Sun Meditation and health

Life exists on planet earth because of the sun. Worshipping the sun has been a daily practice in many cultures. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations), Sandhya Vandanam (worshipping the sun at sunrise and sunset) is very auspicious and good for the body and the mind. The sages and preceptors have advised us to meditate during the morning and evening. The ‘Sun Meditation’ guided by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is very simple, yet very soothing and energises the whole body and calms the mind. This meditation is done in the morning when the sun is rising.

Enjoy the full glory of the sun and experience deeper meditation.

The Benefits of Light

Scientists know that bright light stimulates the production of serotonin which helps maintain a positive mood. Too little serotonin causes depression and lack of energy.

Some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder during winter because they don’t get enough sunlight. A cure for SAD is to use a bright light box for several minutes each day.

To practice sun meditation, beginners should start by looking at the rising sun early in the morning. You can also look at the setting sun, but it is not as effective as at sunrise because the energy is decreasing.

If you feel any trouble gazing directly at the sun, you should focus your gaze a short distance above the sun. Try not to blink, but if you feel discomfort, blink several times, then start again. If you do this three of four times, your resistance power will be increased and it will be easy to look at the sun. Then, we can gradually increase the time that we gaze at the sun.

Beginners should start looking each day for a short period, then day by day increase the amount of time so that the eyes can gradually adapt without any harm. It is very important to maintain regular practice, as it will allow your eyes to adapt properly. Some people may experience problems in the first few days, sometimes headaches or burning sensations in the eyes, or a 'sunspot' that affects your vision. This is quite normal, and the only way to overcome these problems is to continue practising. It is similar to any physical exertion that may cause stiffness or pain; it does not last long, and it is best removed by continuing the exercise.

Moon Meditation

Moon Meditation

The moon has always been an integral part of our lives. Whether it is celebrating a festival or starting an auspicious task, or meditating, we consider the movements of the moon.

For example, festivals such as Ramzan, Guru Purnima and Holi are celebrated according to the movements of the moon.

It is very good to meditate on a full moon day.

The moon has an effect on water and our body contains a lot of water. Hence on the day of Purnima or Fulll Moon it is beneficial to do meditation.

Let us see how the moon effects our body: Indian ancient scriptures such as Vishnu Purana talk about the origin of the moon. According to this purana, the moon has emerged from the Milky ocean with his soft and snowy beams.

The moon enters this gland to take control of all our activities from night till the time we wake up. The rays of the moon affect human beings, animals, plants, water and so on. Our body consists of 60% water. So, the full moon meditation helps the seekers in going inward, transcend the mind, and feel the divinity within.

Benefits of meditation

Maybe meditation isn't so mysterious after all. Neurosciences have found that mediators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex - brain waves in the stress-prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex. This mental shift decreases the negative effects of stress, mild depression and anxiety. There is also less activity in the amygdala, where the brain processes fear.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, recorded the brain waves of stressed-out employees of a high-tech firm in Madison, Wisconsin. The subjects were split randomly into two groups, 25 people were asked to learn meditation over eight weeks, and the remaining 16 were left alone as a control group.

 

Meditation has two important benefits:

• Meditation prevents stress from getting into the system

• Meditation releases accumulated stress that is in the system

With meditation, the physiology undergoes a change and every cell in the body is filled with more prana (energy). This results in joy, peace, enthusiasm as the level of prana in the body increases.

On a physical level, meditation:

• Lowers high blood pressure

• Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks

• Decreases any tension-related pain, such as, tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems

• Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior

• Improves the immune system

• Increases the energy level, as you gain an inner source of energy

Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an Alpha state that promotes healing. The mind becomes fresh, delicate and beautiful. With regular practice of meditation:

• Anxiety decreases

• Emotional stability improves

• Creativity increases

• Happiness increases

• Intuition develops

• Gain clarity and peace of mind

• Problems become smaller

• Meditation sharpens the mind by gaining focus and expands through relaxation

• A sharp mind without expansion causes tension, anger and frustration

• An expanded consciousness without sharpness can lead to lack of action/progress

• The balance of a sharp mind and an expanded consciousness brings perfection

   

   

  How to get the benefits

   

  To experience the benefits of meditation, regular practice is necessary. It takes only a few minutes every day. Once imbibed into the daily routine, meditation becomes the best part of your day!
  Meditation is like a seed. When you cultivate a seed with love, the more it blossoms. Similarly, the sapling of consciousness is within you. It needs to be nurtured with simple meditation techniques. Some palm trees yield in three years, some in ten years. And those that aren’t nurtured - never yield! They simply exist.
  Busy people from all backgrounds are grateful to pause and enjoy a refreshing few minutes of meditation each day. Dive deep into yourself and enrich your life

   

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation

Everyone has experienced a meditative state in moments of deep joy, or when completely engrossed in an activity, when just for a moment the mind becomes so light and at ease. While we have such moments, we are unable to repeat them at will. The Sahaj Samadhi course teaches you how. This meditation technique almost instantly alleviates the practitioner from stress-related problems, deeply relaxes the mind and rejuvenates the system.

Sahaj is a Sanskrit word that means natural or effortless. Samadhi is a deep, blissful, meditative state. Sahaj Samadhi meditation is a natural, effortless system of meditation.

Regular practise of the Sahaj Samadhi can totally transform the quality of one’s life, by culturing the system to maintain the peace, energy and expanded awareness throughout the day. These meditation techniques combined with yogic practises can ensure good health and a calm mind.

Meditation allows the conscious mind to settle deeply in the Self, giving it rest
When the mind settles down, it lets go of all tension, making one healthy and focused
How does Sahaj Samadhi meditation work?
The participant is taught to use a simple sound mentally which allows the mind to settle down and go within. When the mind and nervous system are allowed to repose a few moments in the profound silence, the blocks that clog the system and our progress gradually dissolve.

How does reposing in the Self help in day-to-day life
When a river is calm, its reflection is clearer. When the mind is calm, there is greater clarity in the field of expression. Our powers of observation, perception and expression improve. As a result we are able to communicate effectively and clearly.