Meditation is the primary means of cultivating the inner peace and happiness that we all long for. Inner peace and happiness are found to be resident parts of our inner nature when we are able to take away the barriers in our nervous system from the purifying influences of yoga practices. Inner stillness is the essence of enlightenment, and how do we nurture this in ourselves? - Through deep meditation.
Samyama is a deep meditation practice that takes advantage of resident inner stillness (silence). The practice of Samyama develops in us that sense of ?seeing stillness in action and action in stillness.? In this state, our desires become expressions of our inner silence and find fulfillment in ways we could not have expected.
With samyama, once the meditation time is up, rest follows for about a minute or two and transitions into samyama. The state begins with an easy state of not thinking, just resting in silence. If thoughts come, they are just let go without entertaining them. In samyama practice, mantra (sound) is not entertained either, not favoring anything but being easy in silence. The starting point for samyama is silence. The only requirement for doing samyama practice is having some inner silence. Most people achieve this after a few months of daily deep meditation.
Deep meditation however is often mistakenly assumed with having to sit perfectly erect in legs intertwined uncomfortably and washing all thoughts from the minds, or having a complete one-pointed concentration. This is simply not so. Deep meditation for different people may vary, and each of them may have their own ways and practices of meditating, but whatever way or practice they have chosen, the aim will always be more or less the same, achieving inner peace and happiness.
For some people, deep meditation is simply about ?not doing?. They just get themselves deeply relaxed, the body lying down comfortably on the back, listening to beautiful, flowing music and just letting go. They form a perfect state of mind for more traditional meditation, such as prayer or just enjoying the wonderful energy coursing through the body.
Deep meditation practices give us insight into both the fundamental nature of our being. It allows us to experience emotions and thoughts with great clarity and balance. The mind is freed from conditioned patterns of self-centeredness, negativity and confusion, and the heart is opened to deeper wisdom and compassion. We begin to recognize and know each moment as practice for growth toward wholeness and harmony. We discover a place in ourselves which is already whole and always in harmony, and we learn to live from a clearer center and reach into the inner part of us that results to completeness and happiness.
The basic breathing techniques of Raja yoga to gain control over the mind and experience deep meditation are outlined below.
Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. (The word "yoga" – from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to yoke") – is generally translated as "union of the individual atma (loosely translated to mean soul) with Paramatma, the universal soul." This may be understood as union with the Divine by integration of body, mind, and spirit.
Raja Yoga involves exact meditation techniques which lead to experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation, described in Hindu thought as moksha. ( or liberation from the cycle of birth and death).
Raja Yoga is a very practical guide for gaining control over the mind.
Raja Yoga getting control of the mind
Without this control, meditation is not possible, and therefore the goal of any yoga, unattainable.
Moreover in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, "Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah," or, "The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga! Raja Yoga shows how to achieve this.
8 Principles of Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is also known as Ashtanga (8 limbed) Yoga which refers to the eight principles which are:
Yama; or the Code of conduct – that is, self-restraint
Niyama; religious observances - commitments to practice, study and devotion
Asana: integration of mind and body through physical activity
Pranayama: regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body
Pratyahara: abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects
Dharana; concentration, one-pointedness of mind
Dhyana: meditation (quiet and non-sensual activity that leads to samadhi)
Samadhi; the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state
It must be remarked that although called eight-limbed, it is really a Royal Road to self-realization, with each limb leading into the next, ending with the goal, or Samadhi (and the union sought).
Raja Yoga taking control
More easily explained, first you must learn self-control. Without it nothing that follows is possible. In conjunction with the self-control, you must practice religious observances, and seek to expand your quality of devotion. These two lead to Asana, or an integration of mind and body.
At this stage, you are ready to begin control over the breath, which is main life force that animates our existence. As in each subsequent practice led the way to the next, so this stage prepares one for crucial stage of meditation.
Control of the breath is basic to this, and indeed, automatically assists in the next phase of Pratyahara, where you learn to turn off all the senses, and become internalized (not affected by sensatory stimulation).
This is the control you need to approach Dharana, or single-pointedness. From this point, meditation is said to begin. All the rest was preparatory for it and to it.
Raja Yoga getting to meditation
Finally one arrives at Dhyana, which is mediation. Your senses are internalized, your breath is controlled, your mind is thus free from the “stuff" that keeps it perpetually busy.
Once in true mediation, the road leads directly to Samadhi. In Samadhi you are in harmony with all creation, and non-creation, and are yourself the five principles or Yamas, which are: Ahimsa - of the refraining from injury (non-life supporting action)
Satya – which is truthfulness
Asteya – of the freedom from stealing
Bramacharya – which is living within the Self (moderation; abstinence)
Aparigraha – or the freedom from attachment to possessions Having attained this, you are considered in perfection and able to feel one with your creator. This is the goal of all yoga, but in Royal Yoga, the path is easily set out, and if followed without deviation, you may arrive just there.
Both Barry J Mcdonald & Sacha Tarkovsky are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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