Friday, July 23, 2010
Sat Chit Ananda
One of the most beautiful chants i have found over my time in yoga and meditation is The Angel's Prayer. The version by Ty Burhoe on 'Sounds of Spa-Mantra' is particularly entrancing.
Despite my affinity with this mantra, I never truly knew the meaning of the lyrics/words Sat Chit Ananda.
http://www.omoneness.com/moolamantra.html offers us a thought-provoking definition as follows:
Sat The all penetrating existence that is formless, shapeless, omnipresent, attribute less, and quality less aspect of the Universe. It is the Un manifest. It is experienced as emptiness of the Universe. We could say it is the body of the Universe that is static. Every thing that has a form and that can be sensed, evolved out of this Un manifest. It is so subtle that it is beyond all perceptions. It can only be seen when it has become gross and has taken form. We are in the Universe and the Universe is in us. We are the effect and Universe is the cause and the cause manifests itself as the effect.
Chit The Pure Consciousness of the Universe that is infinite, omni-present manifesting power of the Universe. Out of this is evolved everything that we call Dynamic energy or force. It can manifest in any form or shape. It is the consciousness manifesting as motion, as gravitation, as magnetism, etc. It is also manifesting as the actions of the body, as thought force. It is the Supreme Spirit.
Ananda Bliss, love and friendship nature of the Universe. When you experience either the Supreme Energy in this Creation (Sat) and become one with the Existence or experience the aspect of Pure Consciousness (Chit), you enter into a state of Divine Bliss and eternal happiness (Ananda). This is the primordial characteristic of the Universe, which is the greatest and most profound state of ecstasy that you can ever experience when you relate with your higher Consciousness.
Despite my affinity with this mantra, I never truly knew the meaning of the lyrics/words Sat Chit Ananda.
http://www.omoneness.com/moolamantra.html offers us a thought-provoking definition as follows:
Sat The all penetrating existence that is formless, shapeless, omnipresent, attribute less, and quality less aspect of the Universe. It is the Un manifest. It is experienced as emptiness of the Universe. We could say it is the body of the Universe that is static. Every thing that has a form and that can be sensed, evolved out of this Un manifest. It is so subtle that it is beyond all perceptions. It can only be seen when it has become gross and has taken form. We are in the Universe and the Universe is in us. We are the effect and Universe is the cause and the cause manifests itself as the effect.
Chit The Pure Consciousness of the Universe that is infinite, omni-present manifesting power of the Universe. Out of this is evolved everything that we call Dynamic energy or force. It can manifest in any form or shape. It is the consciousness manifesting as motion, as gravitation, as magnetism, etc. It is also manifesting as the actions of the body, as thought force. It is the Supreme Spirit.
Ananda Bliss, love and friendship nature of the Universe. When you experience either the Supreme Energy in this Creation (Sat) and become one with the Existence or experience the aspect of Pure Consciousness (Chit), you enter into a state of Divine Bliss and eternal happiness (Ananda). This is the primordial characteristic of the Universe, which is the greatest and most profound state of ecstasy that you can ever experience when you relate with your higher Consciousness.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Autobiography of A Yogi
…You realize that all
along there was something
tremendous within you,
and you did not know it.
Paramahansa Yogananda
along there was something
tremendous within you,
and you did not know it.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sutra of The Day
II.4 avidya ksetram uttareasm praupta tanu vichinna udaranam-
Lack of true knowledge is the source of all pains and sorrows whether dormant, attentuated, interrupted or fully active.
Lack of true knowledge is the source of all pains and sorrows whether dormant, attentuated, interrupted or fully active.
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Greatest Lock of All?
Maha bandha, or ‘the great lock’ as it is sometimes described is achieved primarily in one of two ways depending on which yogic text one consults. According to the Gheranda Samhita, Maha Bandha is performed in the following way:
a) Firstly, place the left heel beneath the perineum.
b) Next, place the right foot on the left thigh in half padmasana. Place the hands on the knees ‘to allow the arms to apply pressure in the final pose’ (Saraswati 2008, p 534)
c) Thirdly, take a deep breath and breathe all the air from the lungs. Retain the breath outside. This outer retention of breath is known as ‘bahir khumbaka’(Saraswati 2008, p 429).
d) Next, perform Jalandara bandha by contacting the throat and pressing the chin firmly against the chest.
e) Next take a false inhalation. This should raise the abdomen up and back, forming a concave shape. This is known as the ‘Ha’ half of Uddiyana bandha, or the ‘upward flying lock’.
f) Contract the muscles of the pelvic floor/perineum, or more specifically those of the coxigeus and the lavatorani. This is the ‘Ha’ aspect of mula Bandha.
g) Retain the bahir khumbaka for as long as is realistically possible, without undue strain, before releasing in turn: mula bandha, uddiyana bandha and finally jalandara bandha.
Benefits
Maha Bandha has the benefits of all three separate bandhas it encompasses.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that Maha Bandha is ‘the most skillful means for cutting away the snares of death’ (Svatmarama cited in santosha.com)
a) Firstly, place the left heel beneath the perineum.
b) Next, place the right foot on the left thigh in half padmasana. Place the hands on the knees ‘to allow the arms to apply pressure in the final pose’ (Saraswati 2008, p 534)
c) Thirdly, take a deep breath and breathe all the air from the lungs. Retain the breath outside. This outer retention of breath is known as ‘bahir khumbaka’(Saraswati 2008, p 429).
d) Next, perform Jalandara bandha by contacting the throat and pressing the chin firmly against the chest.
e) Next take a false inhalation. This should raise the abdomen up and back, forming a concave shape. This is known as the ‘Ha’ half of Uddiyana bandha, or the ‘upward flying lock’.
f) Contract the muscles of the pelvic floor/perineum, or more specifically those of the coxigeus and the lavatorani. This is the ‘Ha’ aspect of mula Bandha.
g) Retain the bahir khumbaka for as long as is realistically possible, without undue strain, before releasing in turn: mula bandha, uddiyana bandha and finally jalandara bandha.
Benefits
Maha Bandha has the benefits of all three separate bandhas it encompasses.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that Maha Bandha is ‘the most skillful means for cutting away the snares of death’ (Svatmarama cited in santosha.com)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
YTT in Nepal
http://www.yogi-nomad.org/yoga_ttc_teacher_training_nepal.html
This is where I will be heading in November to complete my 200 hr Yoga Alliance Certified Qualification as a Yoga Teacher.
Namaste and Peace to All,
BWM
This is where I will be heading in November to complete my 200 hr Yoga Alliance Certified Qualification as a Yoga Teacher.
Namaste and Peace to All,
BWM
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