent meditation method. It is a technique which leads towards the
root source of the sound by its subtle and spiritual experience.
Traditional Hindu philosophy, Tantra and Yoga science believes that Nada
{cosmic sound} is the root cause of this visible world. Nada pervades
everywhere form living to non living, from material to subtle, from the
seen to unseen reality.
Even modern science today
accepts that everything which we see, hear, feel, and imagine is created
by a subtle vibratory rate. Things are created by oscillation of waves.
Every atom of this world from rocks to vegetation, from colors to odour
even those things which cannot be perceived by our senses are made of
distinct waves. The aim of Nad-yoga meditation is to use sound as a
vehicle of awareness. Awareness from subtle to subtler sounds traverses
from deep to deeper layers of the mind. One can go beyond the ordinary
layer of awareness to the ultimate depths. Nad-yoga meditation falls
under the 5th step of ASTANGA YOGA {the eight fold yoga
system} which was compiled by a great seer Patanjali. This 5ht step is
known as PRATYAHAR that means withdrawing the mind from the sensual
world to focus on the inner world. An expert Yoga Guru would direct and
guide students so that their mind may experience the Nada present
inside.
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[7] Kriya-yoga:
Kriya-yoga meditation has always been a secret technique which has been
practiced in the presence of a guru. It is one of the most ancient yoga
methods. This meditation comprises of several stages and requires
certain preparations and rules.
Diet: Fresh,
pure and easily digestible food should be consumed. Try to be a
vegetarian. Kriya-yoga in the beginning does cleansing of mind and body
so if food which causes toxins and impurities is consumed, then the
process of cleansing might slow down.
Physical illness:
If presently
suffering from some serious mental problem then one should not
immediately begin with Kriya-yoga meditation. One should wait,
practicing other elementary yoga techniques which can help calm the
mind. Kriya-yoga is one of the very arduous practices which delivers a
lot of energy and when practiced that energy can cause imbalance in the
mind if, one is not already in a relaxed state of mind. If physical
disease is present which causes pain, strain, restlessness, agitation
and reduction of simple happiness then it is good to first cure that
problem through the Hath-yoga system. This system was created about 2500
years ago as a preparation for spiritual aspirants to practice Kriya-yoga.
This was done by creating a body, free of disease, healthy, and strong
in order to undergo Kriya-yoga sadhana.
Bath:
Before starting Kriya-yoga
practice, early in the morning have a bath with cold or room temperature
water that will dispel your sleep. If you are not an early bird then you
may fall asleep during the mediation.
Light:
Kriya-yoga requires the venue of practice to be well lit as in some of
the practices one has to focus on the tip of the nose or centre of
eyebrows. For chakra meditation the lights should be off in order
to delve inwardly without any effort.
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Outfits:
Cotton or any light
comfortable clothing which permits the body to relax. Clothing should
facilitate sitting. Synthetic clothes should be avoided.
Place of practice:
It is very important
to practice meditation everyday at the same place. The atmosphere gets
spiritually charged when one practices meditation. Hence stick to one
place and don't use that venue for any other purpose. It will accustom
the mind on entry. The place should be dry and not too cold or hot. Room
should be airy and insect free in order to concentrate.
Sitting position:
Sumamkayshirogrivam
[Gita]
that means spine, neck and head ought to be aligned and straight. There
are certain poses for meditation such as Lotus pose, Auspicious pose
that one can choose according to ability and flexibility. Ladies can sit
in a siddayoni asana.
Regularity:
One should make a firm
resolve every night before going to bed 'that I will certainly practice
meditation in the morning'. One must reiterate this with total awareness
and feeling so that it gets rooted in the subconscious mind. If the mind
is too restive and one finds it difficult to sit, then practice
CHANKRAMAN and re-sit. For benefits from Kriya-yoga and experience of
the real effect it should be done twice a day, seven days a week.
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