Guest guest Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Namaste Ann and all family, Swami responded to Linda about adding Transcendental Meditation to her puja, but his response assumes she already knows how to practice meditation with eyes closed. Swami describes how one can add traditional eyes closed meditation to one's puja: " When we perform mantra japa all throughout the puja, we consider these to be the excellent opportunities to go into meditation. The trick is to budget your time and asana so you can finish the puja after your meditation is complete. " " But the puja is guided meditation and allows you to add as many other techniques as an individual likes. " Ann, as you do not know how to meditate with eyes closed, I will describe the method Maa and Swami have taught us at the Mandir. PREPARING TO PERFORM PUJA / MEDITATE The following are general suggestions from Maa and Swami regarding preparing for puja and / or meditation. Whether it is in the morning or evening, answer call of nature, take a shower, put on clean comfortable clothes, perform some stretching excercises to loosen the body and muscles, then light incense and a candle, and sit comfortably on the floor. One should be sitting cross legged on a comfortable soft cloth-clean blanket or deer or lamb skin, etc., with back straight and head and neck erect. NOTE: cross legged can be full lotus, 1/2 lotus, or whatever works for you. Swami and Maa state that is is best to develop an asan, a seated position which one can sit comfortably and without moving, keeping both knees on the floor, for as long as possible. While our bodies are not as flexible as we would like, one can begin by sitting in a " formal " pose for as long as it is comfortable, then breaking the pose to move the legs into a more comfortable position. We increase the length of time we can sit without moving by 5 minutes a month, for example, as our bodies loosen, and we can sit longer and longer very still. Sit in a quiet area where you will not be disturbed, facing your altar and your object of worship. NOTE: Sitting straight as possible allows the energy to travel up and down the spine more easily. NOTE: the amount of time your perform this meditation is up to you. However, it is best to perform it for the same duration, at the same time each day. For example, 20 minutes, 2 times a day, in the morning before activity, and the evening, after work, prior to dinner. This technique can be performed either as a part of puja, adding it to the puja during the japa portion of the puja, or, performed alone, just sitting quietly. Or, in the morning along with puja, and in the evening alone. This is your relationship with God, so create a system of worship which works best for your time, lifestyle, and personal goals. As Swami states, if this meditation is performed during puja, be certain to allow enough time for the puja and the meditation. If puja takes 25 minutes, and you add a 20 minute meditation, you have to allow 45 minutes in your schedule. NOW, BEGIN TO MEDITATE Use the mantra from the puja you are performing,i.e.: Siva Puja: Om Namah Sivaya, and repeat it in the following fashion. I will shorten the mantra to ONS for brevity step 1. empty all breath from your abdomen, don't strain step 2. fill your abdomen with breath, then when full, tighten the abdomen and push the breath up into your lungs. As you are in haling into the abdomen then into the lungs, you are saying the mantra ONS 1 time. step 3. When lungs are full, hold your breath, and say the mantra 4 times, slowly, without strain step 4. as you exhale, repeat the mantra 2 times. step 5. repeat all of the above STEP 6. you can open the eye slightly to check the time, then gently close it again. When time is up, then take 30 to 60 seconds, or longer, to open the eyes slowly, them proceed with your puja. In summary, the meditation system involves repeating the mantra: 1 time while filling the abdomen then the lungs, the inhalation breath 4 times while holding, retaining, your breath 2 times as you exhale. This 1 - 4 - 2 sequence of mantra recitation is repeated over and over in harmony with your breathing. 1 time while inhaling, 4 times while retaining the breath, 2 times while exhaling. Please try this technique, and return with questions to share with everyone. We will all grow together as we discuss our experiences and questions. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar , Ann McQuaid <laughinglife wrote: > > Well, you know what they say about group conscience.... > > I also have been beginning to feel a longing for a meditation component of > the practice that's quiet and/or incorporated in with the mantras and > chanting. I have not been trained in any type of meditation before. Thanks > for bringing that up, Linda. > > Jai MAA > Ann > > On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 2:20 AM, <nierika wrote: > > > I have a question for Swamiji below: > > > > Dear Swamiji, > > > > I am beginning to add to my spiritual practice and feel a longing to > > meditate in addition to doing mantra sankalpa and adding Durga Puja > > Beginner. How do recommend for me to add regular meditation? I know there > > are many different ways. Long ago I was taught Transcendental Meditation. > > Would it be okay to add that, or is there some other form that is > > recommended? Thank you so much for this ability to ask questions. > > ~ Linda > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!<http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=h\ ttp://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=Decem\ ailfooterNO62> > > * > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Namaste Vishweshwar-Thank you so much for responding to my post and for taking the time to share with the family regarding the practice and technique of meditating with puja. I am looking forward to trying it out. I also liked what you said, " We will all grow together as we discuss our experiences and questions. " Jai!!!AnnOn Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 9:32 PM, inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 wrote: Namaste Ann and all family, Swami responded to Linda about adding Transcendental Meditation to her puja, but his response assumes she already knows how to practice meditation with eyes closed. Swami describes how one can add traditional eyes closed meditation to one's puja: " When we perform mantra japa all throughout the puja, we consider these to be the excellent opportunities to go into meditation. The trick is to budget your time and asana so you can finish the puja after your meditation is complete. " " But the puja is guided meditation and allows you to add as many other techniques as an individual likes. " Ann, as you do not know how to meditate with eyes closed, I will describe the method Maa and Swami have taught us at the Mandir. PREPARING TO PERFORM PUJA / MEDITATE The following are general suggestions from Maa and Swami regarding preparing for puja and / or meditation. Whether it is in the morning or evening, answer call of nature, take a shower, put on clean comfortable clothes, perform some stretching excercises to loosen the body and muscles, then light incense and a candle, and sit comfortably on the floor. One should be sitting cross legged on a comfortable soft cloth-clean blanket or deer or lamb skin, etc., with back straight and head and neck erect. NOTE: cross legged can be full lotus, 1/2 lotus, or whatever works for you. Swami and Maa state that is is best to develop an asan, a seated position which one can sit comfortably and without moving, keeping both knees on the floor, for as long as possible. While our bodies are not as flexible as we would like, one can begin by sitting in a " formal " pose for as long as it is comfortable, then breaking the pose to move the legs into a more comfortable position. We increase the length of time we can sit without moving by 5 minutes a month, for example, as our bodies loosen, and we can sit longer and longer very still. Sit in a quiet area where you will not be disturbed, facing your altar and your object of worship. NOTE: Sitting straight as possible allows the energy to travel up and down the spine more easily. NOTE: the amount of time your perform this meditation is up to you. However, it is best to perform it for the same duration, at the same time each day. For example, 20 minutes, 2 times a day, in the morning before activity, and the evening, after work, prior to dinner. This technique can be performed either as a part of puja, adding it to the puja during the japa portion of the puja, or, performed alone, just sitting quietly. Or, in the morning along with puja, and in the evening alone. This is your relationship with God, so create a system of worship which works best for your time, lifestyle, and personal goals. As Swami states, if this meditation is performed during puja, be certain to allow enough time for the puja and the meditation. If puja takes 25 minutes, and you add a 20 minute meditation, you have to allow 45 minutes in your schedule. NOW, BEGIN TO MEDITATE Use the mantra from the puja you are performing,i.e.: Siva Puja: Om Namah Sivaya, and repeat it in the following fashion. I will shorten the mantra to ONS for brevity step 1. empty all breath from your abdomen, don't strain step 2. fill your abdomen with breath, then when full, tighten the abdomen and push the breath up into your lungs. As you are in haling into the abdomen then into the lungs, you are saying the mantra ONS 1 time. step 3. When lungs are full, hold your breath, and say the mantra 4 times, slowly, without strain step 4. as you exhale, repeat the mantra 2 times. step 5. repeat all of the above STEP 6. you can open the eye slightly to check the time, then gently close it again. When time is up, then take 30 to 60 seconds, or longer, to open the eyes slowly, them proceed with your puja. In summary, the meditation system involves repeating the mantra: 1 time while filling the abdomen then the lungs, the inhalation breath 4 times while holding, retaining, your breath 2 times as you exhale. This 1 - 4 - 2 sequence of mantra recitation is repeated over and over in harmony with your breathing. 1 time while inhaling, 4 times while retaining the breath, 2 times while exhaling. Please try this technique, and return with questions to share with everyone. We will all grow together as we discuss our experiences and questions. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar , Ann McQuaid <laughinglife wrote: > > Well, you know what they say about group conscience.... > > I also have been beginning to feel a longing for a meditation component of > the practice that's quiet and/or incorporated in with the mantras and > chanting. I have not been trained in any type of meditation before. Thanks > for bringing that up, Linda. > > Jai MAA > Ann > > On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 2:20 AM, <nierika wrote: > > > I have a question for Swamiji below: > > > > Dear Swamiji, > > > > I am beginning to add to my spiritual practice and feel a longing to > > meditate in addition to doing mantra sankalpa and adding Durga Puja > > Beginner. How do recommend for me to add regular meditation? I know there > > are many different ways. Long ago I was taught Transcendental Meditation. > > Would it be okay to add that, or is there some other form that is > > recommended? Thank you so much for this ability to ask questions. > > ~ Linda > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. 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