Guest guest Posted March 4, 2001 Report Share Posted March 4, 2001 Namaste. Does anyone use a mantra during their asana and /or meditation practice? What are your views on this? If yes, share it with us if you like. I have found the yamas and niyamas helpful during asana and meditation. What are ya'll doing with your mind during practice? Are there any suggestions or guidance from your guru or in the literature? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2001 Report Share Posted March 4, 2001 namaste, dnpagano. meditation upon the infinite is prescribed by maharishi patanjali in his description of the ashtanga (8 limbs) of raja yoga. use of mantra is a key component in meditation to allow us to focus on our true self -- infinite, pure consciousness:<br><br>2.46<br>sthira-sukham asanam |<br>asanas should be steady and comfortable.<br><br>2.47<br>prayatna-saithilyananta-samapattibhyam |<br>posture is mastered by releasing tension and meditation on the infinite.<br><br>2.48<br>tato dvandvanabhighatah |<br>from that, no assaults derive from opposing phenomena.<br><br>***<br><br>i am guided by this wisdom in my personal practice and emphasize it in my classes, to beneficial effect.<br><br>=)<br><br>jai<br><br>midnight yoga for men, nyc<br><a href=http://members.nbci.com/omboy target=new>http://members.nbci.com/omboy</a><br>212/358-5877<br><br><a href=http://clubs./clubs/midnightyogaformen target=new>http://clubs./clubs/midnightyogaformen</a><br><a href=http://clubs./clubs/menssattvicpersonals target=new>http://clubs./clubs/menssattvicpersonals</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2001 Report Share Posted March 4, 2001 1.28<br>tajjapastadarthabhavanam<br><br>(In order to relate to God it is necessary to regularly address him properly and reflect on his qualities)<br><br>"Patanjali suggest that is it necessary to reflect constantly on the qualities of God. This might be aided by the repeated recitation of his name together with prayer and contemplation. But mechanical repetition and prayer is worthless, it must be accompanied by conscious thought and consideration, and by profound respect."<br><br>-- PATANJALI'S YOGASUTRAS by Desikachar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2001 Report Share Posted March 5, 2001 << What are ya'll doing with your mind during practice? >><br><br>Apparently most of us are drafting our next nasty post to this board Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2001 Report Share Posted March 5, 2001 << What are ya'll doing with your mind during practice? >><br><br>On a more serious note: during asana pratice in the early months I would sometimes repeat internally the word "joy", especially when I got distracted or dispirited. As my endurance increased, I dropped the practice and now I pretty much focus on breathing and bandhas.<br><br>The "joy" idea was derived from a book by an anonymous 14th century English mystic, who suggested the use of a single word as needed in order to "look beyond" distracting thoughts as one becomes conscious of them during the practice of contemplative prayer. As far as I know this technique is not a part of the Indian yoga tradition, although it is quite reminiscent of mantra.<br><br>Peace and Good,<br>Homer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2001 Report Share Posted March 5, 2001 There are the opening and closing mantras (which were posted here and translated not too long ago), but those are at the beginning and end of practice. As I understand it, one should try to focus the mind on bandhas, drishti and ujjayi during asanas, which is what I try to do while practicing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2001 Report Share Posted March 5, 2001 What are ya'll doing with your mind during practice? <br><br>Early on in my practice I would constantly be reminding myself about bandas, drishti, alignment, breath, and give myself 'verbal' adjustments. <br>Over time I am becoming more focused and aware in each asana and I am beginning to refine my concentration and can more often focus exclusively on my breath, simply saying inhale....exhale ...to myself...<br>Now I find the practices where I am most present and focused are when I am thinking only of breathing ... inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale...<br>the sound of my breath is my mantra. Everything else comes most naturally, my mind is present, my ego stays out of it and I am practising inwardly, in my truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 namaste omboy,<br>thank you for your thoughtful response <br>do you use a mantra when you practice asana?<br>peace, daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 hi screwgee, thanks for your reply,<br>do you use a mantra while practicing asana?<br>thanks, daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 yo homer, thanks for your "joy" mantra, as my mind wanders beyond breath and bhandas i often use earth (inhale) sky (exhale) or the yamas and niyamas - one for each breath - 5 for each side<br>peace, joy, love, daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 thanks warriorgirlca,<br>a focus on the breath and it's sound using inhale - exhale mantra is a most helpful suggestion - it has worked for me too, more successfully in sitting meditation, but my mind keeps wandering - most often to the yamas and niyamas - and beyond - no suprise as the practice is about training the mind - via the body - often in and after practice i do feel "more in myself" or as you said "i am practicing inwardly, in my truth" - i try to carry this to breath and life beyond asana too.<br>peace, daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 thanks chawmaw, i will focus on bandhas, drishti and ujjayi and look for the mantras previously posted, namaste, daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 yes, daniel, i recite my mantra mentally with each inhalation and again with each exhalation. this, along with continuous visualization of a pleasantly neutral, simple image (geometric shape, piece of fruit, beautiful light, e.g.), and focussing on either anahata or anja chakra (the latter for analytical types, the former for more emotional) is a basic transcendental meditation technique taught by sivananda.<br><br>your guru may one day initiate you into a personal mantra practice as mine did me. but i know many people who have chosen a mantra themselves after some self-study. i instruct my students to begin with the maha mantra OM, as it is the power of all that is encased in a sound structure. it makes a lovely internal vibration.<br><br>it makes sense to me to follow patanjali's four criteria for asana practice: stable, comfortable, release all effort, meditate upon the infinite. without meditation the mind may be pleasantly calm, but may just as likely be taken with whatever thought fluctuation comes along. how much better to see a lovely mental image, hear a lovely mental vibration, and focus on a powerful energy center, than to have the mind sending messages like, "geez this hurts,i suck,what's that smell?,wonder who does her hair,daddy never loved me," etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 Glad to be of help. The credit actually goes the anonymous author of the "The Cloud of Unknowing" (probably a Carthusian monk from the East Midlands of 14th century England). One of my heroes (though he would undoubtably be puzzled by the apllication of his technique to asana practice).<br><br>Peace and Good,<br>Homer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 I should add: the reason why I don't use a mantra during asana practice is because ujayi breathing is audible -- it's to be listened to, and therefore listening to our breathing during asana practice is to be the occupation of our attention to hearing. To introduce a mantra at the same time ujayi is being practiced is to have too much going on at the same time.<br><br>Or to look at it another way, the sound of ujayi is the mantra for my asana practice.<br><br>That's how i see it, though perhaps others have had different experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 There are two simple mantras I know of, mentally thinking "Sa" on the inhale of the Ujayi breath, and "Ha" on the exhale. OR, you can simply think "Om" on the inhale, and count the number of the breath on the exhale...<br><br>But, the importance of listening to the Ujayi breath itself cannot be overstated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 was inspired by SS to troll thru the EZ board site and found this neat mantra. perhaps you all already know it. i'm not too web savvy, so it's new to me. be patient and let it wash over you<br><br><a href=http://www.demsystems.com/images/other/allyourbase.swf target=new>http://www.demsystems.com/images/other/allyourbase.swf</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2001 Report Share Posted March 10, 2001 ujjayi breathing may be a form of the "infinite" patanjali instructs us to meditate upon in asana. sounds good to me. ujjayi is something i practice during separate pranayama. in asana, releasing all effort would include in the nose and throat, the quieter the breath the more effortless. paths are many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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