Meditation and Mantras

Vishnu Devananda

Description

A mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure . . . It steadies the mind and leads to the stillness of meditation. The modern lifestyle with its excesses and worldly desires, the constant need to be connected, and the rapid development in technology, has made stress and lifestyle-related diseases the norm. The need for meditation thus is more acute. Meditation calms the mind, brings focus and enhances the senses, resulting in a better quality of life and work. And with the right mantras, meditation becomes a highly effective tool in unleashing the immense potential within oneself. This book from the Sivananda Ashram explains what meditation and mantras are and how they can be effectively used to recharge oneself with divine energy, so that the tension of body and mind are gradually reduced.

Sujets

• Mind

Informations

• Publié par: Penguin Books Ltd
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 11
• EAN13: 9789351186052
• Langue: English

Extrait

Swami Vishnudevananda

Meditation Mantras
Contents
About the Author
Dedication
Preface to the Second Edition
1. Why Meditate?
Mechanics of the Mind
Thought Power
The Self
Karma and Reincarnation
What Does Yoga Have to Do with It?
2. The Basics of Meditation
Guide to Meditation
Health for Meditation
A Peaceful Diet
Karma Yoga
3. Concentration: Theory
Power of Concentration
Pleasure and the Mind
Best Friend: Worst Enemy
4. Concentration: Practice
The Eight Steps
Attention
Establishing the Practice
5. Meditation
Mind: Master or Servant?
From the Unreal to the Real
Wild Horses
Advanced Meditation
6. Japa Meditation: Theory
The Yoga of Physics
Sound: The Seed of All Matter
Sound as Energy
Using Sound Vibrations for Meditation
Initiation into a Mantra
7. Japa Meditation: Practice
Saguna Mantras
Mantras for Japa
Gayatri Mantra
Gayatris of Different Deities
Nirguna Mantras
Abstract Mantras
Bija Mantras, Mystic Seed Letters
Meditation with the Mantra
8. Hatha Yoga Meditation: Kundalini
Kundalini Shakti
The Chakras
9. Jnana Yoga Meditation: Vedantic Theory
Vedanta
The Veils of Illusion
Who Is This I ?
Adhyaropa
Nyayas
10. Jnana Yoga Meditation: Vedantic Practice
Neti Neti: Not This, Not This
Sakshi Bhav: Witness State
Abheda Bodha Vakya: Eliminating Name and Form
Laya Chintana: Absorption
Panchikarana: Doctrine of Quintuplication
Mahavakyas or The Great Proclamations
Bhagatyaga Lakshana
11. Bhakti Yoga Meditation
Converting the Emotions
Forms of Devotion
12. Raja Yoga Sutras: Theory
Chapter One: The Road to Samadhi
13. Raja Yoga Sutras: Practice
Chapter Two: Yoga Sadhana
Chapter Three: Divine Manifestations of Power
Chapter Four: Liberation
14. Electronic Meditation
What Is Biofeedback?
Beyond Relaxation
Externals vs Internals
15. Obstacles to Meditation
Cessation of Practice
Health and Diet
Laziness and Sleep
Complications of Daily Life
Useless Conversation
Uprooting the Ego
The Emotions
Discouragement
Loss of the Vital Energy
The Mind Itself
Obstacles for the Experienced Meditator
16. Experiences in Meditation
Various Experiences in Meditation
Anahata Sounds
Lights in Meditation
Mystic Experiences of Sadhakas
In the Hours of Meditation
Vision of God
Feeling of Separation
Cosmic Consciousness
Blissful Experiences
Mind Moves
Bhuta-Ganas
Glimpses of the Self
Jyotirmaya Darshan
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres
Follow Penguin
Copyright
PENGUIN ANANDA
MEDITATION AND MANTRAS
Swami Vishnudevananda (1927-1993), a disciple of Swami Sivananda, was the founder of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. He established the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course, a unique program that allowed the trainees to incorporate the teachings of yoga into their daily lives. His book The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga is considered to be the bible for yoga practitioners.
Swami Vishnudevananda was a Karma Yogi and a peace activist who flew on several peace missions over places of conflict, bombarding war-torn areas with flowers and pamphlets while repeating the peace Mantra: Om Namo Narayanaya .He created the Om Namo Narayanaya bank in the Himalayas, hoping to bring positive vibrations to the whole world. Although he left his body on 9 November 1993, his legacy and energy still shine throughout the organization, the centres and ashrams of which have spread all over the world, training over 30,000 teachers.
Dedicated to My Revered Master H.H. SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA MAHARAJ

And His Chief Disciples MY VENERABLE GURUBHAIS
Swami Paramananda
Swami Swarupananda
Swami Atmananda
Swami Narayanananda
Swami Chidananda
Swami Krishnananda
Swami Saswadananda
Swami Poorna Bhodh
Swami Visweswarananda
Swami Chinmayananda
Swami Satyananda
Swami Satchidananda (I)
Swami Sahajananda
Swami Purushottamananda
Swami Brahmananda
Swami Vasudevananda
Swami Nijabodhananda
Swami Satchidananda (II)
Swami Nirmalananda
Swami Omkarananda
Swami Harisaranananda
Swami Govindananda
Swami Madhavananda
Swami Sivananda Hridayananda
Swami Vidyananda
Swami Nadabrahmananda
Swami Venkatesananda
Swami Sivapremananda
Swami Chaitanyananda
Swami Dayananda
Swami Nityananda
Swami Saradananda
Swami Sadasivananda
Swami Tejomayananda
Swami Pranavananda
Swami Sadananda
Swami J anananda
Swami Raghavananda
Swami Ramananda
Swami Hari Omananda
Swami Premananda (Senior)
Swami Mounananda
Swami Sudhananda
Swami Sraddhananda
Swami Jyotirmayananda
And to my revered poorvashram mother and father, SWAMI SIVASARANANANDA (P. Devaki Amma) and P. CHATHU PANIKKER

Preface to the Second Edition
T his volume is intended to dispel the cloud of confusion that has accumulated around the subject of meditation. Those who are looking for secret shortcuts, novel innovations, exciting new trends and fads in the area of self-development may be disappointed. The methods presented here stem from the classic-four paths of Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. These are given in their uncorrupted form, yet with consideration for the Western mind and scientific tradition.
Meditation is a universal tradition which traces its origin thousands of years before the advent of today s civilisation. The science of meditation has survived uninterrupted and exhaustive testing as it has passed from generation to generation. It has endured in its original form because the outstanding and fundamental appeals of Yoga have been Tolerance, Universality, and Simplicity. Within its simple framework are contained the principal teachings and approaches which make up the substance of all known philosophies, religions, and disciplines. If one understands the four paths to meditation, it is possible to unravel the trappings and mysterious elements of any religious or philosophical system.
The shelves of bookstores are overloaded with numerous new developments and streamlined approaches to meditation. But many are by the blind leading the blind, with little or no experience to back the methods they tout. There are one-sided fanatics, Mantra hucksters, and outright charlatans. Some promise rapid development of psychic powers. Others are modern spiritual propagandists and conmen. Even the Madison Avenue contingent is well represented. There are only a handful of selfless Masters teaching true spiritual disciplines of meditation.
Real meditation is liberation from the clutches of the senses and lower mind. By definition it is transcendental, the word not being used as an advertising slogan, but to convey the beauty of meditation, in which all fears, desires, longings and negative emotions are transcended. The meditator reaches the superconscious state in which he or she is able to identify with the all-blissful Self. In this transcendental state there is no awareness of body, mind, or duality, and the knower becomes one with the knowledge and the known.
There is no need for mystery or secrecy about Mantras or any other accessory to meditation. There are no spiritual injunctions against discussing one s Mantra. A Mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure. Its vibrations directly affect the chakras , of energy centers of the body. It steadies the mind and leads to the stillness of meditation. Those Mantras which are suitable for meditation are included in this book.
Many concoctions of syllables which are currently being peddled in the West as Mantras are obviously bogus. These Mantras can lead to deep relaxation but nothing more. So can the repetition of any word or meaningless phrase. One can even slow the pulse and breathing as well as lower the blood pressure by sitting still and concentration on a ticking clock or dripping water tap.
Life in the West has become computerised, compartmentalised and oriented toward instant results. But the tradition from which the four yogic paths stem is a holistic one. In this system science, religion, philosophy, psychology, and health are all integrated. In the same way, the various classical meditation techniques that have been in use over the ages are based on solid discipline and regular practice. Proper breathing, proper exercise, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking are the necessary groundwork for successful meditation. These are covered to some extent in the first chapters, although for a comprehensive view on these and other aspects of Hatha and Raja Yoga, you may want to refer to my previous book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga .
If this book clarifies the methods and aim of meditation, it will have served its purpose. The spiritual quest is a thorny path that ultimately must be walked alone. My own path has been blessed by the firm, compassionate, and boundless wisdom of my Master, India s late great saint and sage, H.H. Sri Swami Sivananada Maharaj. If, through me as his instrument, the echo of his words and insight can guide the footsteps of seekers in the Western world, I shall have achieved my earthly purpose.
Finally, I wish to gratefully acknowledge the following people whose contributions helped to make this book possible: Dr. Fritjof Capra, for permission to reprint excerpts from his speech The Yoga of Physics and the photomontage of dancing Siva in particle tracks taken from his book The Tao of Physics ; Nicholas and June Regush, for permission to reprint from their book Mind Search ; Silamata Karuna, for her extensive research and editorial expertise; Silvio Paladini, for the Kundalini Chakra illustrations; and the many disciples and students of the Sivananda Yoga mission for invaluable aid in artwork, editing, proofreading, and typing.
Swami Vishnudevananda Val Morin, Quebec, Canada 28 February 1981
The third edition of Meditation and Mantras was brought out to commemorate the second anniversary of Swami Vishnudevananda s Mahasamadhi. Swamiji Maharaj left hi