AJAPAJAP Dhyana

Dhyana or Meditation is the sixth limb of Asthanga Yoga and finding its way into the modern life to promote psycho-physical, poise and quiet mind that protects the stress of modern life which destroys health and happiness. This is the oldest form of inner-work. It is not the art of concentration as most people think, but witnessing your awareness. This art of witnessing helps to overcome feeling of attachment, aversion which are the root cause of all mental turmoil. It simply means to live with attention, without tension at physical, mental and verbal level. Meditation offers the possibility of our opening up, as a flower to the sun, to the bright emotions of love and joy & ecstasy.

Breath is given a great importance in yoga, it is the link between the body and mind and the source of our being and has a close association with life-force (prana). The Pranadharana (contemplative first stage) is a method of deep breathing going to the source of thought. This is the first step to streamline the thoughts and silence the agitation of the mind. In this method, the awareness or focus is on the deep breathing into the belly, by fixing the attention there, the thought is said to be nailed down before you attempt into the stage of focal attention onto respiration, which is the pulse of life. As you inhale and exhale your total awareness is only on the movement of your breath at the ribcage, the rise and fall. As the breathing gets slower and the pace deeper, it gives a calming effect on the mind and makes an ideal process to begin Meditation. If we surrender to the respiratory rise and fall we get close to our essential being reducing the number of thoughts, to open the space between thought and smooth out waves in the mind stuff. The first sound of breath and life is ‘SO-HAM’ which can now be attempted into.  As you breathe in let the inhalation co-ordinate to the sound of ‘so’ and in exhalation to the sound of ‘ham’. At this stage just let it come do not force it but allow yourself to be absorbed in it. Allow your feelings and thoughts to come and go, if any, with detachment. Don’t control, just be aware. If you loose the soundtrack of ‘so-ham’ gently return back to it. In the initial stage, thoughts and feelings are bound to dominate. Let this not deter you, but begin your journey with faith and believe in yourself. You will soon begin to experience a deep state of relaxation, validating mental hygiene and tranquility, clean mind, refined & clarified consciousness. This method, when practiced daily for 20 minutes morning or evening will calm & tone the nervous system, relax & harmonize the psychic energies, recharge and cultivate serenity. Meditation creates positive energy; this technique not only heals your body, but mind and soul as well, therefore make a beginning.

MANTRA Dhyana

The Holy Scriptures say “first was the word, and the word was with God”. From here arose Nada Yoga, the Yoga of sound. In the philosophy of Yoga and in particular about that part, the sound vibration is known as “Mantra Yoga”. Mantra is an energized sound and sound and vibration create energy. In the word Mantra, “man” means to think and “tra” means to protect. Therefore Mantra means “the thought that liberates and protects”. The chanting of a mantra is called Mantra Yoga and other forms of repeating a mantra is called “japa yoga”. When the Mantra is spoken aloud, it is called ‘vaikhari japa’ when whispered it is ‘upamsu japa’ in a mental repetition it is ‘manasika japa’ and when written it is ‘likhita japa’

There are many paths of Yoga and different paths have been followed in different ages or “yugas”. In the Satya Yuga  ‘meditation’ was followed, in Treta Yuga ‘sacrifice’ was recommended, in Dvapara Yuga ‘all forms of worship was followed’ and the Kali Yuga in which we live ‘mantra yoga’ is the best help for total development.

A human being is victim of five enemies and they are kaama (desire), ahankara (pride), moha (attachment), krodha (anger) and lobha (avarice). There are five means of keeping the body in sound health; they are through Ahar (diet), Vihar (body/mind complex), Achar (code of conduct), Vichar (thought process) and Nidra (sleep). To keep the body free from disease mental, emotional, psychological or physical is the aim of Yoga. Uniting the body and mind through this holistic approach to restore, balance and bring in harmony to provide relief and cure from diseases is the aim of this science.

Importance of 108

Every individual body responds differently therefore there are various forms of sound, music and vibration. Detail study and research proves that sound, more correctly the vibration produced has effects on our various systems. Chanting produces a series of psychological, emotional and spiritual effects and to coordinate between the body and mind a Mala is used with 108 beads. 1 represents supreme energy, 0 represents perfection and 8 eternity. The therapeutic value of using a Mala is it helps concentrating the mind, directing the emotions and focusing the body. The major psychiatric illnesses according to Ayurveda is 108, the number of deities of knowledge and various sciences is also 108. There are 108 auspicious moments (muhurts) in a year and the couplets of Rugveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda are also 108. According to the science and philosophy, a human body has six defects of ‘desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride and envy’. Thus from these six defects thirty-six permutations are obtained. The body has three-fold division, the physical, subtle and spiritual. Thus 36x3 = 108.  The use of a mala gives the body some activity and thereby releases nervous energy and improves the power of concentration and develops the ability to control emotions. Three rounds (avartans) are done in use of a Mala, this is to awaken the physical, subtle and spiritual self. The physical body is the body, which is usually referred. The subtle body is composed of nineteen constituents – the five subtle sense organs, the five subtle motor organs, the five vital energies, the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, the intellect and the ego.

The Method 

Sit on the floor in padmasana (lotus pose) or siddhasana (perfect pose) virasana (warrior pose) or sukhasana (easy pose) or on a chair with the spine tall and straight. Face either the north or the east of your room. Traditionally the time suggested is in between 4 and 6 in the morning (brahmamuhurata) but you may set a particular time for practice which suits you the most when your body and mind are 100% with you. Now relax the muscles of the neck, shoulders, all the facial muscles and the sense organs. Next focus the eyes gently in between your eyebrows. Pull the abdominal muscles in, and force the air out of the lungs. As you breathe in, let the chest widen, ensure that the shoulders are not lifted. Use your breath and your energy and begin chanting. Use a melody of the mantra and repeat till you feel one with it. Breathe through your nose with even expulsions. Offer a thanksgiving to the divine before and after your practice.

The principles of using the Mala

The mala should be held in the right hand placed on the ring finger with the tips of the ring finger and thumb touching each other. The mala should be drawn with the middle finger towards oneself. The movement of the index finger does the work of seeking blessings from the divine and heaven above. The mount meru bead should never be crossed but the mala should be reversed after reaching the merubead. Take care to see that the beads do not strike each other while chanting. As far as possible use your own mala, do not exchange or use others mala. After chanting is complete place the mala either at the place of your daily worship or in a box or you may wear it around your neck to avoid any loss of energy. While attending to natures calls, consuming any alcoholic drink or any non-vegetarian diet, please remove the mala from your neck this will help the mala to remain pure and sacred. 

Some guided Mantras

• Om Namho Shivaey; Shivaey Namaha Om
• Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Hare Rama;

            Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

• Om Gan Ganpataye Namah
• Om Ganeshaya Namo

Effects

Mantra is known to bring the self/ego  (I) closer in touch with (ME) the hidden emotions of the mind. Sometimes, tears roll off the cheeks. These could be tears of joy, self-pity or regret. Sometimes trance or a fainting sort of a feeling is also experienced, this is when the mind is freed from the ego aspect. The power of the mantra will show its effect and a noticeable change in the personality of the practitioner will be seen. The voice will become melodious and speech compassionate. The chanter will be a more positive person bouncing with inner energy.

Benefits

• Sounds create vibration and vibrations into energy. This energy is well released from the physical, mental and emotional self, giving the chanter a positive attitude in life.
• Dissolution of mind takes place and the subconscious mind gets purified and the new impression in the subconscious mind gets stopped.
• Helps cure psychiatric illness, mind remains peaceful and one is free from psychosomatic illnesses precipitated by stress.
• Due to the synchronized chanting, breathing becomes even and breath control possible. Breath is connected with emotions thereby making the chanter an emotionally stronger person, releasing the negative feelings which, are the root causes of all emotional disturbances.
• The varied fluctuations in the mind and the mood swings are being able to be controlled increasing the level of concentration.
• Rapid chanting helps persons suffering from Low Blood Pressure to bring the pressure level to normal.
• Slow chanting without the retention stage helps reverse the High Blood Pressure problem.
• The power of mantra is the power of mind, thought and intellect.
• With a regular practice of chanting, you come in direct confrontation with your ego making you a tower of joy, peace and love.

Don’t’s

Chanting is best done on an empty stomach. The recommended time is before breakfast and before dinner. However, should it be practiced after meals, a gap of ninety minutes is suggested. (The digestive system often shuts down during meditation, so a full stomach may result in indigestion, acidity, flatulence, bloat ness, distention and  nausea).