For Us to Grow

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=21.875% BGCOLOR="#66CCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="02922850.jpg" border=0 width="34" height="645" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Volume I, Issue 9</B></div> <div> <B>May 23, 2003</B></div> <div> <B>________________</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0366c4f0.jpg" border=0 width="108" height="79" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Page"><U><B>Editorial</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Summary"><U><B>Summary</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Article of the Week"><U><B>Early Childhood Education</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Atelier News"><U><B>Atelier News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="School News"><U><B>School News</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>For Us to Grow</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U><B>Contact</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Index.html"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="01300c00egerdp.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="01273790.jpg" border=0 width="627" height="121" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="552" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC66 HEIGHT= 30 WIDTH="546"><div> <B> <A NAME="for_us_to_grow"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>FOR US TO GROW</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 148 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <A HREF="#quotes_of_the_week" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Quotes of the Week</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#citas_de_la_semana" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Citas de la Semana</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#healthy_balance_" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Complete Article: </B></U></A><A HREF="#healthy_balance_" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Healthy Balance</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#balance_sano" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Equilibrio sano</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#el_arte_de_la_relajación" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">El Arte de la Relaja</B></I></U></A><A HREF="#el_arte_de_la_relajación" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><I><B>ci</B></I></U></A><A HREF="#el_arte_de_la_relajación" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><I><B>ón</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#learn_how_to_meditate" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0cc990000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Learn How to Meditate</B></U></A></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC66 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="546"><div> <B> <A NAME="quotes_of_the_week"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>QUOTES OF THE WEEK</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 375 ><NOBR><bR> <div> Man is what he believes. </div> <div> <I>Anton Chekhov</I><I> (1860 - 1904)</I></div> <div>  </div> <div> I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. </div> <div> <I>Bertrand Russell</I><I> (1872 - 1970)</I><I> </I></div> <bR> <div> The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth. </div> <div> <I>Edith Sitwell</I><I> (1887 - 1964)</I><I> </I></div> <bR> <div> The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen. </div> <div> <I>Frank Lloyd Wright</I><I> (1869 - 1959)</I> </div> <bR> <div> With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another. </div> <div> <I>Georg Christoph Lichtenberg</I><I> (1742 - 1799</I><I><B>)</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC66 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="546"><div> <B> <A NAME="citas_de_la_semana"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>CITAS DE LA SEMANA</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 366 ><NOBR><bR> <div> El Hombre es lo que cree.</div> <div> <I>Anton Chekhov (1860 - 1904)</I></div> <div>  </div> <div> Yo nunca morir<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a por mis creencias, porque podr<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a estar equivocado.</div> <div> <I>Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970) </I></div> <bR> <div> El público creerá cualquier cosa, siempre y cuando no est<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT> fundamentada con la verdad.</div> <div> <I>Edith Sitwell (1887 - 1964) </I></div> <bR> <div> Siempre sucede lo que Ud. cree realmente; y la creencia en algo lo hace suceder. </div> <div> <I>Frank Lloyd Wright (1869 - 1959)</I> </div> <bR> <div> Para la mayor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a de los hombres, el no creer en una cosa proviene de creer ciegamente en otra. </div> <div> <I>Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 - 1799</I><I><B>)</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 330 WIDTH="546"><div> <B> <A NAME="healthy_balance_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Healthy balance </B></div> <bR> <div> If you've been putting forth effort for a while, take a rest. When you've been resting for a while, get up and get going again. Life is a cycle of effort and rest. Everywhere you look in nature, you can clearly see how a healthy balance between effort and rest is essential to all living things. </div> <bR> <div> By working ever harder and ever longer, you eventually reach a point of diminishing return. Sooner or later, you get to the place where, in order to continue moving forward, you must first stop for a while. </div> <bR> <div> The same kind of situation occurs when you go too far in the other direction. When you spend a long period never making any effort, it ceases to become relaxing or pleasurable and simply becomes unbearably monotonous. </div> <bR> <div> Give all you have to the effort, and then give it a rest for a while. Both effort and rest will serve to energize you, as long as you keep them in balance. Pay heed to the cycle that pervades all of life, and life will work great for you. </div> <bR> <div> <I>-- Ralph Marston</I></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 374 WIDTH="546"><div> <B> <A NAME="balance_sano"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Equilibrio sano</B></div> <bR> <div> Si Ud. ha estado haciendo un esfuerzo por un rato, tome un descanso. Cuando Ud. haya estado descansando por un rato, levántese y haga un esfuerzo de nuevo. La vida es un ciclo de esfuerzo y descanso. Dondequiera que Ud. mire en la naturaleza, podrá ver claramente como un saludable equillibrio entre esfuerzo y descanso es esencial para todos los seres vivientes.</div> <bR> <div> Trabajando cada vez más duro y durante más tiempo, eventualmente Ud. alcanzará un punto de poca productividad. Más tarde o más temprano, llegará al lugar donde, para que sea posible continuar adelante, Ud. deberá primero parar por un rato.</div> <bR> <div> El mismo tipo de situación ocurre cuando se llega demasiado lejos en la otra dirección. Cuando Ud. emplea un largo per<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>odo de tiempo sin hacer ningún esfuerzo, la situación deja de ser relajante o placentera y simplemente se vuelve insoportablemente monótona.</div> <bR> <div> Entr<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>guese con todo su ser al esfuerzo y entonces entr<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>guese del mismo modo al descanso por un rato. Ambos, esfuerzo y descanso servirán para energizarlo, siempre que Ud. logre mantenerlos en equilibrio. Preste atención y respete el ciclo que rige todo en la vida y la vida trabajará a su favor.</div> <bR> <div> <I>-- Ralph Marston</I></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#66CCFF HEIGHT= 62 WIDTH="546"><div> <I><B> <A NAME="because_of_its_interest_i_am"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Because of its importance, I am publishing the  complete article about Meditation, which was partially published in the last issues. I am sure it could be very useful for our personal improvement. Enjoy it!</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>This article has been copied from: </B></I><A HREF="http://www.anandamarga.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.anandamarga.org"><U><I><B>www.anandamarga.org</B></I></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 296 WIDTH="546"><bR> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="learn_how_to_meditate"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Learn How to Meditate</U></B></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> Meditation is an essential part of the process for self-transformation and spiritual development. Meditation is for all people and is not reserved for a select few.  One of the goals of <A HREF="http://www.anandamarga.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.anandamarga.org"><U><B>Ananda Marga</B></U></A> is to make meditation available to all people free of charge. Specially trained teachers (known as acaryas) give personal instruction in the process of mantra  meditation. To get in touch with an Ananda Marga acarya, please contact the Ananda Marga center nearest you. This instruction is offered free of charge, throughout the world.  However, while you are on-line, the articles below explain something about the process of meditation, and the last article even has an on-line introductory instruction method. Dive deep into your true self, today!</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 263 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><A NAME="the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B>The Art of Deep Relaxation</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG SRC="04298e70.jpg" border=0 width="152" height="231" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#mind_and_meditation" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mind and Meditation</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#the_characteristics_of_a_mantra" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mantra</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#initiation_and_the_process_of" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Initiation and the process of Self-Realization</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#the_secret_of_initiation" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The secret of initiation</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#tips_for__better_meditation_" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tips for Better Meditation</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#learn_how_to_meditate_now" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8cc990000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Learning meditation right now o</B></U></A><B>n</B><A HREF="#learn_how_to_meditate_now" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B> the internet!</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1711 ><NOBR><div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 WIDTH="622"><div>  <A NAME="the_art_of_relaxation_1_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>The Art of Relaxation</U></B></FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 1591 WIDTH="622"><div> <B>by Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya</B></div> <bR> <div> Watch a baby asleep on a bed. It gives up its weight entirely to the bed, without any muscular </div> <div> tension Nomadic peoples all over Asia, journeying night and day, reach an oasis or camping </div> <div> place and at once throw themselves on the ground and lie there limp, apparently lifeless from </div> <div> head to foot. One hour of this rest refreshes them with as much new vitality and energy as a </div> <div> night's sleep for the average person. These wanderers are able to undertake surprisingly long </div> <div> journeys with very little rest.</div> <bR> <div> Babies and so-called primitive people have not yet forgotten the art of relaxation, the ability to </div> <div> completely rest at will. This art has been practiced by yogis since ancient times. They began </div> <div> their experimentation on this state by watching animals in deep relaxation during sleep, and </div> <div> especially during hibernation.</div> <bR> <div> During even a few minutes of deep relaxation, there is a rapid fall in blood pressure and pulse </div> <div> rate; and the strain on the heart is reduced. The overtaxed nerve centers are revitalized and </div> <div> muscle tension drops even below the basal muscular tension level. Since during deep relaxation only a very small amount of vital energy is being consumed, the remaining energy which is being constantly produced by the cells of the body can be conserved and accumulated for future use.</div> <bR> <div> Yoga practitioners do not need to go on vacation to relax. They can remain seated in a room </div> <div> open to the traffic of a busy metropolis and can transform themselves to the point that they hear no sounds, being relaxed and quickly self-possessed on a chair, just as if they were in a green Swiss valley. Translated into medical language, this capacity of voluntary sensory-motor inhibition is achieved through a gradual and conscious inversion of biological current: no longer a flux from the interior to the exterior, but a </div> <div> flux from the exterior to the interior.</div> <bR> <div> "To give an example, again taken from electricity, yoga practitioners can voluntarily put </div> <div> themselves in the position of a telephone or radio operator who wants rest, and so switches off </div> <div> all the contacts of his or her sets; impulses still reach the sets, but are no longer perceived arid, therefore, do not disturb the operator. Lying thus in a state of perfect and conscious peace, yoga practitioners can, through respiration, connect themselves with pranic energy. Now they are like batteries put into contact </div> <div> with a source of electrical energy, whereas a common person is like a battery working </div> <div> continuously, unable to recharge itself <I>.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>POISE IN ACTION</B></div> <bR> <div> When this deep relaxation is carried over to the state of activity, the muscular reflexes respond </div> <div> more rapidly to stimuli and every task can be performed more efficiently, more effortlessly.</div> <bR> <div> A cat crouches before a mouse-hole, gracefully motionless. It exhibits tremendous strength </div> <div> and vitality in repose. The machinery of action is not strained in waiting, but all is ready... and </div> <div> when it darts forward, action bursts like a flash of lighting from its stillness.</div> <bR> <div> Every genius consciously or unconsciously relaxes during the process of creation, and for this </div> <div> reason is so efficient in his or her art. (contrast this poised grace to the movements of today's </div> <div> hurried business people, who with their exaggerated, wasteful movements, fidget and fume, and wear themselves out before the hour for action has arrived.</div> <bR> <div> Through the regular practice of deep relaxation, yoga practitioners develop the ability to keep their minds and bodies in perfect equilibrium in all situations. Learning how to relax and maintain "grace and </div> <div> pressure" in this age of rapid change-when high blood pressure and heart disease are the </div> <div> number one killers in technological societies- is one of the most valuable abilities of human life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>DEAD POSE</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Shavasana </I>or "Dead Pose" can be done anytime, even at times when most other Asanas are </div> <div> prohibited, such as during sickness, menstruation, or pregnancy. In this pose, the body remains completely motionless and becomes recharged with pranic energy, and the mind's attention is gradually </div> <div> withdrawn from the body and surroundings to be absorbed in a state of deep inter tranquility. The body and mind together attain a perfect blissful repose.</div> <bR> <div> To receive the complete benefit from the practice of Asanas, the Dead Pose should be </div> <div> performed for about ten seconds to one minute between two postures The proper rest in Dead </div> <div> Pose completely calms the body and prevents (the overstraining of muscles and the over-</div> <div> stimulation of the glandular, circulatory and respiratory systems. One should rest at least until </div> <div> the breathing and heartbeat have become calm. Asanas and massage should always be </div> <div> followed by the deep relaxation pose for at least three minutes. Those with high blood pressure </div> <div> should do at least five or ten minutes of deep relaxation daily; for as we have seen this is one of </div> <div> the best treatments of hypertension.</div> <bR> <div> To perform the Dead Pose lie down on your back, covering yourself with a sheet if you feel a chill. Stretch the arms and legs gently apart and aim the palms up; the fingers will naturally curl in. Close the </div> <div> eyes. Do not move any muscle of your body, even your eyeballs. Remain as motionless as if </div> <div> you were dead. Immerse your mind in the flow of your breathing, in a state of refreshing peace.</div> <bR> <div> Relax your feet and your toes... your calves, knees and thighs.... feel that both your legs are </div> <div> completely relaxed-there is no tension or pressure anywhere. Now relax all your internal </div> <div> organs-your digestive system, your lungs, your heart... relax your back and spine... Now feel </div> <div> your fingers: relax your fingers and hands, your wrists, your lower arms and elbows, your upper </div> <div> arms and shoulders, and your neck... Now you should feel that your entire body from the neck </div> <div> down is completely relaxed; there is no tension anywhere.</div> <div> Feel that flow of relaxation now moving up into your face, relaxing your cheeks, your mouth and </div> <div> lips, your ears, your nose, and your eyes-feel all the tension around your eyes completely </div> <div> dissolving-your forehead and head are completely relaxed... Feel your brain inside your skull... </div> <div> your brain is also completely relaxed. Now your whole body from the tips of your toes to the top </div> <div> of your head, is completely relaxed. You feel as light as a feather, and very comfortable.</div> <bR> <div> Now be aware of your breathing. Breathe slowly and deeply, from the diaphragm. As you inhale, imagine that you are inhaling cosmic energy into every cell of your body; your mind and body are becoming </div> <div> completely recharged Feel the energy from the cosmos flowing through you, washing away all </div> <div> the tensions and negativity, cleansing you inside and out... Feel yourself full to overflowing with </div> <div> this purifying <B>energy, </B>radiating from every pore of your body.... filling your whole being with joy </div> <div> and love...</div> <bR> <div> Remain in this position for as long as you like. Afterwards you will feel completely refreshed in body, mind and spirit.</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary </B></U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 3600 ><NOBR><div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 26 WIDTH="591"><div> <B><U> <A NAME="mind_and_meditation"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Mind and Meditation</U></B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 3510 WIDTH="591"><div> <B>by Acarya Pranakrsnananda Avadhuta</B></div> <bR> <div> The mind is composed of five layers. These five layers resemble the petals of a banana flower </div> <div> which has many layers of petals. The outer layers of the flower are harder and the inner layers </div> <div> are softer. So the layers of the mind are similar to the petals of the banana flower. The outer </div> <div> layers of the mind are harder or crude and the inner layers of the mind are softer or subtle.</div> <div> In order to properly utilize the mind, we must be very clear about its resources. We must </div> <div> understand the mind by what it does, so that we can follow the best method to develop a </div> <div> particular layer of the mind. Yoga is an exact science which prescribes a systematic procedure </div> <div> for each human resource, therefore we must clearly know the function of each resource and </div> <div> apply the necessary technique.</div> <bR> <div> <B>FIRST LAYER OF THE MIND</B></div> <bR> <div> The first layer of the mind performs three functions--sensing, desiring and acting. This layer of </div> <div> the mind is the link between the five senses and thought, between thought and the five motor </div> <div> organs. The five senses are eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. The five motor organs are the </div> <div> vocal chords, hands, feet, genital organs and anus. Because the five senses come in contact </div> <div> with the outside world, the first layer of the mind has desire. This mind then wants to fulfill its </div> <div> desires through the five motor organs.</div> <bR> <div> If this layer of mind is not in contact with the senses, then no desire results. It is like a child </div> <div> sitting in the class-room thinking of his/her favorite TV program or imagining some fantastic </div> <div> thoughts of voyages to outer space. The teacher may be giving a lesson in math's or science, </div> <div> but because the child's first layer of mind is not in contact with the sensory organs, the child's </div> <div> senses do not see or hear the lesson. The first layer of the mind must be in contact with the </div> <div> senses so that an impression can be made.</div> <bR> <div> <B>MORALITY</B></div> <bR> <div> Morality is the process to develop the first layer of the mind. Morality is the force which carries </div> <div> you to your destination. Obviously the mind must have a goal. In which direction should the </div> <div> eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin move. Before moving you should decide where you are going. What is the goal of life? Why did you come to this planet? If you do not have a direction, then your </div> <div> energy is scattered, you achieve nothing.</div> <bR> <div> Consider the effort football players exert in training to participate in league championships. Do </div> <div> you think they would have the same enthusiasm for the game if the goals on either side of the </div> <div> field were removed? All the practice of the team players with the help of experienced coaches is done to be able to score more goals than the opponent. If there are no goals, then what is the point of </div> <div> practicing days and weeks for competition. Even the thousands of football fans would never </div> <div> come to the game just to watch the players expertly kick the ball around the field for hours. It is </div> <div> the goal that makes the sport of life interesting and exciting.</div> <bR> <div> Morality means the proper use of the sensory and motor organs. The eyes should see only </div> <div> those objects which bring the mind closer to the goal of life. The ears should hear only those </div> <div> sounds which carry the mind within reach of Infinite Happiness. The skin should only bring the </div> <div> mind in touch with those objects which remind us of His all pervading presence. Each and every sensory and motor organ should be utilized in relationship with the goal of Infinite Happiness, Love and </div> <div> Peace. The sensory organs should bring the mind closer to the Supreme Goal and the motor </div> <div> organs should inspire others to follow our example.</div> <bR> <div> <B>SECOND LAYER OF MIND</B></div> <bR> <div> The second layer of the mind thinks, remembers and experiences. Whatever has been received </div> <div> through the doors of the mind, the five senses, passes through the first layer to the second </div> <div> layer of the mind. The experience is held here for a short time to analyze all its qualities, to </div> <div> compare this thought with memories of the past and to enjoy its pleasure or pain. The most </div> <div> important quality of this layer of the mind is its capacity to hold the experience.</div> <bR> <div> Everything in this universe is rhythmic. The brain gives a specific number of impulses per </div> <div> second, the heart beats regularly a number of times per minute and the body breathes a </div> <div> certain number of cycles per minute. Now a normal healthy human being breathes 16 to 18 </div> <div> times per minute or approximately 1 breath every 4 seconds. The pattern of breath is as follows: breathing in --pause-- breathing out --pause-- breathing in --pause-- breathing out --pause-- etc.</div> <div> As you can see there are two times in the cycle of breathing when the breath stops or pauses. </div> <div> These two pause periods are important for different reasons. The pause with the breath in is </div> <div> important for lifting things. A weightlifter breathes in before lifting heavy weights during the </div> <div> Olympics. However when you are watching a very exciting program on the television, perhaps </div> <div> a fight between good and evil, while the struggle is going on, your mind is completely absorbed </div> <div> in the action on the screen. When the exciting scene is completed, your natural reaction will be </div> <div> to take a very deep breath and exhale. Why? Because of your complete concentration, the </div> <div> breath is automatically held in the pause with the breath out. Therefore it is important in the strengthening of concentration to consciously develop the pause with the breath out.</div> <bR> <div> <B>PRANAYAMA</B></div> <bR> <div> This process of breath control is called pranayama in yoga. Prana in Sanskrit language means </div> <div> vitality. Vitality is that quality of a thing that makes it alive, a living being. Yama in Sanskrit </div> <div> means control. The control of the vitality of the body is pranayama. The practice of pranayama </div> <div> in yoga means the control of the breath. Breath is the link with the prana, therefore the control </div> <div> of breath leads to the control of prana.</div> <bR> <div> Since the practice of pranayama is for deeper concentration of mind in meditation and for </div> <div> greater power of will, pranayama must always be linked with ideation, the sentimental and </div> <div> intellectual meaning of mantra (an acoustic sound appropriate to the individual empowered by </div> <div> the Guru). Increasing psychic strength without proper psychic direction is dangerous. A car </div> <div> driving at high speed without the aid of the steering wheel will lead to disaster.</div> <bR> <div> To understand clearly the relationship between the mind and the breath, we need a good </div> <div> analogy. The mind in thought behaves like a lake full of water. Every time we think a thought, </div> <div> the water of our mind-like lake reflects that thought. Perhaps you have seen in the cinema or </div> <div> television a drama where a beautiful princess is sitting by the side of the lake admiring her </div> <div> reflection in the water. Because there are no ripples, no waves in the water, she can see her </div> <div> reflection clearly. Meanwhile a mischievous boy or man, most likely the future husband of the </div> <div> princess, throws a stone in the water to tease the princess. When the stone enters the water, </div> <div> it breaks the calmness of the water destroying the reflection of the princess by creating ripples </div> <div> or waves.</div> <div> The breath is like the stone entering the water. The mind wants to hold the reflection of the </div> <div> thought, but every breath breaks the reflection, disturbing the mind. If a person breathes 16 to </div> <div> 18 times per minute, the psychic reflection is broken every 3 to 4 seconds. In meditation our </div> <div> effort is to keep the flow of thought continuous without break or pause. Pranayama is taught to </div> <div> increase the holding power on thought by reducing the number of breaths per minute.</div> <bR> <div> In Stanford University in California and at the University of Connecticut Medical College, the </div> <div> Ananda Marga meditators were monitored with the help of highly sophisticated machines to </div> <div> determine the heart rate, blood pressure, basal skin tension, breath rate, etc. during meditation. The average breath rate of all the participants was 2.2 times per minute. This means that the flow </div> <div> of concentration in thought was only broken every 30 seconds or more depending on the </div> <div> efficiency of the practitioner.</div> <bR> <div> Since meditation is the process to increase the speed of the mind towards the Supreme Goal, pranayama is an essential ingredient and should be learned by every meditator from a </div> <div> competent teacher. However, without morality, proper direction of the mind toward the goal is </div> <div> unlikely. Pranayama practiced without a firm base of morality will lead to degeneration. </div> <div> Therefore the spiritual aspirant should be careful in the observance of morality.</div> <bR> <div> <B>THIRD LAYER OF MIND</B></div> <bR> <div> The third layer of mind is the storehouse, library of all experiences which the second layer of </div> <div> mind has ever held. When- ever anyone performs an action, the mind associates with the action in three ways. (1) The mind identifies the object, makes the object part of itself, it has a sense of </div> <div> ownership, control, domination. (2) The mind has the vanity that it is doing the action. The </div> <div> mind wants to take credit for acting. It looks around to see if others have noticed that it is acting now. (3) It wants to maintain its separateness, its individuality. It wants others to see that somehow it is </div> <div> different, unique. These three dimensions of the same action create a distortion in the mind, </div> <div> colors the mind. It is through this distortion or color that the mind views the world, </div> <div> communicates and makes decisions.</div> <bR> <div> If the mind is filled with positive, good and noble experiences, then it sees the world as good </div> <div> and noble. However, if its experiences are negative, evil and degrading, then it sees the world </div> <div> as bad. It is because of these distortions that the spiritual aspirant cannot see beyond itself, </div> <div> gets entangled in life's ups and downs, heavens and hells. Some call this opportunity and </div> <div> accept the challenge, others call it fate and submit to it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>SENSE WITHDRAWAL</B></div> <bR> <div> If mind is to go beyond this layer of distortion, it must withdraw its identity from these three </div> <div> conditions. At the time of learning meditation from a competent teacher, you will be told to </div> <div> withdraw your mind from the external influence of the society i.e. family, friends, professional associates, etc. during the 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Our behavior is strongly influenced </div> <div> by the environment. Most people do not have the courage or strength to act according to their </div> <div> own inner voice. Society pushes and pulls the mind this way and that, demanding and </div> <div> expecting, emotionalizing and pressurizing until we are unsure whether the desires we have </div> <div> are our own or someone else's. Pass the examination very well, get into the science stream, </div> <div> go to the University, get married to this girl not that, have five children or have two, like these </div> <div> people, shun those people, this fashion, that fashion, etc. are all decisions demanding action, </div> <div> but based on external influences. So in developing the mind, one has to bring the mind </div> <div> temporarily away from these outside forces.</div> <bR> <div> Then that mind, disassociated from external pressures and influences, is brought beyond </div> <div> identity with the body. Human mind is more attached to the body than its environment. It will </div> <div> save its life at the expense of others. Again it is more attached to the face than the foot. A </div> <div> scar on the foot, arm or leg does not disturb the mind, but a scar on the face needs to be </div> <div> hidden with clothing, cosmetics or removed by plastic surgery. The mind must be brought </div> <div> beyond body consciousness.</div> <bR> <div> The mind is then brought to a point, a seat. The body has a seat, the mind also. The subtlest </div> <div> mind, the existential feeling of "I EXIST" has a seat. If someone asks you, "where are you?" </div> <div> Your reply will be, "I am here." But where is that "here" where "you" are? That point where </div> <div> "you" are is your mental seat. To withdraw the mind to that mental seat is called sense </div> <div> withdrawal.</div> <bR> <div> This accelerates the process of reaction of all your previous actions, good and bad, which act </div> <div> as a barrier to the real experience of Infinite Happiness. The person who properly performs this technique of yoga finds the mind rapidly changing in attitude, emotion, rationality, conviction, compassion and motivation. The distortions of the mind are removed one by one. The world and </div> <div> its Creator are seen as they are and not as we imagined them to be. The mind is purified.</div> <bR> <div> <B>FOURTH LAYER OF THE MIND</B></div> <bR> <div> Discrimination and non-attachment are the functions of the fourth layer. Decisions are based on </div> <div> the capacity of the mind to see the situation clearly, sharply and precisely. The greater the </div> <div> capacity of this layer of the mind to discriminate, the better the possibility for proper decisions, </div> <div> without fear or favor. However decisions must be acted on. Action is prejudiced by the </div> <div> attachments of mind and proper action depends on non-attachment.</div> <bR> <div> The ship's captain may decide to sail away from the harbor into the vast sea, but if the ship is </div> <div> still tied, attached to the pier, the ship will not move. Those attachments, ropes tied to the pier </div> <div> must be cut or loosened so that the ship can reach its destination.</div> <bR> <div> <B>CONCENTRATION</B></div> <bR> <div> Once we have decided on the Goal of life, all our physical and mental strength must be focused </div> <div> on it. The procedure for developing a precise mind, able to pierce through each attachment as it </div> <div> is confronted with the power of passionate love for the Supreme is called concentration. </div> <div> Concentration focuses power. The fine tuning of a sitar or the precise focusing of the camera </div> <div> gives the music or the picture its impact. The impact, the power of the mind gives speed to </div> <div> action, accelerates movement towards the Goal. As the mind moves nearer the Goal, as the </div> <div> iron filings move closer to the magnet, the speed of its movement increases. In that movement </div> <div> decisions must be made and acted out sacrificing whatever is necessary to achieve that Infinite </div> <div> Love. The process of concentration contains the elements which enhance this movement.</div> <bR> <div> <B>THE FIFTH LAYER OF MIND</B></div> <bR> <div> "I" feeling is the subtlest mind. It is the very edge of the mind. If one goes beyond "I" feeling, </div> <div> one's individuality, specialty and uniqueness merges in its Origin. It is because one identifies </div> <div> with the society, the body, the senses, the intellect, the past, the conscience or the ego that </div> <div> the "I" cannot experience its true essence. The "I" associates itself with so many limitations </div> <div> that its thirst for limitlessness is frustrated.</div> <bR> <div> <B>MEDITATION</B></div> <bR> <div> The endeavor to associate the "I" feeling with its true Self by the use of acoustic sound, </div> <div> sentimental and intellectual meaning by the power of Guru is called meditation. Morality is </div> <div> the foundation, meditation is the means and the Supreme Entity is the Goal.</div> <bR> <div> To make meditation effective, five fundamental elements are needed--morality, sense withdrawal, concentration, breath control and grace of Guru (Mantra). Each aspect of meditation develops </div> <div> the appropriate layer of mind unfolding tremendous mental strength and stamina leading to the </div> <div> real experience of the existence of God with an overwhelming devotion.</div> <bR> <div> By the repetition of the proper acoustic vibration following the breath with sentimental </div> <div> understanding of the meaning, the power of the Guru (Mantra) awakens the spiritual potentiality </div> <div> in the mind and body and brings the "I" feeling in union (Yoga) with God. This is the meaning of </div> <div> Yoga and the motivation for the development of mind.</div> <bR> <div> This is the systematic and scientific process for the realization of God and for the development </div> <div> of sacrifice in service to the suffering plants, animals and human beings of this entire universe.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 3717 WIDTH="546"><div> <B><U> <A NAME="the_characteristics_of_a_mantra"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>The Characteristics of a Mantra</U></B></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>by Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya</B></div> <bR> <div> The mantra is like a rocket engine that propels the mind beyond the "gravitational fields" of the lower levels of consciousness, through all the turbulence of the subconscious mind, to the superconscious - and beyond. Thus, a correct process of meditation involves the generation of immense psychic energy through intense concentration on the mantra. </div> <bR> <div> Some systems of meditation which involve internal repetition of certain sounds, advise the meditators not to concentrate on them. Such techniques are quite relaxing and refreshing, but for spiritual elevation, concentration is essential - the intense effort to focus the mind on the mantra. Like the farmer whose mind was concentrated on his sick son, or the chemist concentrated on his research, or the medium concentrated on her crystal ball - the fixed attention of the mind on any object of thought will produce the necessary internal energy to elevate the mind to subtler levels. Experiments on Ananda Marga meditators whose process begins with concentration have shown that, rather than being asleep or passively relaxed, their bodies and minds are in a state of intense physiological activation: more energy, rather than less, is flowing through them.</div> <bR> <div> THREE QUALITIES OF A MANTRA:</div> <bR> <div> PULSATIVE</div> <bR> <div> What is the special  effect of the mantra, that by focusing the mind on it, one can transcend the ignorance and illusions of the lower mind?</div> <bR> <div> A mantra must have three qualities to hold the restless mind steady, to energise it, and to transport it to subtler realms. It must be pulsative, incantative and ideative.</div> <bR> <div> First, it must be pulsative. It must be of two syllables so that it can flow rhythmically with the breathing, for the breathing has a profound effect upon the state of one's consciousness. You may have noticed that whenever you are angry or upset, your breathing is fast and short; but when you are absorbed in any task, you naturally breathe slowly and deeply.</div> <bR> <div> The functioning of breathing is closely associated with the flow of vital energy in the body, called prana, which in turn greatly affects the mind. If the breathing is fast and irregular, the prana becomes unsteady and agitated; the mind becomes disturbed and perception and thinking are unclear. Thus control of breathing pranayama  is an important part of yoga training. The more the breathing is slowed and regulated, the greater the composure in the prana, and the greater the concentration and control of the mind.</div> <bR> <div> Once there was a minister who had greatly displeased his king. As punishment, the king ordered him imprisoned in the top of a very high tower, and the minister was left there to perish. That night, the minister's faithful wife came to the tower, crying, to see if there was any way she could help him escape. He told her to return to the tower the following night, bringing with her a long rope, some string, some silken thread, a beetle, and a pot of honey. Wondering at this strange command, the wife obeyed, and the next night brought him the desired articles. The minister directed her to tie the silken thread firmly around the beetle's leg, then to smear its feelers with a drop of honey and place it on the tower wall, with its head pointing upward. Attracted by the scent of the honey, the beetle crawled slowly up the wall, drawing the silken thread behind it. Hours later, it reached the top, and the minister caught it and untied the silken thread. Then he told his wife to tie the other end of the thread, dangling on the ground, to the long string. The minister then pulled up the thread until he could grasp the end of the string. Next he instructed her to tie the rope to the other end of the string, and pulling up the string, he grabbed the rope and tied it to the tower window - and slid down to freedom.</div> <bR> <div> The silken thread is the motion of breathing  the string is the prana or vital energy, and the rope is the mind. By controlling the motion of breathing, we can gain control over the prana; by controlling the prana, we can control the mind. Then we attain liberation from all bondages.</div> <bR> <div> Thus the mantra must be of two syllables so that its slow and rhythmic internal chanting will serve to slow the breathing, steady the prana, and calm and control the restless wandering of the mind. </div> <bR> <div> THE SECOND QUALITY OF A MANTRA: INCANTATIVE</div> <bR> <div> The second quality is incantative. The mantra must have a certain sound, a certain vibrational pattern so that when it is chanted internally, it will elevate the individual's own vibration, or "entitative rhythm".</div> <bR> <div> Each entity of this creation has its own particular entitative rhythm, its own note in the universal harmony. From pulsing quasars to oscillating electrons - from the ultrasonic melody of mountain ranges to the ceaseless reverberation of the creatures, singing and drumming, whirring and clicking, laughing and crying - all the notes are orchestrated in a vast cosmic concert.</div> <bR> <div> The source of this ceaseless rhythmic movement is the Infinite Consciousness, soundless and still, the ocean of peace. Undisturbed by any vibration, it flows in an infinite straight line through eternity.</div> <bR> <div> The ancient sages, who had merged their minds in this sea of unexpressed Consciousness, realised that the universe is a vibrational play of varied waves with different wavelengths. By their intutional powers, they came to understand the laws of universal harmonics governing this vibrational flow, and they developed a subtle science of sound to affect the rhythms of creation </div> <div> - without any mechanical apparatus.</div> <bR> <div> Indian music, developed by the great yoga master, Shiva, over seven thousand years ago, was one branch of that science. The classical ra'gas, or musical scales, are so subtly attuned to the rhythms of nature that each raga is to be played or sung only in a certain season and at a certain time of the day, to produce a specific emotional effect in the musician and audience. One raga is played only at dawn in the spring, to evoke the mood of universal love, another is sung only during the evening in summer, to arouse compassion; still another only during midday in the rainy season, to summon courage.</div> <bR> <div> It is said that the masters of music had control over not only human emotions, but all natural manifestations as well they could produce heat and rainfall at will, and the vibrations of their voices alone would cause finely-tuned musical instruments to resonate in accompaniment! Historical documents describe the remarkable powers possessed by Tansen, the 16th Century court musician of Akbar the Great. Commanded by the Emperor to sing a night raga while the sun was overhead, Tansen's vibrational song instantly caused the whole palace to become enveloped in darkness.</div> <bR> <div> But the subtlest of all these sciences of sound was the science of mantra. The masters knew that each individual's entitative rhythm vibrates at a particular frequency. Like many instruments in a symphony playing in harmony, the combination of all the various "bio-rhythms" of mind and body (psychic waves, heartbeat, metabolic rate, etc.) produces the individual's particular "melody". If this individual melody is raised to subtler and slower frequencies, it ultimately becomes infinite - and the mind merges in boundless Cosmic Consciousness.</div> <bR> <div> Through long inner experimentation, the yogis developed a series of powerful sounds or mantras which, when chanted internally, resonate with the individual's entitative rhythm and gradually transform it into the infinite straight line of Supreme Peace.</div> <bR> <div> These sounds originated from inside their own bodies, and were systematised into the oldest alphabet and language on earth - Sanskrit.</div> <bR> <div> SANSKRIT: THE HUMAN BODY'S ETERNAL SONG</div> <bR> <div> Close your eyes for a moment and just listen.</div> <bR> <div> What did you hear? Even when we are in a "quiet" environment, so many sounds bombard our ears : the dull drone of machines, distant voices carried on the wind, birdsongs, telephones, construction noises, traffic it seems impossible to escape external noise in this modern world.</div> <bR> <div> But if we can withdraw our minds from these external sounds, we will hear much subtler, inner vibrations. In the absolute stillness of soundproof chambers in scientific laboratories, insulated from all external noise, some people have been able to hear some of these intemal sounds : a high-pitched resonance, and a deep throbbing the vibrations of their own nervous system, and the pulsing of their blood.</div> <bR> <div> Thousands of years ago, yogis meditating in the utter silence of caves or mountains, were able to withdraw their minds not only from external sounds, but from the noises of the physical body as well. They could then focus their minds on centres of subtle energy inside them. Along the spine and in the brain, there are seven psychic energy centres or chakras which control the functioning ofmind and body. Most human beings are unaware of these chakras, but when the mind and body become more refined through meditation, these subtle energy centres can be perceived and controlled.</div> <bR> <div> The chakras have been described by enlightened saints and mystics of all spiritual paths and cultures - by Buddhists, ancient Chinese, Hindus, Tantriks, Christian and Jewish mystics*, Sufis, and Native American Indians. Recently, science has detected them as well. Sensitive instruments have measured energy emanations (beyond frequencies which are known to come from biochemical, anatomic systems), surging from the surface of the body at the exact locations of the chakras.'~</div> <bR> <div> Those ancient yogis who directed their inner ear toward these energy centres, were able to hear the subtle vibrations emanating from each 9f them - 49 different vibrations in all. Then they spoke them aloud, and each of these subtle inner sounds became one letter of the Sanskrit alphabet</div> <bR> <div> Thus, the Sanskrit language - sometimes called "the mother of all languages" - was developed from the externalised sounds of our subtle internal energies. It is the human body's eternal song.</div> <bR> <div> MANTRA TRANSFORMS THE ENTITATIVE RHYTHM</div> <bR> <div> The yogis then combined these powerful sounds into mantras which are attuned to the universal rhythms of the cosmos. For thousands of years, these mantras were never written down, lest they be misused by unworthy power-seekers, but were passed down directly from guru to disciple. Even today, they must be learned personally from a qualified teacher of Ananda Marga; for different individuals, with different entitative rhythms, will receive different mantras for concentration. Thus, people of all nationalities, regardless of their language, will use Sanskrit mantras for meditation, because Sanskrit is the universal language for self-realisation.</div> <bR> <div> The repeated chanting of the subtle inner music of the mantra (the "incantative rhythm") in meditation vibrates the chakras and stills the restlessness of the mind:</div> <bR> <div> Gradually, the meditator's entitative rhythm slows down in resonance with the mantra</div> <bR> <div> Finally, it is transformed into the straight line cosmic rhythm, and merges into the eternally still and serene sea of Cosmic Consciousness, the goal of all yoga practice.</div> <bR> <div> THE THIRD QUALITY OF A MANTRA : IDEATIVE</div> <bR> <div> The mantra is not only a vibratory, pulsating sound that harmonises all the rhythms of the mind arid body with the Supreme Rhythm, it has a specific expansive meaning as well.</div> <bR> <div> Yogis have taught for centuries the simple truth : "As you think, so you become." It is now an accepted psychological fact that the mind becomes like its object of ideation. Many experiments have shown that our consciousness tends to merge or identify with any focus of attention that is maintained for a sufficient period. Thus visualisations and affirmations will gradually transform our minds according to their object of concentration.</div> <bR> <div> Understanding that people are often limited by the negative or inferior ideas they have of themselves, psychologists attempt to change our "self-image" and thus to completely transform our personality. In one experiment, a man - sweating and straining as hard as he could - could only lift 150 kg. of weight. Then he was hypnotised, and the hypnotist repeated, "You are the strongest man in the world you have tremendous strength!" Under hypnosis, he lifted 200 kg. without the slightest strain or difficulty.</div> <bR> <div> Today, the "power of positive thinking," positive affirmations and creative visualisations are being used by many people all over the world to become more successful, more popular, more wealthy. But the goal of yoga is not so narrow or limited as worldly success or wealth. It is nothing less than infinity - the infinite expansion of one's mind to merge with the Supreme Consciousness.</div> <bR> <div> Thus, the process of meditation also employs a repeated affirmation - the meaning of the mantra "I am Infinite Consciousness"   "I am one with That." Actually, this is the reality - on the highest levels of our being, we are infinite and we always have been; we only do not realise it because we identify with our small egos, with the limited lower levels of our minds.</div> <bR> <div> So by daily practice, by the constant ideation, "I am That," we gradually lessen our false identification with our body and lower mind, and identify with the blissful Self within. As the mind gradually, imperceptibly expands through higher and higher layers, one glorious day we become completely free from all the bondages of ego and realise that we are not this body, we are not this mind, we are not this imperfect personality - we are infinite. We are the Supreme Consciousness. In that moment, we go beyond the mantra - beyond pulsation, beyond vibration, beyond ideation - and in breathless silence, we dissolve into ecstatic union with the origin of all.</div> <bR> <div> Sooner or later, we will all experience it - it is the birthright of every human being. Each person is a channel for infinite power and energy and knowledge - a vessel to be filled with this never-ending bliss. The revelations of dreams, hypnosis, hallucinations, creative flashes, and intuitional foresight have given us some idea of the limitless resources of our inner spaces. Now we must check the external drift of our minds and turn our awareness in upon itself so we can explore the Kingdom of Light within.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> "The Supreme Consciousness is inside you like butter in milk; churn your mind through meditation and He will appear - you will see that the resplendence of the Supreme Consciousness illumines your whole inner being. He is like a subterranean river in you. Remove the sands of mind and you will find the clear, cool waters within." </div> <bR> <div> --Shrii Shrii Anandamurti</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary </B></U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>    <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 3105 ><NOBR><div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 26 ><NOBR><div> <B><U> <A NAME="initiation_and_the_process_of"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Initiation and the process of Self-Realization</U></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 3012 WIDTH="591"><div> <B>by Acarya Pranakrsnananda Avadhuta</B></div> <bR> <div> There is in every living being a thirst for limitlessness. This thirst motivates human beings to </div> <div> search in every nook and corner of their environment for something, someone to satisfy this </div> <div> thirst. When every possibility has been truly explored without satisfaction, the individual is </div> <div> ready to learn the correct process, the exact method from a competent teacher. The individual, </div> <div> humbled by his/her exhaustive search, surrenders to the authority of the teacher. The Yogi's </div> <div> say, "When the disciple is ready, the Guru appears."</div> <bR> <div> In teaching meditation to the disciple four factors make the initiation complete. The student </div> <div> makes a commitment to a moral life, understands the exact system of concentration in the </div> <div> Goal of life, is clear about the devotional meaning of the acoustic syllables or mantra </div> <div> empowered by the authority of the Guru and surrenders to the authority of the Guru as the </div> <div> new born child in the arms of the father's care.</div> <bR> <div> In ancient times the teachers of yoga practice wanted to communicate the idea of initiation to </div> <div> the common people in a language which could be equally understood by all. Therefore, they </div> <div> took an example from everyday life. In India there are people who specialize in snake charming. </div> <div> They travel from village to village carrying their basket of live snakes to earn money entertaining </div> <div> the people. They prepare a gourd, dry it, clean it and poke holes in its side to create the notes </div> <div> of music that they play on this gourd like flute. Attached to the end of the flute they tie a stick.</div> <div> Playing the flute with a particular tune, the snake charmer moves through the villages of India </div> <div> attracting the curious who like to see the snake "dance". When he reaches the center of the </div> <div> village, he puts the uncovered basket of snakes on the ground, spreads a small cloth and</div> <div> strikes the head of the snake to wake it up.</div> <bR> <div> The sleeping snake, instinctively knowing someone is attacking, raises its head and threatens </div> <div> to bite. While the snake is poised to strike, the charmer points the stick at the end of the flute </div> <div> in the face of the snake. The snake watches the end of the stick expecting it to strike again. As </div> <div> the snake is watching the stick, the snake charmer continues to play his simple tune while </div> <div> moving the end of the flute from side to side. Still expecting another attack, the snake follows </div> <div> the end of the flute also moving from side to side. Although the snake is deaf, it seems as </div> <div> though the snake is dancing to the music.</div> <bR> <div> Using the familiar situation, the yoga teachers explained the process of initiation. At the base </div> <div> of the spine located within the spinal fluid is a potential spiritual force. This force is said to be </div> <div> coiled like a sleeping snake. At the time of initiation this sleeping potential force is awakened </div> <div> like the sleeping snake was aroused by the snake charmer. However, this spiritual force is </div> <div> awakened by the power of a scientifically prepared acoustic sound and the authority of the </div> <div> teacher, not by physical force.</div> <bR> <div> This acoustic power of the teacher, repeated by the student with the breath causes the </div> <div> awakened spiritual power in the student to move upwards within the central canal of the </div> <div> spinal cord. It is the teacher's authority which causes this upward movement until the ultimate experience of union of the soul with Supreme Consciousness is achieved. Therefore, it is </div> <div> essential that the acoustic power of the teacher have this capacity.</div> <bR> <div> It should be very clear from the time of initiation that because of the authority of the teacher </div> <div> or Guru there is spiritual progress. The responsibility of the student is to follow the instructions </div> <div> of the teacher very strictly and precisely for physical and psychic purification. As a result of the </div> <div> sincerity of the student and the competence of the teacher, the student gets various </div> <div> experiences. These stages of realization are experienced as the spiritual force in the student </div> <div> rises up through the spinal cord to the crown of the head.</div> <bR> <div> It is this process which is taught to the disciple by the Guru through His representative or </div> <div> Acarya at the time of initiation. By a very exact method of concentration the mind or "I feeling" </div> <div> of the meditator is brought very carefully and slowly from its association with the external world </div> <div> through the body to a point where the "I" sits. Each and every person has their own special, </div> <div> personal mental seat where the small self begins its movement towards the Universal Self. </div> <div> Just as our body occupies a physical seat, our mind also has a spot, a seat. That point differs </div> <div> from person to person depending on their psychic momentum. The seat of the mind and how to </div> <div> get there are explained by the Acarya/teacher.</div> <bR> <div> The meditator must be very clear about the goal of meditation. After the mind is brought to its </div> <div> seat, it must be aimed, directed at the target. Exploration of the heavens and hells within the </div> <div> mind is not the goal. No finite, limited experience of physical or mental pleasure will satisfy the </div> <div> soul's longing for peace and joy. There will always be a desire for more until limitless happiness </div> <div> is achieved. So the disciple must be very clear form the start that the soul longs for freedom </div> <div> and the mind must be focused on that goal. Only then will the mantra, given by the Acarya, </div> <div> carry the mind to its destination.</div> <bR> <div> The scientifically prepared acoustic sound, enlivened by the power of the teacher is called </div> <div> mantra in yoga. The effectiveness of the mantra depends on three conditions. First, it must be </div> <div> repeated with the breath. The mantra has two syllables. The first syllable is repeated with the </div> <div> inhaled breath associated with the sense of existence. The second syllable is repeated with </div> <div> the exhaled breath associated with the Supreme Consciousness. Our individuality or </div> <div> separateness is to be absorbed in that Supreme State of Being by the power of the mantra.</div> <bR> <div> Therefore, the mantra must be repeated with each and every breath. This repetition, the second requirement, creates a momentum which the student must develop so that there will be no </div> <div> break or pause in concentration. All physical energy and all mental force is to be directed, </div> <div> channeled to the mantra in a continuous unbroken flow of mantra. Meditation practice gradually develops this ability through regular practice daily.</div> <bR> <div> The meaning of the mantra is very important. There are two meanings of the mantra. One is the intellectual meaning which we can fins in the dictionary. The second meaning is the sentimental meaning or the meaning derived from the practice of meditation. These two meanings come </div> <div> together resulting in ideation, the third essential characteristic. Mere repetition of the mantra</div> <div>  with the breath will not yield the desired result. There must be proper understanding of the </div> <div> underlying spirit of the mantra and the mind must be absorbed in that spirit.</div> <bR> <div> As a result of this mental struggle to move in the proper direction to bring the "I feeling" to its </div> <div> seat, to focus the momentum of the mind in the goal, to repeat the mantra with the meaning </div> <div> and breath, the mind is steadily expanded. This expansion of mind allows greater expression </div> <div> of love for the Supreme Being. Meditation is the process of knowing, realizing the true Self </div> <div> within. Knowing leads to loving and love inspires sacrifice for the Beloved. The mother sacrifices </div> <div> for the children, the wife for the husband, the husband for the wife, the children for the parents. </div> <div> This sacrifice leads to giving without expecting anything in return. The tremendous power of </div> <div> Supreme Love experienced in meditation overwhelms the student, inspires sacrifice for the </div> <div> Beloved.</div> <bR> <div> Through genuine spiritual practice the mind expands creating the feeling that everything and </div> <div> everyone in the world is a part of oneself in a similar way that one feels the human body to be </div> <div> a part of oneself. Analytical, compartmentalized thinking excludes, differentiates, separates, </div> <div> sees everything as outside oneself. Spirituality causes compassion, sharing, caring, sacrifice </div> <div> and service to arise spontaneously. Materialism, however, stimulates selfishness, greed, </div> <div> indifference and expectation of reward.</div> <bR> <div> There are six stages of knowing or realization called "samadhi" in yoga. Samadhi is a word </div> <div> composed of two parts--"sama" plus "adhi". "Sama" means together or oneness. "Adhi" means goal. So the complete meaning is oneness with the goal. As the spiritual force within the student rises </div> <div> up within the spinal cord, it passes through six controlling centers or chakras.</div> <div> As the spiritual force leaves the home center at the base of the spine and crosses the next </div> <div> controlling center, there is a feeling that God is here in this same place with me. Prior to this </div> <div> the student only believed in or perhaps doubted the existence of God, but now he/she knows. </div> <div> This gives a particular kind of joy which invigorates the mind.</div> <div> By further practice of meditation the spiritual force crosses the third controlling center, located </div> <div> at the navel. Here the feeling is that God is near to me. This is an emotional nearness which </div> <div> results in a more intense joy than the first. As we come closer to the one we love, familiarity </div> <div> increases. Not only does God exist, but my hesitation is gone. I feel that I can approach Him </div> <div> and find comfort and peace.</div> <bR> <div> When the spiritual force passes through the heart center, the relationship is very intimate, no </div> <div> formalities, no barriers exist between us. I am with Him always and He knows all my thoughts </div> <div> and feelings. There are no secrets, everything is shared. We care for each other.</div> <bR> <div> As the devoted meditator tries to absorb more deeply the meaning of the mantra, the spiritual</div> <div>  force crosses the center at the vocal cord. Here the "I feeling" of the disciple and the "I feeling" </div> <div> of God seem to be the same. Although separate, they appear to be identical. The devotee </div> <div> loses himself/herself in the desires of the Beloved. There is extreme joy.</div> <bR> <div> The spiritual force now reaches the pituitary gland. The mind bursts, individuality merges in </div> <div> oneness, the soul is satisfied, yoga occurs. "I am That" there is only God and my "I feeling" </div> <div> and His have become One. This universe is My body and My mind is expressed in it.</div> <div> The final realization occurs by the powerful attraction of limitlessness as the spiritual force </div> <div> unites with the seventh center. The "I" has merged in only-ness. It is beyond expression, </div> <div> beyond any description or qualification.</div> <bR> <div> Initiation is not complete unless the disciple surrenders to the authority of the Guru. Without</div> <div>  the Guru's involvement in the process of meditation from initiation to final realization these </div> <div> spiritual experiences cannot even be imagined. The disciple becomes like a child in the lap of </div> <div> the father. That is why the Guru is called "Baba" or Father. He is just like a father on the path to </div> <div> infinite happiness.</div> <bR> <div> When we call a taxi to take us somewhere, we simply tell the taxi driver our destination, get </div> <div> inside the car and let the driver do the rest. We don't ask the driver if he knows how to drive or </div> <div> not, whether he has had any accidents or not, whether he knows the roads or not. We simply</div> <div> get into the car and relax. Similarly, accepting the authority of the Guru is just like leaving the </div> <div> driving to Him. Of course,, He knows our destination better than we do. He knows where we </div> <div> have been, what we are now and what needs to be done to make our journey successful.</div> <bR> <div> However, there is another aspect of His involvement. Let us take an example. A man has lived </div> <div> for 20 years. Each year has 365 days so we multiply 20 by 365. Each day has 24 hours so we </div> <div> multiply the total by 24. Every hour has 60 minutes so we multiply the total by 60. The total is </div> <div> 10.5 million. If the man has done one action, good or bad, every minute of his life, then he has accumulated 10.5 million reactions to these actions. As time passes the interest also </div> <div> increases.</div> <bR> <div> As he continues to live the number of reactions builds up. Suppose we place a dollar sign </div> <div> before 10.5 million. Consider that you are this person and that you have to pay this debt to the </div> <div> bank with your present salary. How long will it take? If the debt continues to increase daily</div> <div> along with the interest, it becomes a never ending burden. Who will help you? Guru will help </div> <div> you, but only if you let Him. Only if you surrender to Him.</div> <bR> <div> He helps us to pay our debts which are hindering our movement. Suppose a father gives his </div> <div> son a hockey stick for the son's birthday. Excited, the child runs outside to play with his new </div> <div> gift. In his enthusiasm he hits the hockey puck through the neighbor's window. Naturally, the </div> <div> neighbor will come out of his house to scold the boy. He will say, "Who's going to pay for my </div> <div> broken window?" The child in all innocence will say, "My father will pay!" When the father </div> <div> accepts the son as his own, he also accepts the responsibility for child's needs until he is </div> <div> mature enough to stand on his own.</div> <bR> <div> The relationship between the disciple and the Guru is mutual. You accept the Guru and He </div> <div> accepts you. When you take the shelter of the Guru, then you have certain obligations. You </div> <div> must follow His instructions very carefully. The process of meditation which you learn at the </div> <div> time of initiation must be done regularly. His help is much more than your effort, but your </div> <div> sincerity is essential.</div> <bR> <div> According to the science of Tantra Yoga whenever a worthy disciple is taught by a competent </div> <div> preceptor, spiritual progress is a certainty. Therefore, the student will have to take the trouble </div> <div> to practice this science precisely. It will not be enough to read the cookbook to satisfy hunger. </div> <div> We have to cook the food according to the recipe and then taste and enjoy it. It will not be </div> <div> enough to read or listen to this explanation. We will have to get initiated and meticulously </div> <div> follow the system so that with the Guru's help our soul will be truly satisfied.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary </B></U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>  </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="591"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="591" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 792 WIDTH="546"><div> <U> <A NAME="the_secret_of_initiation"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>The Secret of Initiation</U></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>by Acarya Pranakrsnananda Avadhuta</B></div> <bR> <div>      At  the time of initiation the student or disciple  makes  a solemn promise to do as much good as possible, to avoid  harmful behavior  and to maintain the confidentiality of  the  meditation  process and mantra.  Doing good and postponing bad actions is quite  understandable,  but  keeping the secrecy of the process of  meditation  is difficult for some to understand.</div> <div>      It has become somehow important today that everything should be  made public knowledge.  If it is not, then it must  be  bad, selfish or harmful. Others consider secrecy a violation of their fundamental  right  enshrined in  some  unwritten  constitution.  Unfortunately everything has become valueless as a result.</div> <div>      The purpose of maintaining the secrecy of the initiation  is not  to keep the information hidden away from  genuine  spiritual aspirants,  but to maintain its value.  Each individual  has  got his/her  personal relationship  with the  Supreme  Being.   That special relationship is established by having a clear understand-ing  of where the disciple is now, what is his/her Ultimate  Goal and  in what acoustic form the meditator relates with that  Infinite and Universal Being.</div> <div>      Each person has a very specific, exact acoustic sound  which brings the  meditator  in close contact with the  Goal.   It  is private,  personal and valuable to the meditator in a  way  only Guru  can evaluate.  To place the devotional relationship of  the disciple on a public platform for analysis, exposure and perhaps comparison  by  others who do not share his/her  value  for  that relationship, sentimental and spiritual, is cold to the touch and tears the heart.</div> <div>      It  would be similar to an intellectual debate on the  words of endearment used by faithful husbands for their dearest  wives.  Who  could say that "sweetheart" is more affectionate than  "darling",  for the secret of that love is only known to  the  lover. If  meditation  is viewed from a dry  intellectual  analysis,  it would die for lack of blood and suffocate for want of air.</div> <div>      Those  things  which are kept secretly in the  mind  have  a greater impact on the personality.  That is  why  psychoanalysts try to expose the hidden phobias, neurosis and psychosis to  show the  patient  the ordinariness of the feelings  so  that  mental disease  will  not accumulate momentum in the mind.   It  is  the secret pain in the mind which causes mental illness.</div> <div>      Psychic  energy  given to negative thoughts  causes  greater personality disorder, but psychic energy directed toward good and noble thoughts leads to wholesomeness and fearlessness.  How much more  beneficial if the mind holds on to the secret love  of  the Supreme within.</div> <div>      Therefore the meditator promises to maintain the secrecy  of the specific, individual aspects of the meditation, although  the general science of meditation is clearly explained in books  and articles.   Those who wish to learn the correct  process  should approach a properly qualified teacher (Acarya) authorized by  the Guru.  It is through proper, practical and persistent effort that success is achieved.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>    <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div>  </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2273 WIDTH="546"><div> <B><U> <A NAME="tips_for__better_meditation_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Tips for  Better Meditation </U></B></div> <bR> <div> Being not satisfied with the objective life, human beings dive deep into their subjective Self with the help of Spiritual science to transcend the limitations of the Relative World around them and enjoy the eternal bliss of the Self. This attainment is possible through deep meditation. </div> <bR> <div> What are the ways to better meditation ? </div> <bR> <div> This is an important question which has been attempted to answer in a practical manner.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1. Minimize Interruptions</B></div> <bR> <div> Take the phone off the hook, let your friends and family know that during this time you don't wish to be interrupted; close the door, close your eyes and for the time being leave the ordinary world behind. This has tremendous psychological impact. If, while meditating, one part of your mind is listening for the doorbell, or is ready to jump up if the phone rings, or to come out if someone wants to talk, it will be very difficult to concentrate. Give yourself completely to the task at hand, letting the people around you know that it is important to you. They will learn to respect it too. Establish right away that during that period of time you do not wish to be disturbed, making whatever arrangements are necessary (childcare trade- offs, phone message arrangements etc.) and you will feel freer and happier in your meditation.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2. Meditate at the Same Time of Day</B></div> <bR> <div> Experienced meditators find that if they always meditate at, say, 6am and 5:30 pm, when that time of day occurs they naturally want to meditate. Optimum times are usually considered sometime around sunrise and again sometime around sunset.-</div> <bR> <div> If one sincerely desires to explore meditation it is important to establish a habit of regular meditation. Twice daily, in the morning to tune in and charge up to start the day, and in the evening to establish a rhythm and harmony in our life. This twice a day meditation ties us in with the world's daily rhythms. It is important to maintain this regularity. Even if there is an "emergency" (like being late for work), take 5-10 minutes to meditate.</div> <bR> <div> People beginning meditation frequently report having difficulty finding the time to meditate. Writing out your daily schedule and then "brain-storming" (figuring out possibilities and listing as many as you can) all sorts of different ways to make time may help to get over this hump. Experienced meditators frequently report a considerably reduced need for sleep (due to the deep state of physiological rest during meditation) and so may gain as much as 1-3 hours of usable time.</div> <bR> <div> We should not forget that life is very meaningful. We have an aim in life. When we do not know our aim or goal in life, we are unable to get Ananda (infinite happiness).. Rich or poor big or small, educated or uneducated, most people today are suffering physically, rnentally or spiritually. Why? Because they are aimless in their lives. When people try to find happiness in limited physical wealth, they do not satisfy the human mind. </div> <bR> <div> <B>3. Twice a Day, Invariably</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> This is the key to success in meditation. If one sincerely desires to explore the heights and depths of meditation, it is important to establish a habit of never missing your practices. Meditation can be likened to a beautiful chain-each day we add delicate links; the overall effect is a strong and useful instrument. But if we miss a meditation we create a situation of a "missing link". In order to make the mind strong, try never to miss. Be uncompromising. Even in an emergency, it is possible to do your meditation for five to ten minutes if you resolve always to go it. Though difficult at first, in -the long run it becomes like brushing one's teeth or eating-some-thing one just does without thinking.</div> <bR> <div> <B>4. Meditate in the Same Place</B> </div> <bR> <div> Try to arrange a corner or even a small room for your meditation p lace. Keep it clean and</div> <div> fresh and try to do your meditation there all the time. You will find that place becoming very meaningful for you. When you go to that spot your mind will naturally want to meditate. </div> <div> Of course you can meditate anywhere-in an off ice or a car, on the bus, outside-but it helps, especially in the beginning to have a quiet and special place.</div> <bR> <div> <B>5. On a Light Stomach</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> After eating, the energies of the body are directed toward the digestive processes at the expense of the mental processes (we have all noticed the sluggishness that follows a heavy meal). Because meditation requires alertness, concentration, mental energy and "awakeness", it is helpful stomach. If you are really famished take a g lass of juice or milk or eat lightly. If your body is really hungry, your meditation may be distracted.</div> <bR> <div> <B>6. In a Comfortable, Erect Posture</B></div> <bR> <div> When meditation proceeds properly, there is a tremendous f low of energy upwards through the spinal column. Slumping or slouching impedes this energy f low, impairs breathing, and</div> <div> diminished mental alertness. So it is important to sit as straight as possible. A firm surface is very helpful. Gentle stretches or warm-ups can help to prepare the body for meditation. Some people find that putting a small pillow underneath their seats alleviates pressure on the knees and induces better posture by elevating the spinal column. </div> <div> It is important to be comfortable so that your mind is free to concentrate on the meditation</div> <div> process. If sitting on a rug, cushion or folded blanket is not comfortable, you may want to meditate sitting in a chair. With twice daily practice of good sitting posture and some stretches and warm-ups to loosen the muscles, most people are amazed to discover how relaxed and flexible their bodies can become in just a few weeks time.</div> <bR> <div> <B>7. Associate With Spiritual People</B></div> <bR> <div> One of the greatest supports through the ups and downs of your spiritual growth is time spent with others who are treading the path of meditation. Weekly group meditation are a must for the serious meditator.</div> <bR> <div> Ananda Marga conferences and seminars offer meditators a chance to immerse themselves in their spiritual practices and learn more about the philosophy of yoga. </div> <bR> <div> <B>8. Read Spiritually Elevating Books</B></div> <bR> <div> The intellect, which has to keep quiet during meditation, also needs scope for growth and development. Therefore, it is recommended that one set aside some time each day for reading spiritually uplifting books. After meditation is a good time to take a few minutes for this, as the mind is clear and calm and more easily-absorbs ideas.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>9. Talk to a Meditation Teacher</B></div> <bR> <div> Teachers of meditation (acharyas) travel through your area regularly. They can answer questions about meditation and teach you a personal meditation technique. Local members of Ananda Marga can tell you when acharyas are expected and what kind of activities are planned (lectures, group meditations, etc.) while they are visiting. Acharyas are highly trained women and men who are dedicated to the task of serving humanity. Their job is to teach meditation and spiritual practices to any one who sincerely desires to learn. Many problems or difficulties you may be having can be easily solved with the help of an acharya. So never miss the opportunity for a consultation with a teacher. Ask your class instructor or the person coordinating the acharya's visit to sign you up for a consultation. They can tell you what to expect so that you can utilize your consultation to the fullest.</div> <bR> <div> <B>10. Be Persevering</B></div> <bR> <div> Many people experience a sense of discouragement or frustration when the results of their </div> <div> first few meditations do not measure up to their expectations or hopes. They may feel that it is their own fault, and even give up the practice with a sense of failure or inferiority. Everyone who has meditated has had to deal with this in some way. It is a great help to know that others are also having similar experiences, and to understand what is actually taking place during this time. Especially in the beginning, the mind may seem uncontrolled. A great Yogi, Ramakrishna, once said: "The mind is like a drunken monkey stung by a scorpion." You may find when you sit down to meditate that many thoughts arise in your mind; you set your mantra going and then drift off to something else. Sounds and noises from without may sidetrack your internal concentration and your body may become restless. At times like this, one can easily get discouraged and think nothing is happening. However, many of the benefits of meditation come from deep within the mind and do not show themselves immediately. By constantly bringing your mind back to the mantra, you are building up your capacity to hold your mind steady in the future.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary</B></U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>   </div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 716 ><NOBR><div> <B><U> <A NAME="learn_how_to_meditate_now"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Learn how to meditate, now!</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="564" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 628 WIDTH="560"><div> For best results in meditation, it is necessary to contact a meditation teacher. However there </div> <div> are some preliminary steps which you can do before you meet a teacher. </div> <bR> <div> 1. You can practice the <U>deep relaxation</U> exercise which we have explained previously. After finishing the deep relaxation, sit up in a cross legged position. Keep your back straight and </div> <div> your hands folded in your lap and your eyes closed. Sit quietly like this for five minutes. Don't </div> <div> try to "accomplish" anything. Just sit in an alert but relaxed position. Practice this twice a day </div> <div> for one week or more, and then go on to step 2.</div> <bR> <div> 2. <B>Practice meditation using a general mantra</B>. As has been explained in other articles, </div> <div> a personal mantra is used in the Ananda Marga meditation system. There is however a </div> <div> universal mantra which can be used by anyone. The mantra consists of three Sanskrit words: <B>Baba Nam Kevalam</B>.<B> Baba</B> means "beloved" and it refers to your deepest Supreme Self. </div> <div> <B>Nam</B> means "name", and <B>Kevalam</B> means, "only". The meaning of the mantra is "Only the </div> <div> name of the Beloved". It is important to keep the idea of the mantra in your mind while you do </div> <div> the repetition of the Sanskrit words.</div> <bR> <div> The <B>Baba Nam Kevalam</B> Mantra can be sung before you do silent meditation. You can sing it</div> <div>  to any tune you like or you can use a tune on one of our recordings (refresh the page to hear it again). After singing for some time, you should get ready for silent meditation. Sit comfortably </div> <div> with your back straight. It is best to sit cross legged on the floor. Close your eyes and begin to repeat "<B>Baba Nam Kevalam</B>" in your mind. As you repeat the Sanskrit words, also keep in </div> <div> mind the meaning "Only the name of the Beloved". If your mind wanders to other thoughts, just bring it back to the mantra, <B>Baba Nam Kevalam</B>. Sit for 15 minutes. (Use a clock or watch to keep time; if you open your eyes before 15 minutes, then just close them and continue </div> <div> meditating. After some time your "internal clock" will be able to tell you when it is time to stop meditating. Consult our article "<U>Tips for Better Meditation"</U> and try to improve your practice. </div> <bR> <div> Do the meditation two times a day. In the morning after waking up and washing, sit for</div> <div> meditation and after that begin your normal daily activities. In the evening, just before the </div> <div> evening meal, sit for meditation again. If you can get into the daily routine of doing meditation </div> <div> you are on the way to success.</div> <bR> <div> 3. If you find the <B>Baba Nam Kevalam</B> meditation rewarding, then you might want to go on to </div> <div> our more advanced practices. Please contact the <U>Ananda Marga center nearest</U> you to make </div> <div> an appointment with a meditation teacher.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary </B></U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U> </U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U>  </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>    </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1082 WIDTH="546"><div> <U> <A NAME="aprenda_cómo_meditar"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Aprenda Cómo Meditar</U></div> <bR> <div> La meditación es una parte esencial del proceso de auto-transformación y desarrollo espiritual. La meditación es para todas las personas y no está reservada para unos pocos privilegiados. Uno de los objetivos de Ananda Marga es poner la meditación a la disposición de todas las personas sin ningún tipo de costo. Maestros especialmente entrenados (conocidos como acaryas) enseñan de manera personal el proceso de meditación con mantra. Para entrar en contacto con un acarya de Ananda Marga, contacte al centro de la organización que le sea más cercano. Esta eseñanza se ofrece de manera gratuita a través de todo el mundo. Sin embargo, mientras Ud. está online, los artículos que exponemos a continuación explican algo acerca del proceso de meditación, y el ultimo de ellos incluso contiene una introducción al método de instrucción. Sumérjase profundamente en su propio ser hoy mismo!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="622"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="23" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="622" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="el_arte_de_la_relajación"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>El Arte de la Relajación</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 652 WIDTH="622"><div> <B>Por:  Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Observe a un beb<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT> durmiendo. El entrega completamente su peso a la cama, sin ninguna tensión muscular. Los pueblos nómadas de Asia, que viajan d<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a y noche, alcanzan un oasis o un lugar donde acampar y se lanzan a la tierra, donde sus cuerpos descansan profundamente, aparentemente sin vida de la cabeza a los pies. Una hora de descanso as<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT> los refresca y les provee tanta nueva vitalidad y energ<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a como el sue<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >ñ</FONT>o de toda una noche para una persona común. Estos pueblos son capaces de recorrer distancias sorprendentemente largas con muy poco descanso.</div> <bR> <div> Tanto los beb<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>s, como los llamados pueblos primitivos, todav<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a no han olvidado el arte de la relajación, la habilidad para descansar completamente a voluntad. Este arte ha sido practicado por los yoguis desde los tiempos antiguos. Ellos comenzaron su investigación de este estado observando a los animales en profunda relajación durante el sue<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >ñ</FONT>o y especialmente durante la hibernación.</div> <div> .</div> <bR> <div> Incluso durante unos pocos minutos de relajación profunda, hay un descenso rápido en la presión arterial y el número de pulsaciones por minuto, y la tensión del corazón se reduce. Los sobrecargados centros nerviosos se revitalizan y la tensión de los músculos decrece por debajo del nivel basal. Ya que durante la relajación profunda solamente se consume una cantidad muy peque<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >ñ</FONT>a de energ<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a vital, la energ<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a que queda y que es producida constantemente por las c<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>lulas del cuerpo, puede ser conservada y acumulada para su uso futuro.</div> <bR> <div> Los practicantes de Yoga no necesitan irse de vaciones para relajarse. Ellos pueden permanecer sentados en una habitación abierta al tráfico de una agitada ciudad y pueden transformarse a s<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT> mismos hasta el punto de no o<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>r ningún sonido, estando relajados y serenos sobre una silla, justamente como si estuvieran en un hermoso valle suizo. Traducido al lenguaje m<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>dico, esta capacidad de inhibir voluntariamente la dimensión sensorial y motriz del cuerpo puede ser alcanzada a trav<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>s de una inversión gradual y consciente de la corriente biológica: esta ya no es más un flujo del interior al exterior, sino un flujo del exterior al interior.</div> <bR> <div> Para dar un ejemplo, tomado de la electricidad, los practicantes de yoga pueden voluntariamente ponerse a s<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT> mismos en la posición de un tel<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>fono o un operador de radio que quiere descansar, y de esta manera apaga todos los contactos de sus equipos; los impulsos todav<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a alcanzan los equipos, pero ya no son percibidos y en consecuencia no disturban al operador. Yaciendo en este estado de perfecta y consciente paz, los practicantes de yoga pueden, a trav<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>s de la respiración, conectarse a s<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT> mismos con la energ<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a pránica. De esa manera se transforman en bater<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>as conectadas con una fuente de energ<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a el<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >é</FONT>ctrica, mientras que una persona común es como una bater<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>a que trabaja cont<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT>nuamente y es incapaz de recargarse a s<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >í</FONT> misma.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 212 WIDTH="546"><div> <B><U>A todos los interesados:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Debido a la importancia de este artículo, estoy haciendo su traducción al español en mis horas libres. Trataré de publicar al menos una sección en cada número de la Revista.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>La Editora.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to article's summary </B></U></A><A HREF="#the_art_of_deep_relaxation_1" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U>    </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#for_us_to_grow" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U><B>Back to top</B></U></A>  </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#CCCCCC HEIGHT= 100 ><NOBR><div> <B>  <IMG SRC="03f36290.jpg" border=0 width="54" height="41" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Third Angle / El Tercer Ángulo</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Us to Grow"><U>Editorial</U></A> | <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Summary"><U>Summary</U></A> | <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Article of the Week"><U>Article of the Week</U></A> | <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Atelier News"><U>Atelier News</U></A> |<A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="School News"><U> School News</U></A> | For Us to Grow |<A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U> Links</U></A> | <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U>Contact</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC66 HEIGHT= 14 WIDTH="546"><div> Copyright: 2003, <A HREF="http://www.thejoyoflearning.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thejoyoflearning.com"><U>The Joy of Learning</U></A>. 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