Yoga and meditation is increasingly becoming a subject of interest, particularly in the Western world. It has been popularized by numerous spiritual leaders such as Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, as well as through Zen, Buddhism, and teachings from figures like J. Krishnamurti.
As J.K. and Buddha have expressed, meditation is fundamentally a state of thoughtlessness, meaning one should not hold any attachments to thoughts.
Vipassana has emphasized mindful detachment & non-judgementalism, it's the most fundamental forms of meditation.
Vipassana nullifies thoughts, nullifying thoughts is nullifying Karmas. It is basically an energy conservation method. Our thoughts are a form of energy, each thought has a frequency, intensity and vibration.
Nikola Tesla said:
’To understand the secrets of Universe, analyze everything in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
"As we transcend spiritually, we realize the importance of raising psychic vibrations and abilities."
Lord Krishna in the 6th chapter Dhyana Yoga of Bhagavad Gita has propounded Asta Angas (8 elements): Yama, Niyama, Asana, Dhyana, Dharana, Pranayama, Pratyahara and Samadhi. Maharshi Patanjali gave a detailed information in his book - Patanjali Yoga Sutras.
Lord Krishna has advocated Bhakti Yoga as the primary path to salvation, with Ashtanga Yoga serving as an adjunct to Bhakti Yoga. The main goal of Ashtanga Yoga is to amplify Prana, or Kundalini—the life force within the body—and to improve all aspects of health, including mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. These practices are designed to enhance our psychic abilities, which are crucial for self-realization. By realizing our true self (Soul or Atman), we can begin to comprehend the Lord or the Divinity that resides within us. Ultimately, this leads to the attainment of Moksha or Nirvana.
Note that there are a lot of overlapping of practices and concepts between the elements of Ashtanga Yoga.
Let's understand each Anga (element) of Ashtanga Yoga as explained in Bhagavad Gita & Patanjali Yoga Sutras:
1. Yamas: This pertains to the wisdom gleaned from the Vedas, Upanishads, and other sacred texts. Yama extends beyond scriptural knowledge to encompass self-knowledge (Atman). The teachings of the scriptures should resonate with and be integrated into one's fundamental beliefs, a process facilitated by the remaining elements.
Yama includes five social ethics: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (celibacy and moderation), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
2. Niyamas: Niyama refers to the laws and rituals whose observance facilitates spiritual transcendence. These practices are subject to Varnashrama Dharma. Varna is not synonymous with caste or creed, which are determined by birth; rather, Varna pertains to the soul's nature. A detailed post will soon follow to explain this, so please stay tuned!
Ashrama- basically refers to the stage of life we live in. There are 4 ashramas; Brahmacharya (Celibacy, that's before marriage.), Grihastha (Life of a married person.), Vanaprastha (post-retirement stage.) & Sanyasa (Life of an ascetic)
Niyamas encompasses 5 personal practices - Shaucha (purity of mind & body), Santhosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity and performance of penance), Swadhyaya (self-observation and learning) and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrendering oneself to Lord).
3. Pratyahara: We absorb negative energies from the air, water, food, and through the aura interactions with various individuals. When a spiritual person encounters those with negative energies, or consumes air, food, and water that are not pure, they absorb these energies, which can negatively impact their spiritual and physical health. This diminishes their psychic vibrations and can impair psychic abilities. Pratyahara focuses on avoiding these risks by consuming hygienic food and water, interacting with spiritually inclined individuals, and engaging in positive spiritual discussions.
Pratyahara also urges the one to focus their Indriyaa: (senses) towards the inner divinity.
[Neem Karoli Maharaj Ji is a great Indian mystic who transformed the lives of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Karoli is the village where our beloved Maharaj Ji got enlightened. Neem Karoli Maharaj Ji strongly propounded Bhakti Yoga.]
4. Pranayama: Pranayama primarily consists of breathing exercises that purify the air our lungs consume and fortify our respiratory system. Pranayama assists in increasing the life force or Prana or Kundalini. Kapalabhati and Bhastrika are among the notable pranayamas, which are part of Hatha Yoga, along with others such as Kumbhaka and Kundalini Pranayama.
We have made a video on How to practice Kumbhaka pranayama on our YouTube channel. Please subscribe for more inspirational content.
5. Asanas: Asanas are Yogic postures that strengthen the body, reduce fat, and maintain the health of the Yogi. They range from easy to challenging positions that unite the mind, body, and spirit (Atman). Asanas help individuals experience the bliss of the infinite, or Brahmananda.
6. Dharana: Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, the sixth, seventh, and eighth limbs of yoga, are collectively known as Sanyama, meaning "control." These stages are frequently studied in unison as they represent a sequential advancement of the spirit or Atman. Dharana signifies concentration, and as we focus on each of the Chakras, it channels the requisite cosmic energy and activates them.
Shat-Chakra Yoga emphasizes more on focus.
"Where focus goes, cosmic energy flows. So be conscious of what you focus on."
7. Dhyana: Dhyana basically refers to Meditation.
This guide provides diagrams for practicing Kriya Yoga. Known as Dhyana in Chapter 6 of the Ashtanga Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita, Kriya Yoga is renowned for its numerous benefits. It aids in burning karma, regulating emotions, increasing the ability to absorb Cosmic energy, and most importantly, it assists in facilitating Spiritual Transcendence. Kriya Yoga, also referred to as Shat-Chakra Yoga, involves the regulation of the six chakras. The fundamental difference between Kriya Yoga and Vipassana lies in the focus of practice. Kriya Yoga incorporates Dharana, which primarily involves concentration on the third eye, while Vipassana promotes a non-judgmental and detached awareness, without concentrating on any particular point.
8. Samadhi: Samadhi represents the seventh state of consciousness and is considered the zenith of Yoga Sadhana. It is a state of mind where one is liberated from all fears and frustrations, experiencing eternal bliss. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna describes that during Samadhi, an individual can maintain constant awareness of the divine presence both internally and externally. This state enables one to practice Bhakti Yoga flawlessly (look out for our upcoming post on Bhakti Yoga) and ultimately achieve Nirvana or Moksha.
Samadhi can be classified into 2 types: Samprajnatha samadhi & Asamprajnata samadhi.
A. Samprajnatha Samadhi: Merely studying the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, or Vedanta is not sufficient; one must also cultivate the skill to integrate these teachings into daily life.
Samprajnata samadhi can be achieved by gaining wisdom through the study of the Vedas, Vedanta, and other scriptures, deeply assimilating this knowledge and consistently applying it in daily life. One thing that distinguishes this from Asamprajnata samadhi is- the person can experience spiritual descendance.
Spiritual Descendance signifies the depletion of kundalini energy and wisdom, known as Jnana. It could take millennia and considerable suffering to return to the previous state of energy and the abundance of wisdom (Jnana). Every spiritual individual ought to be wary of this!
B. Asamprajnata samadhi: This state can only be attained by performing penance, rigorous meditation, and other Ashtanga Yogic practices. Once one achieves Asamprajnata Samadhi, they will never experience spiritual descent. Asamprajnata samadhi is achieved through the activation of the Ajna Chakra, also known as the Third Eye, or through the decalcification of the Pituitary or Pineal Gland.
Following the Asamprajnata Samadhi, there exists another state of consciousness known as Brahma Bootha: It serves as an intermediate phase between Samadhi and Moksha.
The Process of Attaining Moksha or Nirvana:
Subsequently, the individual's essence exits the body through the Brahma Nadi, traversing the Sahasrara or Sahasra Chakra. (The Sahasrara is not a physical entity within our body; rather, it is an energetic plane above our head that links us to the cosmos.)
Upon attaining Asamprajnata Samadhi, Bhakti Yoga serves as the guiding path towards the attainment of Moksha or Nirvana. Ashtanga Yoga complements Bhakti Yoga. All rituals and the profound wisdom of the Vedas are meant to transform us, fostering a deeper practice of devotion as demonstrated through service to Lord Krishna.
For beginners, Vipassana offers detoxification and aids in spiritual transcendence. Additionally, there are more advanced meditation practices such as Rudra Kriya Yoga, Shat-Chakra Yoga or Kriya Yoga, Chakra Dhyan, Yoga Nidra, and Kundalini Meditation, among others. Certain meditations are exclusively associated with Bhakti Yoga. We've curated a playlist exclusively for Mantra Yoga (on our YouTube Channel) and Guided Meditations; we invite you to explore it!
To conclude,
Regardless of the meditation form or the stage of your spiritual journey, non-judgmentalism and mindful detachment are always essential. This is why Vipassana is considered the foundational practice for any form of Meditation or Dhyana.
Recognize that this existence is temporary! Despite any worldly accomplishments or pleasures, everything will fade away with death. This doesn't imply abandoning your worldly obligations, but instead, merging your material and spiritual duties. Bhakti Yoga is the key to achieving this balance. Service of devotion to Lord Krishna is the highest form of service, leading to spiritual enlightenment and ultimate liberation. Embrace Bhakti Yoga as the pinnacle of yoga practice; focus your intellect and vitality on worshipping the Lord instead of feeding your ego.
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