Namaste and welcome to day 3 of the level 1 course on Sivakundalini Sadhana.
Yesterday you learnt about the different levels in Sivakundalini Sadhana and the significance of Chin Mutra.
Also you were initiated into the Sivoham Mantra and experienced Sivastiti.
Today you will learn the benefits of meditation.
Actually what is meditation?
Meditation means mind plus attention.
Keeping your mind attentively on a particular point or subject or idea or thought.
That one pointed focused thought is what we call it as meditation.
Most of us think that we are living in the information age but we are slowly transforming into the age of attention.
Even though we have access to a world of information we are only receiving what our attention is allowing us to receive.
Our mind usually has two doors through which it thinks.
One is through images and the other is through the words or sound.
For instance when someone asks you to think about your house or car then you will observe the image of your house or car projected on your mental screen.
We can say that mind is thinking through imagination.
The second door is through sound or words.
We all think that we get thousands and thousands of thoughts every day but our mind can only think of three thoughts that is of the past or of the present or of the future.
To begin the meditation process one has to sit in contemplation.
So the one who is performing the meditation is called Dhiyata.
Then this person has to contemplate on something.
The object on which the Dhiyata is contemplating is called Daya.
When the meditator or Dhiyata contemplates on an object or Daya that is what we call it as meditation or Dhyanaprakriya.
For Dhyanaprakriya or meditative process to happen there are three prequisites.
We need to close the two doors of the mind that is of images and sounds or words.
We need to let go of the thoughts pertaining to the past present and future.
We need to focus on the Daya or the object of contemplation.
Also we have learned about the Samadhi yesterday and the main difference between the meditation and Samadhi is in meditation we have one pointed focus but in Samadhi we leave this one pointed focus also and you become nothing.
Yesterday we have learned about Samadhi also.
The difference between the meditation and Samadhi is in meditation you have a point to concentrate on.
In Samadhi there is not even that point and you are just nothing.
So actually what are the benefits of regular meditation or Samadhi?
As you meditate daily the brain will integrate the restful alertness of pure consciousness into daily life.
It is similar to putting a cloth in a colored dye.
It comes out tainted in color and we put it out in the sun to dry and repeat the process.
Gradually you will notice that the color on the cloth becomes fast.
So when you meditate regularly you are actually transforming your brain by integrating the restful awareness of pure consciousness each day to achieve greater success in life.
There are several benefits of meditating regularly.
Meditation helps to boost your immune system,
Improves your quality of sleep,
Reduces inflammation etc etc.
Now let us examine different brain states and how using the Sivoham mantra you can easily enter into different states.
Beta brain waves with a frequency range of 13 to 38 hertz are small faster brain waves which we experience when we interact with the outer world.
These beta brain waves are associated with mental and intellectual activity.
Then we have alpha brain waves with a frequency range of 8 to 12 hertz.
These alpha brain waves are slower and of larger wavelength and are associated with a state of relaxation and when our brain enters into standby mode waiting to respond when needed.
Theta brain waves frequency ranges between 4 to 7 hertz and these occur when we are in a very relaxed state representing the dual light zone between wakefulness and sleep.
Delta brain waves range in frequency from 1 to 3 hertz and they are slowest with highest amplitude.
Normally we experience delta brain wave when we are in deep sleep.
Gamma brain waves have frequencies between 39 to 42 hertz and are the fastest.
These gamma brain waves modulate perception and consciousness.
As you mentally recite the Sivoham mantra you progressively enter alpha and then theta states and experience deeper relaxation.
The body will start healing on its own when you enter into delta state.
Self-realization means to become aware and abide uninterruptedly in the state where one realizes that I am the Nirguna Parapramacaitanya Svarupam that is God consciousness or Shiva consciousness or Aham Brahmasmi I am Brahman or Tattva Masi I am that or Sivoham I am Shiva.
Our sadhana is based on these three foundational self-realization principle.
First Sivoham I am Shiva or the essence.
Second everything in this universe is Shiva or the essence.
Third there is nothing above and beyond me in this universe and I am in everything.
When one is able to bring these three foundational self-realization principles into their own experience then they will become one with the essence.
Now we will do Samadhi practice and close our session for today.
Do not try to do this practice while you are driving or operating heavy machinery.
This practice has to be done in a comfortably seated position on the ground or in a chair.
Be seated in a comfortable position.
Keep your spine,
Neck and head erect and in a straight line.
Now mentally repeat along with me the mantra and observe the gap between the two recitations.
Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Sivoham Now slowly rub your palm for five seconds till you feel the warmth in your palms and now place the palms on your eyes.
Be like that for ten seconds.
Now remove your hands from your eyes and slowly open your eyes by looking into your open palm.
You can rub your face,
Head and body with your palms.
Today you learnt about the benefits of meditation,
Samadhi and also learnt the principles involved in the path of self-realization.
On day four we will learn about the energy shield technique that helps to protect you and preserve the energy gained from meditation.
Thank you for joining me in this session today and I look forward to seeing you on day four.
