Welcome to this month’s JAI LIFE ; VICTORIOUS LIFE column on Cause You’re Beautiful. I’m Ananda Shreemati and I am happy to share some thoughts and techniques on meditation.
Meditation is the single most powerful practice for balancing and aligning one’s life. It affects all the aspects of a person in positive transformative ways. Meditation is in effect a form of listening. It may be the only pure form of listening as it transcends the mind, which actually can never be fully listening. The mind instead is thinking of clever ways to engage in activities, speeches or really anything that affirms or upholds the illusion of the ego or personality.
Do you ever really listen to someone? Or is some part of your mind already formulating your response to someone’s communication? Even if you consider yourself a good listener, your listening is skewed to support some idea or form in some way. It cannot be purely open unless the mind is absent as in a state of enlightenment.
Meditation techniques can bring you to a place or a moment of pure listening, which I call divine receiving or channeling. The mind is not present. It is a sort of gap where pure connection to source happens.
We are born in the life with enough energy to sustain our soul purpose and ourselves. We are part of creation and is not every organism, plant, animal and being perfectly designed to fulfill its purpose? It’s a marvel to see how genius the creations of nature are. The mind could not design or think of anything remotely close to what creation has expressed on this planet. You can see it in a seed, a sunrise, and in everything that exists in creation.
If anyone ever questioned the existence of God all they have to do is simply look into the human body. Here exists a true miracle and masterpiece of creation.
So why is there so much disconnection and imbalance in our lives? One of the main reasons is that there is so much outward directed focus. The external stimulus is everywhere. And on top of it, the western societal competition, and the acquiring of possessions, titles, and degrees of social standing are an endless hamster wheel of action leading nowhere except to a massive heart attack or break down.
When in the western society is there ever a moment where no movement is supported? Possibly when you are sick? However, even then, people feel they have to “push” through it. That behavior is celebrated. But is it intelligent?
One of my beloved teachers, enlightened master Paramahamsa NIthyananda (http://lifebliss.org) once shared that , just one good unmedicated depression may be enough to facilitate an awakening. It’s true. We are always resisting what is. If we are sad we are trying to shift it and be happy. If we are tired, we are drinking stimulants so we are not tired. If we are happy, we feel guilty that we are too happy so we suppress it a degree. (I am not advocating someone not taking medication if they are severely depressed. Please consult your physician).
What about just starting to feel our way into the rhythm of life? The ocean tides come in and out. The sun rises and sets. The breath breathes in and out.
We are taught to compare ourselves to the person standing next to us. Or in most cases to the celebrity in the tabloids. We feed this insanity by our obsession to look outward. We are trying to live other people’s lives. And at the same time feeling that we are not enough on our own.
What would happen if a snail tried to live the life of a cat? Or a bird decided it wanted to be an elephant? It’s funny to imagine life in these terms but isn’t that what we are doing to ourselves? It is truly violent and unloving . Then, suddenly we notice that we have aquired a shiny red bike, and we don’t even like red. How did we get that bike?
When I teach young kids yoga. I always ask them to please be more of who they are. I emplore them. I tell them there is no competition; your game is simply between you and God. And God created you in perfection, so please be more of that. Life needs you as you. The simple recognition of a being is one of the most loving things we may offer. Next time someone comes to you with a problem. Consider telling them that you trust them and believe in them to find their way. That is enough. Unsolicited advice is only for your ego. If you are an elephant how can you know what is right for the bird? You cannot.
The Divine planned our existence perfectly from One source but as a completely unique expression. We need to honor that and only that. By taking the focus deeply within, we can remember and rediscover that which is our very nature which is love and learn to express our piece of that frequency which can be in many forms. Each form beautifully honored by creation.
There is no competition only a dance between expressions of the ONE. Meditation is the way to access your part of that dance.
So whoever you are, and whatever your dance, I bow to you in deep honor and reverence as you are God’s expression. And I believe in you.
Now, if you’re not sure what your dance is and who you are, here are some meditation techniques that can help you find your way home…
MEDITATION TECHNIQUES
I offer three meditation techniques The first two are powerful techniques that you can start practicing now. They are simple yet extremely effective.
They both will yield great benefits if practiced sincerely.
The third technique is my first offering of JAI SEED MEDITATION AND BEING PROGRAM that is available for download here and on my website. I have included the introduction below. This is a complete practice that you can do up to twice a day. It is a guided meditation that includes,instruction, hummming, energy sealing, and divine transmission. click and download below.
1. FOLLOW YOUR BREATH
Sit in a comfortable cross legged seated position. It is important that the spine is aligned, with the lower back, heart, and crown of the head in a straight line. It is fine to sit in a chair or against a wall if you need to. Close your eyes and inhale the breath as slowly and as deeply as you can, at the top of the inhale pause, then exhale as slowly and as fully as you can, at the bottom of the exhale, pause
Continue in this manner for 10-30 minutes…
This is a very powerful technique. Simple but powerful.
2. OPEN GATE
Sit in a comfortable cross legged seated position. It is important that the spine is aligned, with the lower back, heart, and crown of the head in a straight line. It is fine to sit in a chair or against a wall if you need to. With open eyes, gently fix your gaze on a point of focus. Take in everything into your awareness, do not resist anything or exclude anything. Do not suppress thoughts. As thought arises simply watch it and let it float off. Simply experience all.
Continue in this manner for 20 – 40 minutes.
3. JAI SEED FREEDOM MEDITATION PROGRAM
This is my offering of the techniques which transformed my being in the most profound way. It is a four step practice that includes humming, visualization, energy sealing practice and and divine transmission. It contains three original music tracks, Humming, Ganapati Mantra and Mother of Mine all composed and sung by me. click and download here.
This program is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced or burned and shared in any way without express permission. .
If you or someone you know experiencing financial hardship who really needs this program, please email me directly at seed@jaiseed.com
Also find out about our sponsorship program by emailing me directly at seed@jaiseed.com
INTRO
JAI SEED FREEDOM MEDITATION AND BEING INSTRUCTIONS
FIND A PRIVATE PLACE WHERE YOU MEDITATE DAILY. YOU CAN BEGIN TO CREATE AN ALTAR IF IT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU. GATHER SACRED OBJECTS, OBJECTS OF NATURE, IMAGES OF MASTERS OR SAINTS YOU ARE DRAWN TO OR ANYTHING THAT HAS DEEP MEANING FOR YOU.
IF YOU LIKE YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE JAI SEED ALTARS OFFERED ON THE WEBSITE., http://WWW. JAISEED.COM THEY CONTAIN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START MEDITATING NOW.
TRY TO SIT IN THIS SAME AREA EACH DAY. IT CAN BE A CLOSET OR A SMALL CORNER OF A ROOM IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SEPARATE ROOM. BUT MEDITATE IN THIS SPACE EACH DAY AS THE ENERGY CREATED GATHERS AND WILL BUILD INTO A SUPPORTIVE FREQUENCY FOR YOUR MEDITATION.
BETWEEN 4:30 AND 6:00 AM, THE WORLD IS QUIET AND GREAT ENERGIES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU, OTHER IDEAL TIMES ARE AT SUNSET, AND BEFORE BED. BUT IF YOU CAN’T EFFORTLESSLY DO IT AT ANY OF THESE TIMES, JUST DO IT ANYTIME YOU CAN. DON’T CREATE RESISTANCE AROUND A TIME SCHEDULE THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM MEDITATING.
THIS MEDITATION TAKES ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES. IF YOU CAN SIT TWICE A DAY, EVEN BETTER BUT ONCE A DAY IS FINE. PLEASE DO NOT CREATE SOME IDEA IN THE MIND THAT TWICE IS BETTER AND THEREFORE ONCE NOT ENOUGH. ONCE A DAY IS ENOUGH.
SIT IN A COMFORTABLE CROSSLEGGED SEATED POSITION ON THE FLOOR. YOU CAN SIT ON A WOOL BLANKET OR ANY SOFT BLANKET THAT CAN CUSHION THE EDGES OF YOUR FEET. . IF YOU NEED TO, YOU CAN SIT IN A CHAIR OR AGAINST A WALL FOR SUPPORT. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOUR SPINE IS STRAIGHT AND THAT YOUR HEAD IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR LOWER BACK OR SACRUM. THIS CREATES AN OPEN ENERGYCHANNEL FOR THE SPINE. IF YOU CAN , TRAIN YOUR BODY TO SIT UPRIGHT UNSUPPORTED. WHEN YOUR BACK RESTS AGAINST SOMETHING, YOU CONSTRICT THE ENERGY RISING UP FROM THE BASE OF THE SPINE. YOU CAN DO SEGMENTS SITTING UP UNSUPPORTED, AND THEN WHEN YOU NEED TO ,LEAN BACK.
ANY ASANA YOGA PRACTICE WILL HELP YOU TO OPEN THE BODY AND THE ENERGY CHANNELS TO SUPPORT YOUR BODY TO SIT IN MEDITATION. ASANA OR YOGA POSTURES, ARE S A VITAL PART OF MY PRACTICE OF LIVING MEDITATION AND THE BENEFITS ARE ASTOUNDING. BUT PLEASE NOTE, THAT ASANA IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDITATION. MEDITATION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PRACTICE THAT EXISTS FOR SELF AWARENESS AND ENLIGHTENMENT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TECHNIQUES. THIS IS ONLY ONE THAT I OFFER YOU IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS IS THE ONE THAT TRANSFORMED MY BEING THE MOST PROFOUNDLY. THIS IS WHY I SHARE IT WITH YOU.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THROUGHOUT THIS PRACTICE YOU DO NOT MOVE. TRY TO SETTLE INTO A POSITION. IF YOU NEED TO MOVE, DO SO VERY SLOWLY SO AS NOT TO DISTURB THE ENERGY YOU ARE GENERATING.
STEP: 1
MAHA MANTRA-TRACK 1
HUM AS INTENSLY AS YOU CAN WITH THE 1ST HUMMING TRACK 12 MINUTES. THIS IS NOT AN “OM” MOVING OUT OF THE BODY, IT IS INSTEAD A DRAWING UP OF ENERGY FROM THE NAVEL AND A “HUM’ DIRECTED INTO THE HEART CENTER. THIS MEDITATION IS MEANT TO CLEANSE AND REMOVE ENERGY BLOCKS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR AN ODOR TO BE RELEASED DURING THE HUMMING. THIS IS RESIDUE AND WILL SIMPLY CLEAR.
YOU CAN HUM IN ANY STATE WHATSOEVER, WHICH IS WHY THIS TECHNIQUE WILL WORK FOR ANYONE. IF YOU ARE AGITATED, OR UNSETTLED, IF YOU ARE ANGRY OR EMOTIONAL IN ANY WAY, SIMPLY GO FOR IT. THE MORE INTENSELY YOU HUM, THE GREATER THE CLEARING. SO REALLY HUM AS LOUDLY AND AS INTENSELY AS POSSIBLE. TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE CD AND GO FOR IT. MAKE IT LOUD ENOUGH TO DROWN OUT YOUR HUM SO YOU ARE NOT SELF CONSCIOUS AND HOLDING BACK IN ANY WAY. DON’T WORRY ABOUT HUMMING PRETTY. JUST HUM INTENSELY.
TRY NOT TO JUDGE YOUR SESSION. THE EGO OR MIND WILL WANT TO ASSESS IT AND LABEL IT, “ I WAS REALLY DEEP, I WAS DISTRACTED, I SAW VISIONS, I SAW NOTHING” AND ON AND ON. THE NET RESULT IS BEYOND WHAT YOUR MIND CAN KNOW. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO IT FOR 40 DAYS AND THEN SEE HOW THE ENTIRE TIME FEELS TO YOU AND WHAT IN YOUR LIFE HAS SHIFTED OR CHANGED.
THEN YOU CAN INCORPORATE THE PRACTICE OR ANY OTHER MEDITATION PRACTICE INTO YOUR LIFE EVERYDAY AND AT SOME POINT, YOU WILL BE LIVING MEDITATION. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE IS DONE WITH GREAT AWARENESS AND PRESENCE. LIFE BECOMES A MOVING MEDITATION.
STEP 2:
GANAPATI MANTRA-TRACK 2
CONTINUE TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THE MANTRA.
GANESHA IS THE REMOVER OF OBSTACLES
THIS MANTHRA IN DEVOTION TO GANESH -THE REMOVER OF OBSTACLES WAS CHANNELED TO ME DURING A 4:30 AM MEDITATION SESSION. THE SANSKRIT MANTRA IS ANCIENT, BUT THE HARMONIES ARE UNIQUELY MINE AND MY SOUL GROUP’S.
THIS IS AN ENERGY THAT WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM ESPECIALLY DURING THIS INTENSE TIME OF TRANSITION. WE WILL ALL NEED TO BE WARRIORS. TO BE EQUIPPED TO STAY IN PRESENCE DURING THE WAKE UP OF THE PLANET.
GANESH IS THE PART ELEPHANT/PART INDIAN BOY DEITY THAT EXUDES A SPONTANEOUS READINESS MEANING – BEING FULLY PRESENT, HE IS ABUNDANT, FIERCE, PLAYFUL AND READY FOR ANYTHING. HE CONTAINS ALL THAT HE NEEDS TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE OR CHALLENGE. GANESH REPRESENTS VICTORIOUS ABILITES…JAI ABILITIES…
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, WE ARE NOT WORSHIPPING A FANTASY FIGURE HOPING HE WILL FLY DOWN FROM THE SKY AND SAVE US. INSTEAD WE BECOME HIM. WE ACTIVATE THOSE QUALITIES THAT HE REPRESENTS AND WE STAND VICTORIOUS, READY AND ABLE TO POWERFULLY AND PLAYFULLY OVERCOME ALL CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES.
DURING THIS SECTION SIMPLY SIT COMFORTABLY AND LISTEN TO THE SONG. SANSKRIT IS THE ANCIENT INDIAN LANGUAGE THAT CARRIS WITHIN IT EXTRAORDINARY HEALING AND TRANSFORMATIONAL ENERGY. JUST LISTENING TO IT IS ENOUGH. THE TONES ACT AS ACTIVATING FREQUENCIES RESTORING YOU TO THE ORIGINAL DIVINE INTENTION.
CONITUNUE TO SIT AND PLACE YOUR AWARENESS ON YOUR SEED CENTER THIS IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE RIB CAGE JUST BELOW THE STERNUM. IF IT FEELS RESONANT TO YOU , SEE GANESH THERE MERGING WITHIN YOU…YOU BECOME GANESH.
STEP 3:
JAI SEED TREE SEAL, TRACK 3
ACTIVATION AND CONNECTION TO YOUR SOUL GROUP AND HIGHEST SELF IDENTITY.
THIS GUIDED MEDITATION SEALS YOU IN YOUR OWN BOUNDARY, CLEARS RESIDUE, ACTIVATES YOUR GOD SELF, AND CONNECTS YOU DIRECTLY WITH GOD SOURCE.
CONTINUE TO SIT COMFORTABLY OR LIE DOWN MOVING SLOWLY AND MINDFULLY AS TO NOT DISTURB THE ENERGY. LISTEN AND FOLLOW THE GUIDED MEDITATION. DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING WITH YOUR MIND. IF YOU CANNOT VISUALISE SOMETHING, SIMPLY THE INTENTION IS ENOUGH. YOUR HIGHER SELF KNOWS WHAT TO DO. RELAX , RELEASE ANY RESISTANCE. AND FLOW WITH THE PROCESS. BE OPEN TO ANY VISIONS OR MESSAGES COMING TO YOU.
STEP 4: DIVINE LOVE TRANSMISSION: TRACK 4
MOTHER OF MINE
LIE DOWN IN SAVASANA, CORPSE POSE AND SIMPLY RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS AND LOVE OF THE GREAT MOTHER. EYES CLOSED, PALMS TURNED UP, FEET AND LEGS SPREAD APART. LAY IN HER ARMS AND RECEIVE HER BLESSING AND LOVE.
THE GREAT MOTHER LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY FOR EXACTLY WHO AND WHERE WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT. YOU ARE PERFECT JUST AS YOU ARE.
THE MEDITATION IS NOW COMPLETE.