Yoga Music For Meditation Series - 12 Tips To Attain An Incredible Meditation Practice
a) What Is Meditation
1. First of all understand what meditation is! Meditation consists of the continual flow of thought on one thing. It is the keeping up of one idea alone and resembles the continual flow of oil. This process is called "Dhyana" by Yogis and adoration by Bhaktas.
Concentration fixes the mind on a point or object, either inside the body or outside the body as any outside object or image. Meditation naturally follows concentration. In the process of Dhyana all the normal thoughts are shut off from the mind and replaced with Divine thoughts and Divine presence.
(b) Finding The Place
2. Have a meditation room which you can lock off. Don't allow anyone to enter this room to keep it holy. Burn incense in the mornings and evenings. Keep an icon of God or your Guru. Put your chair in front of this icon. Also it is good to keep spiritual books there such as the Yoga Sutras and other spiritual scriptures.
When you are in deep meditation the powerful vibrations produced will be lodged in the ether of the room. In six months time you will feel a lot of peace and purity within the atmosphere of the room. Whenever your mind is disturbed by worldly events, sit in the room and repeat a Mantra for half an hour; you will find that a change will take place within your mind immediately.
By practising this you will feel the calming spiritual influence it has on you. Nothing can compare to a spiritual practice and it will create a holy place in your home.
3. Solitude and intense meditation are two important requirements for Self-realization. A place of pilgrimage, a Himalayan scenery, a lovely flower-garden, a sacred temple, these are the places which elevate the mind for concentration and meditation. Use them when necessary.
4. A cool place with a mild climate is a must for concentrating the mind. As salt will melt in water, the pure mind melts in the silence brought in through meditating upon the Absolute.
(c) The Time
5. Get up at 4 in the morning (the hour of Brahmamuhurta). It is very favourable for spiritual contemplation and devotional practices. Early in the morning the mind is calm, pure and quite refreshed after sleep. The mind is like a blank sheet of paper and comparatively free from worldly Samskaras (mental impressions).
The mind is easily moulded at this hour as the atmosphere is filled with light and purity. If you do not feel to take a bath or shower you can wash your hands, feet and your face with cold water. This suffices.
6. Choose the part of the night or day where your mind is clear and when you will not be disturbed. The mind is more calm and malleable in these times.
7. You can enjoy the results of a good meditation on Sundays because this is a holiday, and the mind feels free. Therefore you should do some vigorous meditations on Sundays. Meditation results will also improve when you live on milk and fruits alone or when you fast. Use common sense and try to obtain the best results in meditation.
(d) Where To Focus
8. Keep your attention fixed in the area of the heart or in the middle of the forehead and keep your eyes shut.
9. The mind is placed in Ajna Chakra in Trikuti. The mind is easily tamed by focusing on Trikuti. Devotional types (Bhaktas) should focus in the heart area and yogis should concentrate on Ajna Chakra.
10. At the top of the head there is an energy center called Sahasrara which is another great place to concentrate. Vedantins focus in this point. Some yogis focus on their nose tips (Nasikagra Drishti). Tenaciously stick to one place of focus for the quickest results.
If you concentrate on heart, stick to it. Never change it. Your guru will select the center your should concentrate on, if you are a student of the faith. If you are a man who likes to be self-reliant, you can select it for yourself.
(e) Pure Diet
11. Keep a pure light diet. Over filling the stomach with bread, rice and vegetables will make you sleepy and interferes with your spiritual practice. Solely dieting on milk will make the body feel light and pure.
By following these guidelines you will find yourself being able to sit at ease in yoga positions for long periods of time, up til hours. If you feel weak though, you can take some milk and rice. Those with an intense program of keeping lectures and other spiritual activities should have a solid diet though.
(f) Yoga Positions
12. The body is stabilized through the practice of yoga positions (Asanas). The mind is strengthened through inner attitudes (Mudra) and contractions (Bandhas). The body will feel lighter after the practising breathing exercises (Pranayama). Once you can do these things with ease your mind can fix itself upon the Absolute and you will attain states of uplifted bliss and euphoria.
It is highly recommended to practice the lotus pose (Padmasana) or Siddhasana for the attainment of meditation and concentration. For health it is good for you to be sexually continent. This can be attained through Paschimottanasana, Matsyasana, Brahmacharyasana, Sarvangasana and Shirshasana (amongst many other Asanas).
1. First of all understand what meditation is! Meditation consists of the continual flow of thought on one thing. It is the keeping up of one idea alone and resembles the continual flow of oil. This process is called "Dhyana" by Yogis and adoration by Bhaktas.
Concentration fixes the mind on a point or object, either inside the body or outside the body as any outside object or image. Meditation naturally follows concentration. In the process of Dhyana all the normal thoughts are shut off from the mind and replaced with Divine thoughts and Divine presence.
(b) Finding The Place
2. Have a meditation room which you can lock off. Don't allow anyone to enter this room to keep it holy. Burn incense in the mornings and evenings. Keep an icon of God or your Guru. Put your chair in front of this icon. Also it is good to keep spiritual books there such as the Yoga Sutras and other spiritual scriptures.
When you are in deep meditation the powerful vibrations produced will be lodged in the ether of the room. In six months time you will feel a lot of peace and purity within the atmosphere of the room. Whenever your mind is disturbed by worldly events, sit in the room and repeat a Mantra for half an hour; you will find that a change will take place within your mind immediately.
By practising this you will feel the calming spiritual influence it has on you. Nothing can compare to a spiritual practice and it will create a holy place in your home.
3. Solitude and intense meditation are two important requirements for Self-realization. A place of pilgrimage, a Himalayan scenery, a lovely flower-garden, a sacred temple, these are the places which elevate the mind for concentration and meditation. Use them when necessary.
4. A cool place with a mild climate is a must for concentrating the mind. As salt will melt in water, the pure mind melts in the silence brought in through meditating upon the Absolute.
(c) The Time
5. Get up at 4 in the morning (the hour of Brahmamuhurta). It is very favourable for spiritual contemplation and devotional practices. Early in the morning the mind is calm, pure and quite refreshed after sleep. The mind is like a blank sheet of paper and comparatively free from worldly Samskaras (mental impressions).
The mind is easily moulded at this hour as the atmosphere is filled with light and purity. If you do not feel to take a bath or shower you can wash your hands, feet and your face with cold water. This suffices.
6. Choose the part of the night or day where your mind is clear and when you will not be disturbed. The mind is more calm and malleable in these times.
7. You can enjoy the results of a good meditation on Sundays because this is a holiday, and the mind feels free. Therefore you should do some vigorous meditations on Sundays. Meditation results will also improve when you live on milk and fruits alone or when you fast. Use common sense and try to obtain the best results in meditation.
(d) Where To Focus
8. Keep your attention fixed in the area of the heart or in the middle of the forehead and keep your eyes shut.
9. The mind is placed in Ajna Chakra in Trikuti. The mind is easily tamed by focusing on Trikuti. Devotional types (Bhaktas) should focus in the heart area and yogis should concentrate on Ajna Chakra.
10. At the top of the head there is an energy center called Sahasrara which is another great place to concentrate. Vedantins focus in this point. Some yogis focus on their nose tips (Nasikagra Drishti). Tenaciously stick to one place of focus for the quickest results.
If you concentrate on heart, stick to it. Never change it. Your guru will select the center your should concentrate on, if you are a student of the faith. If you are a man who likes to be self-reliant, you can select it for yourself.
(e) Pure Diet
11. Keep a pure light diet. Over filling the stomach with bread, rice and vegetables will make you sleepy and interferes with your spiritual practice. Solely dieting on milk will make the body feel light and pure.
By following these guidelines you will find yourself being able to sit at ease in yoga positions for long periods of time, up til hours. If you feel weak though, you can take some milk and rice. Those with an intense program of keeping lectures and other spiritual activities should have a solid diet though.
(f) Yoga Positions
12. The body is stabilized through the practice of yoga positions (Asanas). The mind is strengthened through inner attitudes (Mudra) and contractions (Bandhas). The body will feel lighter after the practising breathing exercises (Pranayama). Once you can do these things with ease your mind can fix itself upon the Absolute and you will attain states of uplifted bliss and euphoria.
It is highly recommended to practice the lotus pose (Padmasana) or Siddhasana for the attainment of meditation and concentration. For health it is good for you to be sexually continent. This can be attained through Paschimottanasana, Matsyasana, Brahmacharyasana, Sarvangasana and Shirshasana (amongst many other Asanas).
About the Author:
Hans Havasi is a Systems Consultant at a major engineering firm in Denmark, a yoga teacher and a musician in the group Ibis which makes tantric music for Goddesses. Together with his wife Mariah, Hans leads a yoga and tantra retreat and art center in the north of Copenhagen. Please click here to read more about meditation or go here to download free meditation music.