The Essence of Yoga

With any degree of expansion of our consciousness, we are enriched. Sometimes it comes to us through some intensified perception, increased understanding, greater life motivation and purpose or a more vital attitude towards our personal life.

By degrees we gradually grow as a person to become strengthened as an individual through our free will that allows us to realise how importance it is that we use and assert our individual talents, yet also comforted by the awareness and that we are only a small part of the whole – the greater Universal Consciousness.

We all struggle to discover our own special talents and qualities that when fulfilled will satisfy our personal ego, yet at the same time we find great sense of relief when we are able to feel trusting enough to surrender our personal ego and sense of self.  Only the letting go of our lesser personality allows us to experience the comfort and the safety of a wider spiritual consciousness. We feel this whenever we allow our self centredness to temporarily melt away in meditation, for instance,  or when we feel good after having demonstrated  a degree of self sacrifice, generosity or kindness to others.

Meditation is a natural process.  It is a natural talent to be able to relax, uplift and expand the mind. However, because it is seldom practised regularly, we have to re-educate ourselves until the natural ability returns to us.

Many people have experienced wider spiritual consciousness either through aspiration, expansions of a loving heart, through spontaneous insights and reactions, dream experiences and many factors that result in us knowing of the existence of other, higher levels of consciousness. However, to deliberately encourage these experiences we can choose to follow specific preparations which are known in the various schools of meditation.

There is no great intellectualization required in meditation. Meditation is not accomplished through intellectual skill or application but by the simple qualities of humility and sincerity in seeking truth and by wishing to understand the greater truths of life. We find this is possible through willingness to surrender things that do not matter and to hold to our noblest principles.

We begin to understand the spiritual reality that we are all sharing existence as cells in the great body of the whole of humanity. With this and similar wonderful realizations we are strengthened by the sense of brotherhood with others and need no further proof of the existence of the benign Power of the Universality that exists and presides over all life on earth. We know it by direct experience.

Meditation is not new. It has always been an integral part of religious and spiritual observances throughout the world’s history but with the decline in formal religions and the increasing need for a way to inject spiritual principles back into our materialistic lifestyles, it is achieving great popularity.

The classical techniques used in yoga are reliable in helping us become familiar with higher spheres of consciousness that we may not have previously have been aware of. The concepts behind yoga philosophy are universal and teach us in ways that can be applied by everyone. 

Meditation offers us a means of healing mental and physical ills through improved access to our own psychological capabilities.

It offers us a natural sedative when we have need of releasing emotional or mental stress. It is a direct mental tonic to counter depression and anxiety as we find a route to our own inner safe-house of the soul.

Its methods are based upon the spiritual truth that each of us must develop by our own efforts but reminds us that we have limitless inner resources to encourage us. These must be self discovered and utilized if we are to live a life as we would wish.

Yoga teachings have evolved through investigation into the laws of nature and in an attitude of great respect that allows us to desire to comply with those laws as the best way towards human achievement. That is why a yoga exponent will be eating natural foods, exercising without aggression or competition, breathing to strengthen the natural energy pumping system of the lungs, seeking a healthy expression of emotions through loving kindness and contentment, sharpening the intellect through concentrated study and looking towards the ideals previously achieved by others to serve as inspiration for personal effort.

Following the natural transmission of energies that occurs in a flow from greater to lesser the yogis instituted a system that would allow wisdom to flow from the more spiritually charged Guru to the pupil or Chela who would be directly tutored in a one to one situation.

This system has been modified to allow yoga to be taught in general classwork to which students can apply to join to learn the techniques and details of this ancient method, whether applied to Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga or any other of the Margas.

Meditation begins as a simple and natural state of consciousness when the body is still, eyes are closed and yet the senses are very aware.

Children are very familiar with the early stages of meditation as they correspond with the common awareness and feelings they have upon going into a peaceful sleep. However, as they are guided in class to try to hold for a brief interval, thoughts of beauty, prayer or happy times, they consciously experience and benefit by increasing inner awareness.

Our Purpose

Firstly, we must wish to improve our state of mind and consciousness and to rise above current problems and stress so that we can anticipate a pleasant and refreshing experience.

Need for Privacy and Stillness

Best following physical exercise, we need to sit still and conserve our energy. Eyes are closed to avoid distractions.

Sitting Still is a Discipline until it become Pleasant to do so

As our bodies remain still and relaxed it is easier to feel emotionally and mentally calm and peaceful. It is a relief to feel of effort and strain.

We wish to feel peaceful enough to allow positive thoughts to take root in our minds – ones that engender confidence in ourselves and in life’s ultimate goodness and purpose.

We lift our thoughts towards a single idea or image that inspires us

We are comforted by a sense of oneness and sense of brotherhood with others with similar aspirations who share our planet

No more effort – we surrender to this idea

in humility, knowing both our insignificance as a mere cell in the greater body of humanity’s pool of intelligence and experience, yet retaining a sense of value and natural pride in our own  uniqueness and talents

Surrender all activity of the mind and turn attention to our hearts

Here is the place where our soul abides – our loving feelings are a reality -  and where our own wealth of wisdom guides us through our intuition.

It is the place where dwells the spiritual spark of divinity that links us with our Creator.

We breathe deeply and easily to fan and activate that spark.

We enjoy our own special experience that follows

We wait in silence and in stillness with senses keen to register our feelings before return to normal consciousness.

Our purpose - Attunement to the Divine Light

Prepare the body and regulate breathing

Close your eyes

Contemplate the heavenly luminaries in our sky –

the powerful light of the Sun (the Father)

and the subtle light of the Moon (the Mother)

Mental Thanksgiving for the Light

Appreciate and honour Father and Mother (Sun and Moon)

Look to your Guardian Angel or the Light of your Higher Self

Honour your Master and those who radiate greater illumination and Light

Aspire to increase your own light, wisdom and understanding

Use your imagination to expand your Light to Embrace the Universe

Await the spiritual Presence

Meditation is becoming a more popular practice as both individuals and professionals gain in confidence and in practical clinical experience regarding its value in health, psychological balance, and in general healing.

Peace is a natural state of consciousness when we are not concerned with some activity, or emotional problem, or with any labyrinthine exercise of mind.

For instance, when our bodies are still, we become aware and more sensitive to how we feel.

When our emotions and feelings are relaxed and content, we are more clearly aware of our thoughts.

When our thoughts are at rest (made easier when our eyes are shut) we become aware of the core of our being, our soul self that directs us in life and communicates with our other ‘selves’ through the inward path of intuition.

When our soul is at rest is a more profound state, and one less frequent.  It occurs as a state of being that requires us to be inwardly and outwardly in harmony with life, with nature, and with people. It is then that we come to realise that the same universal life and vitality pulses through us as through every other living thing – this life and energy is what we call the spirit.

Acceptance of both the value of ourselves as a microcosmic being and the perception of the wonder and immensity of the cosmic regions of creation will help us as we aspire to understand life’s purpose. Together these will set the stage for the various degrees of elasticity in consciousness that gradually enable us to reach wider and wider immensities of the feeling of peace.

When we quietly sit down to meditate and keep our bodies upright but relaxed, close our eyes gently and feel conscious of the only movement being our breathing it has a wonderful and sometimes magical effect. After some minutes of stillness of body, our minds begin to become quieter as the agitation and passing thought activity becomes subdued.  Any clouded state of depression will begin to lift as we focus upon the highest life source we can and even with eyes closed it is possible to ‘see’ a degree of light is we turn our eyes upward.

Stillness becomes a time of interesting experience. We become first aware of our physical comfort or otherwise, then of the constant rhythm of the breath, and of our senses that maintain our increasing awareness of ourselves as we shut out the external world by closing our eyes.

It is worth persevering with the simplest practice of stillness. When we cease external muscular activity, we allow ourselves opportunity to discover more of the natural processes of Nature as it refuels our energies with the natural vital processes and patterns that in their mysterious way, maintain the health requirement for our body and nervous system. We begin to allow a lightness and peace to prevail in our mood as we realize the faith that we can choose to place in the great natural processes of life.

Feel that the sensation of elevation and lightness grows to the extent we surrender to stillness and become conscious of the comforting, positive energies of nature.

Keep practicing this simple meditation.  It will help in many ways and is a direct tonic for depression.

In order to practise meditation we must satisfy the requirement of stillness of the body, an erect spine and closed eyes. These are important disciplines that allow energy and senses to become focussed upon our meditation. There are simple modifications if you are not able to assume the classical cross legged positions.

Dhyana or Meditation itself has four stages. These are relaxation of the mind, concentration of thought, elevation of the soul, and expansion of the spirit. These ideally culminate in varying degrees of peaceful or heightened experiences of consciousness.

Relaxation – attitude of surrender – humility – preparedness

Concentration – power of the mind to tune it and focus

Elevation of the soul - aspiration which allows emotional uplift and contentment

Expansion of the spirit - meditative mood of freedom and flight

The richness of any beautiful meditative experience demands that its essence is registered on the physical brain as an indelible memory. We may try to recapture the mood of a previous meditation and sometimes succeed, but usually each meditation is unique.

Meditation is a natural state of mind when we are without stress, when our thoughts are cheerful and our mind without disturbance.

Relaxation is a natural preparation for meditation. Relaxation of the muscles and nervous system is practised in Yoga Nidra from commencement of Yoga classes or training. It remains one of the most enjoyable experiences both in group class or in private practice. Relaxation of the emotions replaces fear, anxiety and other negative feelings with positive states such as contentment and peace resulting in a kindly peaceful mood and disposition. Relaxation of the mind allows the mind a ‘holiday’ from concerns of work, responsibilities, personality attachments and fears. It is a state of non-striving with one’s thoughts.

Each of these states depends upon a release of restricting influences, and an expansion into a more secure state and condition until one is capable of feeling whole and untroubled.

Next we employ deliberate concentration upon a pleasing quality, or idea which serves to anchor our thought, and not let it wander at all. After some minutes the mind will tire, then is the time to let all effort of mind cease and to encourage a growing feeling of lightness and elevation.

Meditation is a wonderfully relaxed state of mind following mental effort and attunement and there are different recognized states, each of which may be the result of different stimuli. It may sometimes naturally develop to overtake you when you are feeling relaxed and contented, or when moved by strong emotion. However, in the methods used in Yoga, meditation is consciously initiated by the individual who deliberately chooses to tune in to some particular quality through concentration of mind, knowing that there are deeper and finer aspects of consciousness within to explore.

Meditation promises rich enjoyment and spiritual rewards.

The Meditation experience is unique to each one – variable enough to be exciting time after time. It offers a familiar path of retreat providing refreshment you seek for your mind and soul.

Keep a diary of your own experiences in meditation.  You will find it very rewarding.

The science of yoga teaches us that life is a great spiritual adventure. It has a beginning in the process of birth and has its seeming ending in the process of dying, our shared eventuality. These two processes are common to all and yet the cause of our coming into incarnation, the determined length of time each soul is here, and the circumstances that determine our departure all still remain mysterious. It is these unknowns that make the candle a suitable symbol for contemplation in any meditation upon spiritual life.

In this traditional yogic exercise there are several simple symbols considered prior to entering the meditative state when we seek to realize something of life’s mysteries…..

the candle = represents the body substance and quality the candle length = represents the length of life the flame = represents the individual spiritual spark or soul

the wick = is the human will which anchors the flame the burning process = represents life experience the candle light = is the radiation of the individual’s intelligence

the flame of the spirit will burn as along as there is physical material and the anchorage provided by the wick. The flame is extinguished when there is no more life experience to enjoy or endure. Then the flame of the spirit leaves behind the molten remains of the candle and disappears back into the invisible world from which it came, as the spirit of man disappears after leaving its physical habitation.

These are the thoughts which prepare us for the exercise in Trataka as we gaze upon a single candle flame as a prelude to our meditation, best done in darkness.

The striking of a match causes a flame to appear from an invisible source as it is human passion which precedes human conception.

The attachment of the match flame to the candle wick represents the attachment of the soul to the body at the beginning of the soul’s incarnation.

The material substance of the candle (the finest being beeswax) indicates the quality, strength and health of the body.

The length of the candle suggest the length of life experience ahead.

The melting of the wax and its tear-like droplets are symbolic of life experience which burns and vaporises, to represent our life experiences including joy and sorrow.

The strength of the flame is dependent upon the quality of the wick, as each human life depends upon the will to live.

During the entire time of the burning of the candle, the single flame emits energy and light – a light said to be strong enough to be seen in darkness 1km away. This light represents the radiance of each intelligence.

When your eyes are tired of gazing unblinking at the flame and having contemplated some of the suggested ideas, the eyes are then closed to help us focus upon the inner light of the spirit and to identify ourselves with it.

“I am created by Divine Light

  I am maintained by Divine Light

  I radiate Divine Light

  I am the Light”

When we meditate we take a prime thought and choose to identify with it. We generally choose a natural creation that appeals to us so that we can attune to its energies. So, through a focus on things of nature and natural forms, we seek to expand our understanding of the vital creative energies of Nature behind the outer forms and apparent purposes.

This particular exercise in meditation is based upon the lengthy process of natural forces at work over aeons in creating diamonds. The diamond crystals are formed in the earth from carbon in the normal slow evolutionary process that takes millions of years to transform basic black carbon into the pure crystal gemstone that, when faceted, can be displayed in jewellers’ windows. The diamond takes its rightful place as the most royal gemstone. It popularly symbolizes purity, fidelity, power, wealth and truth.

If possible, a true clear and colourless diamond gemstone or ring is used as a material focus for meditation in order to observe its characteristics and its ability to channel natural light and reflect it through the full range of the colour spectrum. The flashes of pure colour are a measure of its quality. We can also meditate using only our imagination if a gem is not available.

The evolution of this thing of beauty and influence arrives at its place of power and perfection as we ourselves seek to be successful in our own self culture over time, as we patiently transform ourselves into the picture we hold of human excellence of our own ideal. Our thoughts seek comparisons. If we could transform any darkness of ignorance or wrongdoing in our being and gradually over time and through the lessons of life experience, develop a crystalline quality that allows us clear perception of the truths of life, our minds could also be pure enough to reflect greater Truths, light and wisdom.

We allow our minds to consider that instead of having to accumulate all knowledge for instance, our minds would, like the diamond, become capable of reflecting the lights and colours of truths as needed. We imagine our minds pure, having emerged from our earthly experiences and pains, becoming pure and capable of radiating the powerful energies of the vitality of the colour red, the enthusiasm of orange, the knowledge of golden yellow, the harmony of green, the love of sky blue, the devotional intensity of indigo, and the spiritual purity of royal purple in response to the Universal Light of Truth itself.

  In the experience of meditation we let our thoughts and   feelings flow out from their anchorage in these ideas, choosing to identify ourselves with our own selected finest qualities and virtues or upon the Universal Light itself.