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Meditation is an ancient technique designed to expand the range and clarity of our consciousness. By expanding and clarifying our consciousness we can get a deeper understanding and enjoyment of who we are and of every aspect of life.
Meditation works with the instrument of experience - our mind. The mind is like the surface of a lake. If it is agitated nothing of the reality around it will be reflected clearly - we will not be able to perceive or enjoy ourselves or our world fully. If the mind is still a clear picture will be reflected - we will get maximum appreciation of ourselves and our environment and even difficult situations will not disturb us.
All human beings desire unlimited freedom and happiness. And yet our experience of this is limited. According to Yoga, human consciousness itself has no inherent limitations. It is only through constant association with limiting thoughts and limited objects that our consciousness becomes limited. Meditation works by detaching the mind from all limited objects and thoughts and redirecting it towards something unlimited. Consciousness is plastic. When it is withdrawn from limited objects and focused on something unlimited it expands and eventually becomes unlimited itself. This brings feelings of freedom, bliss and understanding. In Yoga we say. “As You Think So You Become”.
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Thousand of years ago, yogis meditating in jungles and in the mountains of Himalayas, carefully observed the wild animals that shared their solitude. Through deep observation they began to detect the techniques which the mother nature instills in her creatures to keep them healthy, agile and alert. How the different animals instinctively cure themselves, relax, sleep and keep awaken. These ancient yogis experimented with these animal posture on their own bodies, and after much readjustment through deep intuition, they finally created a systematic series of physical exercise, known as asanas. Many asanas thus devised are named for animals which inspired them: cobra, locust, peacock, fish, etc.
Asanas literally means “posture comfortably held”, During this smooth motions, the body remain in the state of relaxed efficiency and the deep breathing which naturally accompanies these postures carries a great deal of oxygen to be absorbed in the blood stream. Asanas effect every aspect of the human physique; they relax and tone up the muscles and the nervous system, stretch stiff ligaments and tendons, limber joints and massage the internal organs.
The yogis discovered , that the complex symphony of the body is conducted by a system of glands. The chemical substances secreted by these gland are called by scientist today “hormones”. Hormones have a profound effect on the physical and mental functions; growth, digestion, energy levels, emotions, etc. For example, heavy doses of thyroxine, the secretion from the thyroid gland, make a perfect normal man nervous and irritable.
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Chanting and Dance as Aids in Achieving Good Concentration. To experience the deepest states of consciousness a great deal of concentration is necessary. In order to achieve good concentration two things are very helpful;
1) Feeling a strong attraction for the object of concentration.
2) Having all aspects of ones being focused in the same direction.
Many different aspects of Yogic Practice work to achieve these results in different ways. One of the most effective and enjoyable means of achieving this is by uniting Kiirtan (chanting) with Lalita Marmika, an ancient spiritual dance. Lalita Marmika can be considered to be the mother of all dances. Together with Tandava (a warriors dance) it is the earliest known of the classical Indian dances. It is said to have been created by Parvati, a great female Yogini thought to have lived 7000 years ago, as an aid to self-realization.
The pleasing melodies and rhythms of Kiirtan (chanting) combined with the inner meaning of the Mantra awaken feelings of attraction for the spiritual idea. This feeling of sentimental attraction makes concentration natural and enjoyable. Meanwhile, dance plays the role of involving the entire body in spiritual practice. With the entire body involved, the rhythm of the Mantra is experienced more fully; the mind joins in more readily; and distractions are much less likely to occur. When the dance is done collectively, the independent rhythms of the participants are brought into harmony and a powerful collective vibration is generated.
Circle of Love
Outdoors
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