C O V E R S T O R Y
YOGItimes magazine for the modern yogi
By Steven S. Sadleir
Photography by Jasper Johal
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines yoga as the cessation of thought or the absence of mental modification. When the mind becomes still, inner clarity develops and the true nature of the Self is revealed. This is the essence of yoga. Yoga is both the art and science of Self Realization. Initially, an aspiring yogi or yogini would be taught various yoga asanas or postures to prepare the body for meditation. The goal has always been to quiet the body in order to quiet the mind. In India, the Rishis developed various meditation practices based on the level and temperament of the student.
Some forms of meditation are contemplative, where the student reflects on a verse from an illuminated text such as the Bible, Koran, Yoga Sutras or Bhagavad-Gita; yet others are quite active and involve some conscious movement as in tantric lovemaking, tai chi or practicing yoga postures with such inner quiet that the student goes into meditation while holding a pose. A common form of meditation to begin with involves primordial sounds called mantras. Most spiritual disciplines recognize the mind-altering power of sound vibrations–the Sanskrit language of the Yogis, ancient Hebrew and Arabic are each believed to conduct energy when spoken or contemplated.
The most familiar mantra “Om” often pronounced as “Aum” moves life force energy up the spine to the top of the head. The “Ahhh” sound can be felt in the region of the navel, the “Ohhh” and “Uuuu” sound are carried at the heart and throat centers, and the “Mmmm” vibration is felt as the buzzing of bees in the head. Repeating this sound relaxes the mind and turns one’s awareness inward. In the popular Transcendental Meditation or “TM” of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a single sacred sound mantra from the Vedas is repeated to help aspirants go within and find inner peace; whereas members of the Hare Krishna movement, or ISCON, repeat a series of sacred trance inducing sounds to praise God, creating a euphoric state called Japa.
One of the more common forms of meditation involves concentration on various energy centers of the body called Chakras in which a meditator concentrates attention on areas like the Navel Center (Manipura), Heart Center (Anahata) or Third Eye (Ajna). The energy directed to these centers through focused attention activates the energy at these points and shifts the meditator’s state of consciousness. For instance, when we focus at the Third Eye point between the eyebrows, this activates the pituitary and pineal glands that help regulate our brain wave frequencies like a natural biofeedback mechanism. As we connect with our life force energy, or kundalini shakti, our brain wave frequencies drop from Beta (14-40 cycles per second) to Alpha (7-13 cycles per second), and eventually lower still to Theta (4-6 cps) and Delta (0-3 cps). While in these ultra quiet states, inner clarity develops and the consciousness is liberated from the confines of the mind and sense perception. It merges into the whole… samadhi. These exercises are even more powerful when initiated by a Guru whose spirit or “Shakti” can conduct the life force to make it easier for the student to tune into or connect with it.
One of the most powerful forms of meditation is direct inquiry or self-reflection. When we reflect on the very impetus that causes us to meditate, we make a direct connection with our individual Self, “That which you are seeking is causing you to seek.” To ask yourself “who am I?” and go into the part of you that wants to know is to practice a form of yoga called Jnana. Simply observing that which is observing the mind liberates it from the mind. Just as we would look into our reflection in a mirror to know what we look like, we have only to reflect upon our own nature to realize it.
At the core of meditation lies the heart. It is through grace that our own true nature is revealed and it is through love that God is revealed. When the meditating yogi opens their heart to receive, when they surrender the “doer,” then their own true nature becomes clear. The devotion to our Creator, expressed through the devotion in our practices makes the practice of meditation easy and enjoyable. Most people struggle with trying to stop their minds, which is like a cat chasing its tail. When we allow our spirits, or life force, to meditate, then the practice of meditation becomes profound.
The use of a Guru or teacher has proven effective to help students find the truth that lies within them for thousands of years. It works. Most Westerners are leery of those who purport to be Gurus, and for good reason as this sacred trust has been abused by some in the past. Nonetheless, it is time-tested and proven effective. When a student is ready, the teacher will appear, but a reliable Guru is one who empowers you to find the True Guru, or Sat Guru, within your Self. Ultimately, that which created you, and which sustains your existence, is guiding you to awaken your consciousness to full realization; it is what is causing you to read this right now.