What you might want to know....
What you might want to know.....
This is a place where you can read about information of many topics. They might give you some deeper insights and assist you on your Inner Journey.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss these topics with me, you can email me
HATHA YOGA
Hatha yoga, is also known as Hatha vidya. It is a particular system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the 15th century in India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Hatha Yoga is derived from the Hinayana (narrow path) and Mahayana (great path) traditions of Buddhism, as well as the Sahajayana (spontaneous path) and Vajrayana (concerning matters of sexuality) traditions of Tantra. The Hatha Yoga of Swatmarama and his contemporaries differs from the Raja Yoga of Patanjali in that it focuses on shatkarma, the purification of the physical as leading to the purification of the mind (ha) and prana, or vital energy (tha). The Raja Yoga posited by Patanjali begins with a purification of the mind (yamas) and spirit (niyamas), then comes to the body via asana (body postures) and pranayama (breath). Hatha Yoga is what most people associate with the word "Yoga" and is mainly practiced for mental, physical health, and vitality outside of India.
Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral disciplines, physical exercises (e.g., asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control), and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists of mostly asanas (postures) and exercise.Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold, male and female, positive and negative, similar but not completely analogous to yin and yang. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical exercises, or "asanas", controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Asanas teach poise, balance & strength and are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment.
The Yoga of Patanjali is Ashtanga or comprised of 8 limbs, Yama and Niyama, which are ethical obligations, Asana, Pranayama, which is breath control, Pratyahara, which is sense withdrawal, Dharana, which is concentration, Dhyana, which is meditation, and Samadhi, which is the experience of unity with God.
Asanas are contemplative in nature and were originally intuited by yogis during meditation; the Kundalini naturally brings forth these postures or movements, called Kriyas, during deep meditation. These movements are meant to help to remove blockages (disease) in the causal, subtle, and physical bodies.
In the ancient author Patanjali's work, Asana is classified as the third rung of 8 in the ladder of the practice of Raja Yoga.
Hatha yoga in the west primarily concerns itself with asanas or postures.
The words 'Prana' (life-force) and 'Ayama' (to prolong or regulate) make up Pranayama. Pranayama seeks to control & regulate the breath. In one variation, the Rechak (exhaled air), Poorak (inhalation) and Kumbhak (Retention during normal inhaling and exhaling) are the 3 parts of the breath that are regulated. Pranayama is practised to develop mental, physical and spiritual strength. Though the beginner's Pranayama is relatively harmless, safely progressing to more advanced practices requires the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher.
TONGLEN
Tonglen Practice
Tonglen is a Buddhist practice, but can be practised by anyone, even if one has no religious faith. The Tonglen practice of giving and receiving, is a method where one learns to evoke compassion. Tonglen uses the medium of the breath. One will learn to build strength and confidence of compassion in oneself, and with this strength and confidence you will be able to practice the power of transmuting the suffering of others. Tonglen is practiced in different stages. Tonglen is a very powerful process with a chance to heal, purify and transform oneself through developing compassion for others.
TONGLEN CHANTING INVOCATION
De na tsun lama tuk je chen
Ma gyur dro wa dig drih duk ngel kun
Ma lu dan da dan la min pa dang
Da gi da shen la tang wa yi
Dro kun da dank den par jin shi lo
MEDITATION
What is meditation? Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Bringing the focus on your breath" is meditation; listening to the sound of the wind is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is meditation.
Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means 'to join together or to yoke' . It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The observer(one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.
These days it is commonly understood to mean some form of spiritual practice where one sits down with eyes closed and empties the mind to attain inner peace, relaxation or even an experience of God. Some people use the term as "my gardening is my meditation" or for jogging or art or music, hence creating confusion or misunderstanding.
The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words : meditari(to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). Its Sanskrit derivation 'medha' means wisdom.
Many years ago meditation was considered something just not meant for modern people, but now it has become very popular with all types of people. Published scientific and medical evidence has proved its benefits, but it still needs to be much understood.
Traditionally, the classical yoga texts, describe that to attain true states of meditation one must go through several stages. After the necessary preparation of personal and social code, physical position, breath control, and relaxation come the more advanced stages of concentration, contemplation, and then ultimately absorption. But that does not mean that one must perfect any one stage before moving onto the next. The Integral yoga approach is simultaneous application of a little of all stages together.
Commonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some schools only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded 'eastern'. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.
With regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of the body and mind can be liberated and the quality of consciousness can be expanded. This is not a subjective claim but is now being investigated by the scientists and being shown by an empirical fact.
TARA MEDIATION
Tara is a female Tibetan goddess of love (somehow like Kuan Yin in China). You can meditate on Tara by keeping your eyes closed and support your sacral imagination by starting with prayers and bhakta-meditations in front of a tankha (Tib. religeous painting), or statue or visualise her in front of yourself. Feel her golden body as yours, consisting merely of a shell made of light. The forehead is decorated with a diadem in the shape of the third eye. You are full of love and understanding and smiling. Now imagine your body of light to increase to the size of the room, to the size of the house and to the size of cosmos. Every living entity now is existing inside of you and you feel love to all beings. Stay in this cosmic state as long as possible. Cease meditation by decreasing your Tara body to the size of a pearl, which stays in your mystic heart as your great treasure.
TARA MANTRA
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
