10 Keys to Meditation

[Jitendra Hydonus]

1. Yama and Niyamas  It is imortant to observe moral principles otherwise our emotions affect our meditation practice.

2. Energization  Recognizing subltle energies and having a routine that helps us get in touch with pranayama and help us in the process of withdrawing these energies. We are able to redirect energy patterns. For instance Paramahansa Yogananda had so much control over these subtle energies in the body that he could put food in his mouth without tasting it.

3. Prayer  Prayer allures the mind to the spiritual realm and brings the presence of the Master's

4. Chanting Chanting brings your thoughts together.

5. Posture The energy has to come into the body and go up. Keep shoulders back. Do not move a muscle. The energy starts going inward. If you stay still for 45 minutes you will enter pratyahara.

6. Keep eyes at Christ Center. The Master said 'that is where you find me.' Put your mind there as well.

7. Techniques; If our attention is riveted on a book while we are traveling in a boat we will not see the beauty around us. Our consciousness is this way. It is riveted on the world. Techniques withdraw the life force and mind from sense attractions. Special Techniques given by the Master's are  the talisman that is given to reunite the consciousness with God.

8. Intensity of practice. Not tension. Rivet the attention on the practice. Our concentration becomes like the material around a rivet on a pair of jeans. It stays there though everything may rip away. Passivity and sleepatation work against our meditation practice.

9. Waiting. Just be there doing nothing after your practice. Keep eyes at the Christ Center When thoughts come bring your attention back to the Christ Center. The ego always wants to do something but sitting and meditating takes the manhole off the subconscious revealing endless wells of a bottomless pool.

10. Be regular in your meditation.

[yoshi]

ya....sticky.....i luv stickies...

[The Great Horny Owl]

ya....sticky.....i luv stickies...

That's good I'm so horny I got stuck to it. I went flying belly up last night and landed in the moonshine where I heard a French offbeat singing an owl hoot that put me over the edge. It was too indecently delicious to describe.

The Great
Horny Owl

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Namaste2All, Thanks for your description of Pratyahara. i  have read it with keen interest as i live thru your experiences and incorporate that inspiration and your vibration into my own practice of meditation.

Jitendra

[Jitendra Hydonus]

this all does seem to be very real... although as we traverse the aparatus, we are yet (typical reference) in savikalpa samadhi(s) -- otherwise known as "initial supersensory experiences" termed samprajnata "With Difference" -- from these samprajnata experiences we gain "impressions" -- these are the expansions in consciousness that kinda remain behind in our "common / difference" world landscape to anchor us ... eventually, the impressions build, and the (elevated consciousness) stream arises more continuous...   to experience and know this "platform of the observer" is possible (by direct experience) does not equate to ability to enter at will... to enter at will seems a matter of further strive and grace -- but also a matter of balance... for the devotee/yogi must express love and play the outward role to the fullest, whilst the dance unheard by others moves onward...  (although we do find many resonant souls incarnate and other -- it seems -- that are with us in our private supplications and communions with Divine Beloved... like a lovely flock of birds they are with us -- "I" being transformed as bird of flock... )

(SatChitAnanda)
(ExistenceConsciousnessBliss)[/size][/color]

Hi Namaste2All, grateful for your well thought out post. It does seem like something to strive for; That is entering this state at will, as we find ourselves still ruffled and connected to this physical realm and all it's deceptions and agitation it is often difficult to shed it like a skin when we take that moment of dipping into the shimmering world of meditation. We must remember that we bring all our problems with us to this realm as well unless we really try to make a difference by being cool, calm and collected in all worldly encounters as well. These are thoughts of mine.

i have spent a lot of time at spiritual pilgrimages and going to places i know our conducive to meditation to make the transition to the other realm more smoother and assured. The times when meditate; when it is quiet and when the Sun is just about ready to come up, at its zenith, at sunset, midnite and thru the nite when it is quiet help also. i have been making a conscious effort to choose my environment and the friends in it as well. Some people really help us in their vibration and spiritual intentions others work against you and cause static and emotional turmoil which ruffles your practice and is a detriment to spiritual evolution and progress. This is why i am so grateful that u will b coming here to see me and Amma and the spiritual sites that we meditate and gather our cup of peace and bliss from. It is so nice to have friends like u and others that are here at soul searching. i give thanks daily. Sometimes in a moment of gratitude and thanks we recognize a glimpse of this divine love we have been seeking.

Jitendra

[yoshi]

this all does seem to be very real... although as we traverse the aparatus, we are yet (typical reference) in savikalpa samadhi(s) -- otherwise known as "initial supersensory experiences" termed samprajnata "With Difference" -- from these samprajnata experiences we gain "impressions" -- these are the expansions in consciousness that kinda remain behind in our "common / difference" world landscape to anchor us ... eventually, the impressions build, and the (elevated consciousness) stream arises more continuous...   to experience and know this "platform of the observer" is possible (by direct experience) does not equate to ability to enter at will... to enter at will seems a matter of further strive and grace -- but also a matter of balance... for the devotee/yogi must express love and play the outward role to the fullest, whilst the dance unheard by others moves onward...  (although we do find many resonant souls incarnate and other -- it seems -- that are with us in our private supplications and communions with Divine Beloved... like a lovely flock of birds they are with us -- "I" being transformed as bird of flock... )

(SatChitAnanda)
(ExistenceConsciousnessBliss)[/size][/color]

Hi Namaste2All, grateful for your well thought out post. It does seem like something to strive for; That is entering this state at will, as we find ourselves still ruffled and connected to this physical realm and all it's deceptions and agitation it is often difficult to shed it like a skin when we take that moment of dipping into the shimmering world of meditation. We must remember that we bring all our problems with us to this realm as well unless we really try to make a difference by being cool, calm and collected in all worldly encounters as well. These are thoughts of mine.

i have spent a lot of time at spiritual pilgrimages and going to places i know our conducive to meditation to make the transition to the other realm more smoother and assured. The times when meditate; when it is quiet and when the Sun is just about ready to come up, at its zenith, at sunset, midnite and thru the nite when it is quiet help also. i have been making a conscious effort to choose my environment and the friends in it as well. Some people really help us in their vibration and spiritual intentions others work against you and cause static and emotional turmoil which ruffles your practice and is a detriment to spiritual evolution and progress. This is why i am so grateful that u will b coming here to see me and Amma and the spiritual sites that we meditate and gather our cup of peace and bliss from. It is so nice to have friends like u and others that are here at soul searching. i give thanks daily. Sometimes in a moment of gratitude and thanks we recognize a glimpse of this divine love we have been seeking.

Jitendra

entering at will....interesting.          will and determination.   sincerity in the heart.    conscious and continous effort.    if ya want something bad enuff, you will get it.     ' practice makes perfect'....perfection comes with practice.  i try and keep my mind at all times on god....or aka, 'connected'.  see...hear...speak....from soul....all the time.  respond ....from soul.  some people consider me slow at times to react....this is because sometimes it can be difficult to respond straight from soul....sometimes i have to make sure consciousness is away from mayan mind....       god speaks to us all the time....just need to make up our minds and put the effort forth to hear   

atmosphere during meditation.  for me....lack of commotion,,,,city noise....human noise.....    times for meditation, for me, when sun lowers in sky and darkness comes......all times during dark especially around 10 pm - 3:30 am. 
 
i wish the two of u a    happy&safe&om    filled journey to see amma <3<3<3

[Caitlin]

there are the following steps for meditation...

The FIRST is the step of rhythmic breathing. Breathe in slowly, easily, evenly, and deeply and then breathe out slowly, easily, evenly, and deeply. Within three minutes you should be able to breathe in and out about ten times. But you need not count. I will do the counting for you. And when the three minutes are over, shall ask you to move on to the second step. As your breathing becomes rhythmic, your tensions will relax. It may be better if you blend the repetition of “OM” with your breathing. As you inhale, take in the breath, utter the sacred syllable “OM” silently. Then exhale, take out the breath and as you do so, utter the sacred syllable “OM” orally i.e. with sound.

The SECOND is the step of detached observation. In this step, as an observer you have to watch the movements of the mind. Detach yourself from the mind. This is very, very important. You are not the mind. You are only watching the mind. What is the mind doing? What thoughts is it entertaining? You are not the mind. You are not thinking those thoughts. Just watch the mind. Observe the mind without any judgment, without any criticism. You are but a silent observer; observe without judgment, without criticism. You will find that as you detach yourself from the mind and just keep on watching it, its movements, gradually the mind will cease its activities.

Then we come to the THIRD step. The third step is the step of serenity, the step of peace. In this third step, you may imagine yourself as a rock in the midst of an ocean. Waves arise. They dash against the rock. The rock is unaffected, is calm, tranquil, peaceful, serene. Waves arise. Waves are the distracting thoughts. They dash against the rock. The rock is unaffected, calm, tranquil, peaceful, serene.

Then we come to the FOURTH step. It is the step where you realize your oneness with all that is, all men, all creatures, all things, all conditions. You are not apart from others. The others & you are parts of the one great whole. You are in every man, in every woman, in every child. You are in every unit of life, in every bird and animal, in every foul & fish, in every insect, in every shrub, in every plant. You belong to all countries and communities, all races and religions. You are at one with the universe. This type of meditation will fill your heart with loving kindness & a spirit of compassion so that a stage may come when you will not wish to snuff out the life even of the smallest insect.

The FIFTH is meditation on your immortality. In the fourth step you have realized that you are not merely in your physical body. You are in all that is, in the experience that we call death. It is the body that drops down, the physical body. But you will continue to be, even when the body has dropped down, you will continue to be in every grain of sand, in every drop of water, in every ray of sunshine. Death cannot touch you. You are immortal. If you are at one with all humanity, then even if there is one human being alive, you are alive. If you are at one with all living creatures, then even if there is but one creature breathing the breath of life, you are alive. Yes, you are immortal, immutable, eternal, deathless!