Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Dear All, Here is a question from Swamiji to the group "What is the purpose of an asan?" Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. Jai Swamiji Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Swamiji, Thank you for asking this question! My response for you will not be historic, but subjective based on personal experience and understanding. The purpose of an asan -- any asan -- is to provide a leverage for our mind to work with truth. As our mind moves, so does both body and world. The asan allows us to temporarily say "stop, and hold!" to one part of the mind-body-world trinity. Specifically, each asan will have a certain function -- just like a mudra -- to stimulate different patterns of awareness. You notice in bhav samadhi, slight movements of the hand stimulate different cognitions. Same with asan. So -- the asan is our platform, our body-mind temple. Here we rest, meditate, and complete devotional sankalpas. PEACE steve , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Dear All, > Here is a question from Swamiji to the group > > "What is the purpose of an asan?" > > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. > > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Dear Nanda, my input based on what I have found out so far (and I am still learning to sit in the proper asan): one aspect of the asan is that, once mastered, the body will remain still so that the mind needs no longer be occupied with the question whether the body is comfortable or not. You no longer fidget or worry about the body. Quiet body, quiet mind. Another aspect is that the asan helps you sit with an erect spine, so that breathing becomes easier and deeper without problems and you can feel the energy awakened through prayer and meditation move freely. Another thing is; you don't fall asleep easily when you sit up straight:). And yet another; sitting in the same asan for practice or puja every day puts you 'in the mood' as soon as you get into the asan. thank you, Swamiji, for the question, with love, Henny , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Dear All, > Here is a question from Swamiji to the group > > "What is the purpose of an asan?" > > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. > > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Namaste Steve, So would you say that if one cannot do a certain asan, then one would not be able to stimulate that pattern of awareness (that meaning the one which goes with the asan)? Steve Connor wrote: >Swamiji, > >Thank you for asking this question! My response for you will not be >historic, but subjective based on personal experience and >understanding. > >The purpose of an asan -- any asan -- is to provide a leverage for our >mind to work with truth. > >As our mind moves, so does both body and world. The asan allows us to >temporarily say "stop, and hold!" to one part of the mind-body-world >trinity. > >Specifically, each asan will have a certain function -- just like a >mudra -- to stimulate different patterns of awareness. You notice in >bhav samadhi, slight movements of the hand stimulate different >cognitions. Same with asan. > >So -- the asan is our platform, our body-mind temple. Here we rest, >meditate, and complete devotional sankalpas. > >PEACE > >steve > -- Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) http://www.egyirba.net I don't know the key to success, but the key to frailure is to try to please everyone. --Bill Cosby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Sis Henny HOw have you been learning (technique) to get into these positions? Not only can I not do the proper asans but just sitting tailor-style my feet get numb. HOw does one overcome this numbness or tingling feeling? henny_v_i wrote: Dear Nanda, my input based on what I have found out so far (and I am still learning to sit in the proper asan): one aspect of the asan is that, once mastered, the body will remain still so that the mind needs no longer be occupied with the question whether the body is comfortable or not. You no longer fidget or worry about the body. Quiet body, quiet mind. Another aspect is that the asan helps you sit with an erect spine, so that breathing becomes easier and deeper without problems and you can feel the energy awakened through prayer and meditation move freely. Another thing is; you don't fall asleep easily when you sit up straight:). And yet another; sitting in the same asan for practice or puja every day puts you 'in the mood' as soon as you get into the asan. thank you, Swamiji, for the question, with love, Henny , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: Dear All, Here is a question from Swamiji to the group "What is the purpose of an asan?" Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. Jai Swamiji Nanda<*> / <*> <*> Your -- Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) http://www.egyirba.net Creativity takes courage --Henri Matisse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 no, definitely not, as mind is ultimately superior to body. patterns of awareness are infinite, we can have them without any body awareness at all. the activities we experience in mudras and asans are very beautiful and part of grace. they occur when mind starts to get quiet. but experience is unlimited. the body itself is within mind. of course all this is a way of talking only. mind and body are divided, mind and body are one. i own all, i own nothing. the objective of all absolutes is to return us to the absolute. jai maa! does the ultimate guru have arms and legs? does the shiva lingam have legs? does mt. kailish have legs? no! so, how can they be established in the asan of self? they are perfectly established in asan, because asan is ultimately of consciousness, not restricted to the objectified, limited, body. , Devi's Daughter <devi.daughter@g...> wrote: > Namaste Steve, > > So would you say that if one cannot do a certain asan, then one would > not be able to stimulate that pattern of awareness (that meaning the one > which goes with the asan)? > > Steve Connor wrote: > > >Swamiji, > > > >Thank you for asking this question! My response for you will not be > >historic, but subjective based on personal experience and > >understanding. > > > >The purpose of an asan -- any asan -- is to provide a leverage for our > >mind to work with truth. > > > >As our mind moves, so does both body and world. The asan allows us to > >temporarily say "stop, and hold!" to one part of the mind-body-world > >trinity. > > > >Specifically, each asan will have a certain function -- just like a > >mudra -- to stimulate different patterns of awareness. You notice in > >bhav samadhi, slight movements of the hand stimulate different > >cognitions. Same with asan. > > > >So -- the asan is our platform, our body-mind temple. Here we rest, > >meditate, and complete devotional sankalpas. > > > >PEACE > > > >steve > > > > -- > Be Love, > Egyirba (Berijoy) > http://www.egyirba.net > > I don't know the key to success, but the key to frailure is to try to > please everyone. --Bill Cosby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Dear All, > Here is a question from Swamiji to the group > "What is the purpose of an asan?" Pranams to our dear Swamiji, Nanda and all, A perfect Asan allows the energy to flow in such a way, that we are not distracted by body consciousness. i wish my Asan to be the Infinite Lap of Divine Energy... > > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. > > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 , "muktimaa" <muktimaa@a...> wrote: > Pranams to our dear Swamiji, Nanda and all, > A perfect Asan allows the energy to flow in such a way, that we are not distracted by body consciousness. i wish my Asan to be the Infinite Lap of Divine Energy... Additionally i would like to add, that the perfect Asan enables the body to keep perfectly still with a very straight spine, so all the inner flowers bloom and radiate their light. The more still the body becomes, the quieter the mind becomes. When the body fidgets it is reflecting inner desires/thoughts. A still body = A still mind. Samadhi can occur in the space between two thoughts...May our Asan be steady!May we all blossom into our full Cosmic Awareness! May the entire Universe be happy! Om Namah Shivaya! Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Thakur Ramakrishna Deva! muktimaa > > > > > > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. > > > > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. > > > > Jai Swamiji > > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Pranams at the Beloved Feet of Swamiji. i think the purpose of the asan is to lock in the energy and bring the mind and senses under control. Jai Maa. Kalia Nanda <chandimaakijai > wrote: Dear All,Here is a question from Swamiji to the group "What is the purpose of an asan?"Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on.I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his.Jai SwamijiNanda Start your day with - make it your home page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Namascar Swamiji, My response to your question about Asan: My understanding is that the purpose of Asan is to support the yogi/yogini in achieving shiva shakti integration/samadhi/awakening of the Friend or Guru, by the following: opening energy channels (including ida, pingala and susumna), providing a stable seat with good spinal and energetic alignment that will be natually maintained when the kundalini rises and the practioner goes into samadhi for longer periods, and that supports pranayama naturally (necessary for progress into samadhi). Aum Nama Shivya Sherri , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Dear All, > Here is a question from Swamiji to the group > > "What is the purpose of an asan?" > > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on. > > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 In a message dated 8/1/05 5:10:45 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, muktimaa (AT) aol (DOT) com writes: Pranams to our dear Swamiji, Nanda and all,A perfect Asan allows the energy to flow in such a way, that we are not distracted by body consciousness. i wish my Asan to be the Infinite Lap of Divine Energy... Namaste, Yes, leading to the experience of the energy itself and in a state of concentration deeper into that Divine Energy. Siva-Sakti. Pranams sister in bliss. Om Namah Sivaya With Love Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 My humble response; What is the purpose of an asan? To hold the body in the pose of prayer. Steve Connor <sconnor (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com> wrote: Swamiji,Thank you for asking this question! My response for you will not behistoric, but subjective based on personal experience andunderstanding.The purpose of an asan -- any asan -- is to provide a leverage for ourmind to work with truth.As our mind moves, so does both body and world. The asan allows us totemporarily say "stop, and hold!" to one part of the mind-body-worldtrinity.Specifically, each asan will have a certain function -- just like amudra -- to stimulate different patterns of awareness. You notice inbhav samadhi, slight movements of the hand stimulate differentcognitions. Same with asan.So -- the asan is our platform, our body-mind temple. Here we rest,meditate, and complete devotional sankalpas.PEACEsteve--- In , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai>wrote:> Dear All,> Here is a question from Swamiji to the group > > "What is the purpose of an asan?"> > Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - > preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this > question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on.> > I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give ushis.> > Jai Swamiji> NandaDo You ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I think the purpose of an asan is to prepare the mind for worship.Nanda <chandimaakijai > escreveu: Dear All,Here is a question from Swamiji to the group "What is the purpose of an asan?"Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on.I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his.Jai SwamijiNanda Converse com seus amigos em tempo real com o Messenger http://br.download./messenger/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Jai Swamiji! I think the purpose of an asan is to prepare the mind for worship.Nanda <chandimaakijai > escreveu: Dear All,Here is a question from Swamiji to the group "What is the purpose of an asan?"Please note, "asan" here refers to sitting in a proper pose - preferably swastikasana or padmasana. It does not refer (in this question) to the blanket/cushion that we sit on.I look forward to your responses before we ask Swamiji to give us his.Jai SwamijiNanda Converse com seus amigos em tempo real com o Messenger http://br.download./messenger/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.