Harmony Harmony Within –36–

Welcome to "Unconditional Love – Viveka and Vairagya: Yoga of Liberation, an Anapanasati audio-guided 39 meditations."

This meditation focuses on mindfulness of breath to enhance awareness, tranquility, and harmony. It encourages reflection on emotional reactions, inner state, and the nature of self-love, guiding you toward inner peace by recognizing the Divine within. Through observing breath and letting go of attachments, you will cultivate a deeper connection to your true self and the eternal presence of love and happiness.

Transcript

Greetings,

Beautiful being.

Welcome to a meditation on mindfulness of your breath to develop awareness,

Tranquility,

And harmony.

Today,

We will focus on the importance of being aware of our emotional reactions and inner state.

Sit in a comfortable position,

On a chair,

In a half lotus or lotus position,

Where you can feel the support of the ground and the freedom of the air.

Close your eyes,

Allow your attention to shift to your breath,

To the center of your being.

I ask you this time before starting to listen to this session,

Tune in to the practice.

Tune in so that you truly immerse yourself in total immersion and attentiveness,

Eager to learn something new and gain more experience.

Tuning into the practice is the most important stage before starting this audio meditation with explanations.

Begin with awareness of your body.

Look at yourself from the side.

Where are you sitting?

What are you sitting on?

Be aware of your sitting body.

Be aware of your breath.

Feel how the inhale naturally enters through your nostrils.

Enters,

Enters,

Enters.

Feel how the exhale naturally exits through your nostrils.

Exits,

Exits,

Exits.

Observe the inhales.

Observe the exhales.

Inhale mindfully.

Exhale mindfully.

Allow each inhale and exhale to be natural and calm.

Give yourself a moment to feel the rhythm of your breath.

Be aware of how agitated your mind is,

How much it gets distracted from the process,

And how quickly you can bring it back to the breath.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi spoke of the importance of inner development over external achievements.

He said,

Happiness is not a matter of intensity,

But of balance,

Order,

Rhythm,

And harmony.

Maharishi's teachings emphasize that true happiness is not derived from the highs of life's external successes,

But from the inner state of balance and harmony.

He advocates for a life where one's inner peace and contentment are not swayed by the fluctuating outcomes of actions,

But are maintained through a consistent practice of self-reflection and meditation.

I'd like to share some reflections on the impact of our emotions and inner state on our lives,

And inner state on our lives.

There's a profound saying that goes,

If you worry about something,

You're essentially nourishing the object of your worry with your concern.

This implies that our negative emotions can intensify our problems and lead us to experience more suffering.

If you feel wronged or hurt by someone,

Your emotional response only worsens the situation and doesn't improve your condition.

When you focus your attention on something in your mind,

You inadvertently empower that thing.

You're reinforcing these individuals,

Which means you're not living your own life,

But perpetuating the existence of that person.

This is a significant issue many people encounter.

When a person feels an inner void,

Often due to ignorance and a lack of understanding that everything they need is already within them,

They fail to see that they possess all they require for life and more.

This ignorance is why yoga teaches,

There is no sin greater than ignorance.

People fail to recognize that they already have everything and instead seek it externally,

Leading to attachments.

The more they seek these attachments,

The more they suffer,

Because they're clinging to something that doesn't truly exist.

It's like a bird that searches for freedom,

But doesn't realize it can fly,

Stubbornly holding onto branches,

Unaware of its own capabilities.

Consequently,

It remains trapped by its self-imposed constraints,

Missing out on the true breadth of its existence.

It is like a bird flying in search of freedom,

Instead of simply spreading its wings and taking flight,

Stubbornly clinging to branches,

Unaware of its ability to fly.

As a result,

It remains a prisoner of its own limitations,

Deprived of the opportunity to experience the true greatness of its existence.

Attachment to something or someone inevitably leads to problems because it contradicts the laws of nature and creation,

And disappointment is inevitable.

The only question is how deep it will be.

Clinging to things or people invariably causes issues because it goes against the natural laws of existence,

And disappointment is guaranteed.

The only variable is the depth of that disappointment.

Remember,

Everything you cling to will eventually be lost.

In this world,

You can only truly cling to one thing,

The eternal,

And the only eternal is the divine.

Therefore,

Attachment should only be to the divine.

Any other attachment will surely lead to suffering.

Disappointment is a given.

The only question is how profound that disappointment will be.

You might feel an inner void or a craving for external things to fulfill you,

But genuine joy arises when we recognize our inner power and connect with the eternal source,

With the divine,

Or with our inner spiritual essence.

The sounds that envelop us are the very fabric of life,

A constant that echoes everywhere,

Always.

We can't avoid them,

Not even in silence,

For the subtle hum of our thoughts and the rhythm of our heartbeat continue.

These sounds,

From the chirping of birds to the whisper of the wind,

Become the backdrop to our lives.

Yet,

True tranquility isn't found outside ourselves,

It must be nurtured within.

Inner peace,

Which we all seek,

Resides in the sanctuary of our own spirit.

When we talk about love and happiness,

We're referring to our innate qualities,

Which people often mistakenly search for outside themselves,

Thinking they are external prizes.

But love and happiness aren't located out there.

They are states of being,

Present within us perpetually.

Accessing them internally alters everything.

The secret to tapping into this inner domain is to discover the divine within us,

Which is expressed as the boundless love of the divine and the foundation of self-appreciation.

No entity,

Not even the cosmos,

Can offer you more love than you can give to yourself.

This insight,

Which is central to our being,

Revolutionizes our interactions and our entire lives.

Self-appreciation isn't about being self-centered,

It's about acknowledging our intrinsic worth,

The core of our humanity.

Without this recognition,

We drift through existence like phantoms,

Seeking love and joy from external sources,

Chasing after ephemeral mirages.

The route to a rewarding life begins with valuing oneself.

The sounds that surround us are the very essence of life,

A constant presence that resonates everywhere,

Always.

We cannot escape them,

For the quiet hum of our own thoughts and the steady beat of our heart persist.

These sounds,

Like the chirping of birds,

The rush of water,

And the howling of wind,

Become the soundtrack of our existence.

However,

True peace doesn't lie external to us,

It must be cultivated within.

Inner peace,

The essence of which we yearn for,

Lies within the sanctuary of our soul.

When we speak of love and happiness,

We speak of our nature,

Inherent qualities that people often search for externally,

Mistaking them for external rewards.

But love and happiness are not out there to be found.

They are states of consciousness,

Existing within us eternally.

Unlocking them within oneself changes everything.

The key to unlocking this inner realm lies in discovering the divine within ourselves,

Which manifests as the infinite love of God and the cornerstone of self-love.

No one,

Not even the universe itself,

Can love you more than you love yourself.

This realization,

The foundation of our existence,

Transforms our relationships and our lives.

Self-love isn't selfishness,

But rather the recognition of our inherent value,

The very essence of being human.

Without it,

We wander through life like shadows,

Seeking love and happiness externally,

Grasping at fleeting illusions.

The path to a fulfilling life starts with cherishing ourselves.

This journey of self-discovery is challenging,

Yet attainable.

Dhyana meditation offers a powerful tool to find the divine within,

Fostering self-love.

It's not about passively wishing or demanding love from others.

It's about actively cultivating self-love through meditation.

This is the moment when we truly begin to love ourselves,

A stark contrast to merely conforming to the expectations of others.

If we desire something meaningful in life,

It must start with ourselves,

With the cultivation of self-love.

Then,

And only then,

Can we truly experience the transformative power of inner peace and love that permeates every aspect of our lives.

Beginning on this path of self-discovery is demanding,

But achievable.

Dhyana meditation is a potent practice for uncovering the divine within,

Nurturing self-appreciation.

It's not about idly hoping for or demanding love from others.

It's about actively fostering self-love through meditation.

This is when we truly start to cherish ourselves,

A significant departure from simply trying to meet the expectations of others.

As Sri Adi Shankaracharya said,

Those who identify themselves with the body,

Temperament,

And mind are perpetually subject to suffering.

Let us free ourselves from these illusions and find inner peace and freedom.

Remember that your breath plays the most important role in your life.

It is your best friend to whom you can return and calm down at any moment.

Only your breath will exist with you until the end of your life,

So pay attention to it and understand how strongly your breath is connected to your state of mind.

Allow your body to breathe as it wishes,

And you just be an observer of this process,

Noticing what kind of breathing is happening now,

Slow or fast,

Deep or shallow.

Continue to observe your breath until the end of the audio session.

Only then will you develop true tranquility and true inner peace.