Yama the root word means principles in reality it is the Universal Moral Principles. According to the Hindu scriptures they are, Ahimsa (non-violence) The word Ahimsa not only comprises of complete withdrawal from Physical violence but also from mental and psychological violence. The Yogi abstains from hurting anyone either physically or mentally i.e. in thoughts words and deeds. This enables to remove hatred of any form from ones heart and once the hatred is removed then only LOVE remains. The second one is Satya (Truth) One has to be truthful under all circumstances, this enables one to be courageous and righteous. The third one is Asteya (abstinence from stealing) The Yogi ruthlessly controls his desires and reduces his wants which makes him contented. The fourth principle is Brahmacharya (Celibacy) it means to abstain from sex in any form either physical or in imagination. This makes one see divinity in all without the sexual overtones and bring about virility in oneself. The last and the fifth principle is Aparigraha (non-covetousness), One should not covet others possessions as this brings in desire and then avarice, If the desires are not fulfilled it brings sorrow and on fulfillment the desires multiply and destroys right conduct.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The stages of Yoga though eight, they are integrated and each one though has its importance yet they are and should be practiced together. The comparison can be drawn from a tree which is made up of roots, stem, bark, leaves, sap, flowers and fruit. Each part of tree has different functions and each one necessary yet an individual part does not constitute a tree. The aspirant develops the sense of self through the practice of all eight stages and conquers his body, senses and mind and develops a sublime ego which ultimately culminates into enlightenment.
The first two stages of Yoga viz. Yama (Moral ethics) and Niyama (Purification of Mind and Body) clears the path of Yoga by making the aspirant control his senses and mind. The mind is like a Lion and is quite wild, through the practice of Yama and Niyama the Lion is tamed and caged. The aspirant thus has full control over his mind and his five senses and the sense organs and gets the way to utilize this according to the principles of morals and ethics.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Yoga ( The Communion with Higher Self or God )
The practice of Yoga is one of the orthodox system of Hindu (Sanatan) Philosophy. According to the Dualistic (Dwaitya) philosophy the God or the Supreme being permeates everything even the Human soul and the system of Yoga endeavors to unite the Human soul Jivatma to the Supreme Being (Parmatman). The one who follows the path of Yoga is called Yogi.
The practice of Yoga stills the mind, sharpens the intellect and enables one to control emotions and free oneself of Ego. Hence a Yogi is freed from sorrows and pain related to the contact world and gives sense of fulfillment and eternal joy.
The Eight Fold Path of Yoga.
The great sage Maharishi Patanjali compiled a great treatise called the Patanjali Yoga Sutras around 200 BC and systematized this ancient philosophy in 185 aphorisms divided into Eight stages of Yoga.
1. Yama (Moral ethics)
2. Niyama (Purification of Mind and Body)
3. Asana (Postures)
4. Pranayama (Control of Breath)
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of mind from dominance of senses)
6. Dharana (Concentration)
7. Dhayana (Meditation)
8. Samadhi (State of super conciousness)
[ Each stage will be briefly explained in future posts ]
Friday, September 08, 2006
Postures for sitting
Three postures are recommended for sitting when one is doing Mantrayoga or Meditation they are
Swastikasana (sitting cross-legged)
Padmasana also called King of asanas as it helps tremendously in calming the mind and keeping one centered. (bottom)
Siddhanasana. This asana is good for maintaining celibacy which is utmost important when one is on path of spiritualism. (Top )
The asanas or sitting postures mentioned above should be perfected by practicing everyday. To get the benefits one should be able to sit for as long as 3 hours in one particular asana. In the beginning it might be difficult but one should not give up hope as regular practice will improve ones timing. There are also physical benefits of this postures along with spiritual ones. In all the above postures one should take care that the back and head should be aligned in a straight line and the vertebral column should be perpendicular to the floor. The head should not be tilted forwards or backwards but one should keep the eyesight parallel to the ground. Normally eyes should be closed, but when eyes are closed completely one may feel sleepy or many thoughts may fleet in the mind. To overcome this eyes should be half closed and the vision should be fixed on the tip of the nose. This too will be difficult in the beginning but slowly one will find it easy upon regular practice. One can also fix the vision between the eyebrows but this is very difficult and if one perfects this then the spiritual progress is tremendous.
Friday, September 01, 2006
MANTRAYOGA
Chanting on Gods name or a series of specific syllables is called Mantra yoga, the series of specific syllables and Gods name is called mantra. The repeated chanting and attaining blissful state by communion with the higher self is called Mantra yoga.
There are though some cautions to be followed while chanting mantras.
It should be done preferably at same time each day. Early morning at Brahmamuhurta (approximately 1.5 hrs before sunrise) is the ideal time, though it can be done at any time also.
The chanting should be done with utmost devotion to ones favorite deity.
Chanting should be done for self realization rather than to get material gains.
Before one sits for chanting, one should take a bath and maintain hygiene.
One should preferably sit east or north facing.
One should not sit on the ground but on a woolen cloth called asana.
Three sitting postures are highly recommended namely Swastikasana (cross-legged) Siddhasana and Padmasana (pictures of the last two postures will be posted later). Padmasana is the ideal posture though.
One should chant on a rosary made of 108 beads of Rudraksha, or Holy basil wood or sandalwood. The rosary should be held in right hand and the first finger should not be used to turn the rosary. and the rosary should be shielded in a cloth bag
Before commencing on chanting one should try to regularize breathing by doing Pranayama it soothes the mind and prepares it for chanting. (conscious breathing technique which will be elaborated in future posts)
Begin chanting on the primordial sound of AUM for about 5-10 minutes and then start chanting a specific mantra. Initially the Mantra should be chanted so that one can hear it, once the chanting of syllables is perfected one can chant it in mind without use of tongue or lips.
Select a silent corner of the house which is well ventilated, sit on a asana and in right posture, close your eyes and start on your journey of supreme bliss through chanting or Mantra yoga
Chanting on Gods name or a series of specific syllables is called Mantra yoga, the series of specific syllables and Gods name is called mantra. The repeated chanting and attaining blissful state by communion with the higher self is called Mantra yoga.
There are though some cautions to be followed while chanting mantras.
It should be done preferably at same time each day. Early morning at Brahmamuhurta (approximately 1.5 hrs before sunrise) is the ideal time, though it can be done at any time also.
The chanting should be done with utmost devotion to ones favorite deity.
Chanting should be done for self realization rather than to get material gains.
Before one sits for chanting, one should take a bath and maintain hygiene.
One should preferably sit east or north facing.
One should not sit on the ground but on a woolen cloth called asana.
Three sitting postures are highly recommended namely Swastikasana (cross-legged) Siddhasana and Padmasana (pictures of the last two postures will be posted later). Padmasana is the ideal posture though.
One should chant on a rosary made of 108 beads of Rudraksha, or Holy basil wood or sandalwood. The rosary should be held in right hand and the first finger should not be used to turn the rosary. and the rosary should be shielded in a cloth bag
Before commencing on chanting one should try to regularize breathing by doing Pranayama it soothes the mind and prepares it for chanting. (conscious breathing technique which will be elaborated in future posts)
Begin chanting on the primordial sound of AUM for about 5-10 minutes and then start chanting a specific mantra. Initially the Mantra should be chanted so that one can hear it, once the chanting of syllables is perfected one can chant it in mind without use of tongue or lips.
Select a silent corner of the house which is well ventilated, sit on a asana and in right posture, close your eyes and start on your journey of supreme bliss through chanting or Mantra yoga
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
DUALISTIC WORSHIP
In the dualistic form of worship the aspirant (Sadhaka) has to behold God as the supreme being, and the soul (jiva) as different from this supreme being. Thus the jiva becomes the worshipper and God the worshiped. God is the object of worship. This is done by various methods or ways of worship. In this kaliyuga the best method of Dualistic worship is chanting Gods name. This is done on the rosary made of beads (made of Holy basil wood, Sandalwood, Rudraksha etc.). The rosary had 108 beads and has 109th bead as the Head bead or Sumeru. The scientific base of chanting on rosary for spiritual development is attributed to the electric field on the tips of the fingers. (proved by Kirlian Photography) The rosary is made of a die-electric material and acts as an LC circuit to multiply the current several times which then is released through the finger tips back and forth. It is known that the nerve ends are present in the fingers and toes and this electrical impulses then travel to the brain through the finger tips and help in sublimating the mental activity and aiding in spiritual development. To enable one to chant continuously and with concentration one has to focus his attention on the God (of his liking) This practice on continuous basis enhances the awareness of the aspirant (Sadhaka) and leads to the communion of jiva and parmatman whereby the worshipper, the worship and the object of worship i.e. God become one. Thus the method may be dualistic but the fruit of it is non dual.
In the dualistic form of worship the aspirant (Sadhaka) has to behold God as the supreme being, and the soul (jiva) as different from this supreme being. Thus the jiva becomes the worshipper and God the worshiped. God is the object of worship. This is done by various methods or ways of worship. In this kaliyuga the best method of Dualistic worship is chanting Gods name. This is done on the rosary made of beads (made of Holy basil wood, Sandalwood, Rudraksha etc.). The rosary had 108 beads and has 109th bead as the Head bead or Sumeru. The scientific base of chanting on rosary for spiritual development is attributed to the electric field on the tips of the fingers. (proved by Kirlian Photography) The rosary is made of a die-electric material and acts as an LC circuit to multiply the current several times which then is released through the finger tips back and forth. It is known that the nerve ends are present in the fingers and toes and this electrical impulses then travel to the brain through the finger tips and help in sublimating the mental activity and aiding in spiritual development. To enable one to chant continuously and with concentration one has to focus his attention on the God (of his liking) This practice on continuous basis enhances the awareness of the aspirant (Sadhaka) and leads to the communion of jiva and parmatman whereby the worshipper, the worship and the object of worship i.e. God become one. Thus the method may be dualistic but the fruit of it is non dual.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Non – Dualistic Worship
The basis of non dualistic for of worship is that all that there is existing is nothing but God. The God is attributeless, actionless formless and eternal. The entire creation is but Brahma (God) and I am Brahma . God (Brahma ) is intransient, unchangeable , eternal knowledge and eternal bliss.
This entire material existence is illusionary as all the objective world is changing, transient and has its end. The soul and God both are formless, intransient , changeless, and eternal and hence are but one. In this way the aspirant worships the God in the non-dualistic manner.
The different methods used for worship will be discussed further in the next posts.
The basis of non dualistic for of worship is that all that there is existing is nothing but God. The God is attributeless, actionless formless and eternal. The entire creation is but Brahma (God) and I am Brahma . God (Brahma ) is intransient, unchangeable , eternal knowledge and eternal bliss.
This entire material existence is illusionary as all the objective world is changing, transient and has its end. The soul and God both are formless, intransient , changeless, and eternal and hence are but one. In this way the aspirant worships the God in the non-dualistic manner.
The different methods used for worship will be discussed further in the next posts.
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