Archive for Meditation
Learn To Love Yourself
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“Love begins at home, with loving yourself.” -Margo Anand
Loving yourself, doesn’t mean indulging yourself in frequent solitary sexual activity or other indulgences. It means to learn to trust yourself and listen to your inner self. To trust your inner guidance that is your heart. After all, if you don’t trust the messages from your heart, then how can you trust the heart of another?
Love from another won’t make you feel whole if you feel empty inside. You will just find reasons why the person who offers you their heart, is lying or trying to deceive you. If you haven’t learned to receive love from your higher source and instead depend on others, you end up feeling possessive and jealous.
One way to open your heart to higher love that I discovered was through the magic of tantric sex. I’m a white tiger tantra practitioner and through years of practice, I have learned to cultivate and direct the subtle energy that is within me to heal my mind body and spirit. Had I not learned white tiger tantra, I would have maybe been intellectually aware of these forces within and without, but never would have I been able to feel them, nor learn to love fully.
I often say that young children naturally love themselves. They are uninhibited, guilt-free and fully accepting of who they are. It is only as they grow older that they start to develop a “personality” based on the approval or disapproval of those around them. Most people continue through life, layering on the thick, protective shield that is their ego, until they develop dis-ease of the body and mind, inevitably resulting in their death. Having forgotten how to experience bliss, the quality of their lives is greatly compromised.
As Jesus said, “Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” This powerful verse has a deep meaning for me as it symbolizes our spiritual growth as adults, in which we shed our “personalities” and ego, becoming free and spontaneous like children. That is our spiritual path and the path to our highest love.
But how do you find this spontaneity? How do you become free and learn to love? There are several ways and many techniques that I share on this about meditation, cultivating sexual energy and white tiger tantra, all of which can help you develop a greater love for yourself and others.
You may wonder, how can meditation teach me to love myself? It does so by providing clarity of mind, which can help you process your thoughts and perceptions that prevent you from experiencing your sensual self fully. As your mind begins to settle, you begin to attune to your feelings and expand your ability to experience pleasure and love.
As the mind settles, through meditation or trance, you can begin to implement tantric techniques that can further help you learn to love yourself. If you have forgotten how to love yourself or have consciously shut down your heart because of heartache, then you are denying yourself the divine right to experience a higher quality of life. Tantra can help release those resistances from your heart and open you up to loving yourself and others, more deeply and more courageously than ever before.
Healing Breathing For Relaxation & Energy
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Some people ask me, how do you meditate and I say, I practice breathing…BREATHING? Really? What is there to practice? We all do it naturally and it’s not like something that needs to be done consciously. It gets taken care of without us thinking. Well, that might be true to an extent, but there are a few things you won’t know about how you breathe until you begin to pay attention…
Place your hand on your lower abdomen and breathe the way you do normally. Does your hand rise up when you breathe? If it doesn’t much, then your breath is shallow and you have a tendency to breathe in your upper chest rather than your lower belly.
This can cause a number of problems. Shallow breathers tend to be more prone to…
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Sexual Dysfunctions
- Disease
According to yogic traditions, the breath is your prana or life force energy. If this prana doesn’t flow freely through the entire body, oxygenating the organs, cells and muscles, this may lead to dis-ease in the body and mind.
Here’s a simple technique that I learned through my White Tiger Tantra trainer. I practice daily, for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night.
There are two techniques. One is for Relaxation and the other is for Energizing the body and mind.
HEALING BREATHING FOR RELAXATION
1. Place your hand on your lower abdomen.
2. Inhale slowly and deeply to the count of 3, or until your hand begins to rise.
3. Exhale slowly as through you have a small straw in your mouth to the rhythmic count of 6.
HEALING BREATHING FOR ENERGY
1. Place your hand on your lower abdomen.
2. Inhale slowly and deeply to the count of 6, or until your hand begins to rise.
3. Exhale slowly to the rhythmic count of 3.
These powerful breathing techniques, although they are simple, will radically transform how you feel and experience the world around you. You will find that your breathing naturally attunes to this rhythm the more you practice, balancing your mental and physical health as well as creating harmony in your relationship with yourself and others.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
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The yogis believe that emotional and spiritual wellness depends on the balance between these male and female energies (shiva and shakti). Alternate nostril breathing allows us to develop equanimity between these energies, as well as the two polarities of our brains. This helps us become more centered, experience clarity of thought and become more balanced energetically.
At this very moment, you are predominantly breathing through one nostril. This changes about every 90 minutes, when one polarity of the brain becomes more dominant than the other. Test it out by blocking one nostril and inhaling through the other. Then do the same for the other and you will likely discover a difference between the two. According to yogic philosophy, this has important implications on our mental, physical and spiritual health.
The left nostril is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain, which is our feminine and creative mind (shakti or yin). The right nostril is associated with our logical and masculine side (Shiva or yang). Every person has both male and female aspects to their personalities and at different times, one will preside over the other. Breathing through the left nostril (by blocking the right) has a sedating and calming effect, while breathing to through the right is energizing and stimulating.
There are different ways of practicing alternate nostril breathing. Here’s my method as it’s really simple and can be done just about anywhere, provided that you don’t mind that people might give you inquisitive looks if you do this in public.
- Inhale through the left nostril, while blocking the right (to the count of 4)
- Hold the breath for a few seconds.
- Then block the left nostril and exhale through the right (4 counts).
- Inhale through the right nostril to the count of 4
- Block the right nostril and exhale through the left.
- Inhale through the left nostril
- Block the left nostril and exhale through the right.
You can alternate back and forth this way. If you find it’s really difficult to inhale &/or exhale through one nostril or the other, try blocking one and breathing strictly through the congested nostril. After a few minutes, the air passage should clear up and you may find yourself entering into a more serene and balanced state. Once you find that there is a uniformity of air passing through each nostril, you can stop the exercise.
The yogis consider alternate nostril breathing to be one of the best techniques for calming down the nervous system and reaching an optimal level of health.
The Maharishi Effect: Meditating For World Peace
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In a recent video, Dattatreya Siva Baba announced his plans to discontinue his teachings and writing. He didn’t really explain himself, but simply stated that the most effective way for him to heal the world is by going deep inside himself…
The thought crossed my mind…How can sitting alone in an ashram in the Himalayas serve to cultivate world peace? After all, someone practicing deep meditation is simply cultivating himself. Or is he?
Not according to one study. It’s called The Maharishi Effect.
The Maharishi Effect is based on the principle that an individual’s consciousness is directly linked and influences the collective consciousness.
The study was as follows. “In 1960, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi predicted that one percent of a population practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique would produce measurable improvements in the quality of life for the whole population. This phenomenon was first noticed in 1974 and reported in a paper published in 1976. Here, the finding was that when 1% of a community practiced the Transcendental Meditation® program, then the crime rate was reduced by 16% on average. At this time, the phenomenon was named Maharishi Effect.”more
These experiments were later conducted in many different cities around the world, including Washington DC, one of the most crime infested cities in the United States. The results were astounding! It was predicted that a group of 200 people practicing the Transcendental Meditation Techniques in a city of 4 million could significantly reduce crime rates. So it was of no surprise to discover that in 1987, Washington DC experienced an 11% reduction in crime rates, due to these group meditation practices.
Amazing! But honestly, it doesn’t surprise me. I’ve always believed that we are all deeply connected to one another through a common source of power which we call God. So, imagine what we could do for the world, if everyone of us invested some time into raising their own consciousness?
Tantra Yoga: Tongue Meditation
Posted by: | CommentsYour attempts at meditation are likely to be interrupted by the thoughts running through your mind. This tantra yoga tongue meditation will help quieten down the mind or the internal dialogue.
Quieting the mind teaches us how to enter the zen state of “now”, where we are neither plagued by thoughts of the future or thoughts of the past.
I Hope you enjoy this meditation by Dattatreya Siva Baba.
There Is No Tantra Without Mantra
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There is a saying “There is no Tantra without mantra”. Sound has a powerful impact on us, more than we may know and is an important component to tantric practices. While we know that words have the power to influence us in many ways, mantras exert a special influence on our physical, emotional and spiritual bodies.
Here’s how mantras work…
Each of the major chakras in the human body matches a certain number of letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, which makes up the language of Hinduism and the Vedas. The letters from this ancient alphabet are associated to some deity or energy in sound form. Tantra in its traditional form includes the worship of many deities (gods and goddesses) and many magical practices seen in pagan rituals. These deities or energies, when tuned into, vibrate deep within us, stimulating specific energy centers in our bodies, which have various functions. When combined into words or phrases they are what are known as mantras.
You might have heard a few yourselves, while dodging donation requests and flowers, from outlandish looking individuals covered in loincloths or colorful robes, dancing and gleefully chanting “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna”.
Yet, there are infinite numbers of mantras out there. The most powerful of these energies is the primordial sound ‘Om’. You hear Buddhist monks and Hindus worldwide chanting this sound. It’s believed to be the God-force energy and allows us to reach the highest state of spiritual enlightenment. Personally, I feel that to really appreciate the impact of the sound Om requires a certain refinement of energy, which only really comes with dedication and practice.
The secret to getting the most out of mantras is the correct pronunciation. I chant silently, because I find that energy escapes when do it out loud. Chanting inside my mind during the day allows me to concentrate more on the sensations that these sounds produce on the chakras of my body. While a lot of mantras can be kind of difficult to pronounce, I recommend listening to a few while laying still and observing one’s thoughts. As you continue to listen to them and begin repeating the words inside your mind, their power begins to grow in intensity. It starts to change you.
I invite you to try out some basic mantras that stimulate the 7 major chakras. Repeat each sound many times inside your mind, while focusing on its matching chakra. You can visualize the color associated with it as well, if that helps.
Krim (‘kreem’) Root chakra
Klim (‘kleem’) Sacral Chakra
Hum (‘hoom’) Solar plexus
Hrim (‘hreem’) Heart chakra
Aim (‘eyem’) Throat chakra
Shrim (‘shreem’)Third eye
Om (‘aum’) Crown chakra
There are certain mantras that I swear by. The gayatri mantra is considered “the mother of all mantras” in Hinduism. I find this mantra to dominate all others in that it has immense power in opening us up to our infinite intelligence and awaken self-realization. Not only does it heal us on a physical, mental and spiritual level, it purifies the subtle karmas and acts as a divine protective shield. So if you’re looking for a spiritual awakening and gaining wisdom, this is really THE mantra to learn. It may be kind of complex for beginners, but well worth learning.
You can check to this video of the gayatri mantra and learn the words as you go along. It didn’t take me long as I’ve always been very auditory and proficient with languages.
But, lets not overload you with Sanskrit just yet, because before you get to the Gayatri mantra, there are a couple of simple mantras, if you’re just starting out. If you’re not sure how to pronounce them, you may be able to find them on youtube.
That’s it for now. I know this post was a little different from my usual posts, but hey I’m a writer who has many different personalities…Actually, believe it or not, the style in which i write greatly depends on the mantra I’ve been reciting that day.
Osho Video: The Rapist Therapist
Posted by: | Comments“Be careful therapists! You cannot confront an awakened person.”- Osho
What a rare find! I’ll warn you ahead of time…his views are kind of extreme in my opinion, but thought provoking nevertheless…
Healing You Is Healing Me
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In many systems of magick, it is believed that what we put out, comes back to us four-fold. It’s one of the first spiritual lessons I learned and one that I’m continuously mindful of implementing in my life.
Through our karmic ties, when transmitting negative thoughts and words about a person or people, we bind our energy to them and it returns to us, multiplying as we continue to entertain negative patterns of thought …That is, until we take the time and the time that we have, to unconsciously heal that part of us that has created them, inside our minds.
Strange concept? It’s quite simple really…
The next time you feel yourself struggling with anger directed towards someone, close your eyes and begin to focus on your breathing. If you find your thoughts going hither and thither, simply allow them to flow as they will without judging, while you remain a neutral observer. Thoughts and emotions have a tendency of settling when we quit resisting or trying to control them.
Once you’ve quieted down…that part of you that was feeling unsettled, imagine in your mind’s eye, standing before you, a person with whom you feel you might be carrying inside you, the burdensome energy of unresolved conflict.
If you’ve harbored a lot of negative emotions towards this individual, you may…start to notice as they rise within you…Allowing any emotions that you feel to float up to the surface is essential to having them cleared and resolved. You may feel some tense areas inside your body. Notice where you feel them. Many people experience a tightening in their solar plexus and heart chakra. There are usually 2 or 3 spots where one will feel it.
Begin to have a conversation in your mind with this individual. This is your chance to really tell them how you feel, allowing them to answer you in whatever way you might imagine. When you feel ready to free yourself of this person’s energy, ask them if it would be alright for the both of you to be healed…Wait for an answer…. If it is “no”, then continue your internal dialogue until you have both agreed to release each other.
Now…Imagine above you is pool of bright blue healing light…As you draw this light through your crown, allow it to fill your entire body…from the top of your head, down to the tips of your toes…spreading everywhere, starting anywhere…moving through every cell and strand of your DNA, until it begins to spill from your heart…like an energy chord or tube, attaching to the other person…filling them with your blue light, until they are also overflowing with healing energy.
When you feel that the both of you are healed, place your right hand over your heart and left hand on top…detaching the energy that bound you to the other person.
Then, slowly, inhale and focus on the belly. Exhale and focus on the top of the head, repeating this breath 4 times. Inhale a 5th time, holding your breath for a few seconds and as you exhale, slowly open your eyes and feel that energy flood into your heart…spreading through your entire body.
Rest your hands and then take a moment to notice the new sensations. You may find a different feeling inside you that wasn’t there before. When noticed, honor it and say “thank you”.
Now…go back and think about that same person that you were in conflict with and notice if the feelings have changed. If you still feel negative emotions towards this person, repeat the process over again. Practicing this exercise many times over, going through ever individual in your life, who may have hurt you or betrayed you in some way, will generate a radiant energy inside that will be multiplied exponentially, each and every time you heal them and yourself.
Then you’ll really know what it feels like to be running your own energy, instead of someone else’s.
The Lotus Sutra Meditation
Posted by: | CommentsThe Lotus Sutra is Buddha’s most referred to teaching on “emptiness”, it is said to be a central concept and necessary part of enlightenment…
Listen to this as a meditation, allowing the sounds to vibrate within you..Try it with earphones.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Tantric Energy Balancing Exercise
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The tantric exercise that I’m about to share with you, is for grounding and balancing energies between your root and the crown chakras. While it helps in releasing stagnant or trapped energies in the body, it also allows energy to flow more freely through the chakras by preventing energetic blockages from developing.
This exercise was first introduced to me by Steve P, creator of White Tiger Tantra . Because of its sheer simplicity and imperceptibility to other people, it can be comfortably practiced anywhere and many times throughout the day. For best results, practice alone and with your eyes closed.
Find a comfortable seat. With your feet flat on the ground and arms uncrossed…
- Step 1: Take a slow, deep breath through your nose and into the navel. Hold it there for a second.
- Step 2: Slowly exhale through your mouth and imagine your breath shooting down into the center of the earth, through the soles of your feet. This will help ground your energy.
- Step 3: As you inhale, draw the breath up from the center of the earth, up your spine, until it reaches the point between your neck and your head. Hold your breath and focus on this point for a few seconds.
- Step 4: Exhale and imagine your breath shooting up through your crown chakra, to the edges of the universe. Focus your attention there and imagine above you is a big ball of white light.
- Step 5: As you inhale and draw the white light from the edges of the universe, down your spine, until it reaches your tailbone. Hold your breath and attention there for a second.This part helps energy balancing.
- Step 6: Slowly exhale and allow your energy to shoot down from your root chakra, back down into the center of the earth, through the soles of your feet.
- Step 7: As a final step, quickly inhale and focus on your navel. Quickly exhale and focus on your crown chakra at the top of the head. Repeat step 7, for a total of 4 breaths.
**On the fourth breath, open your eyes and feel the energy flow through your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, spreading everywhere, starting anywhere.
Now, to clarify some important points…
- Learning to breathe deeply into the belly can be difficult for some people at first, particularly if they breathe high up in the chest. It will get significantly easier with practice and patience.
- Many people find that imagining their breath as a white light running through them very helpful.
- Breathe calmly during this exercise. Stress and tension, will only restrict the flow of energy in the body. Remember that it’s part physical, but mostly mental.
- Eventually you should be able to accomplish steps 1 to 6 in a total of 3 breaths.
- Make sure you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth (as though you have a small straw in your mouth.)
What the Tantric Energy Balancing Exercise will do for you…
A lot of people report feeling a calmer and more balanced energy running through their body. While some people may feel the effects instantly, others need more practice to tune into the subtle energies in their bodies.
Test it out. See how you feel, but please report back to me. I would love to hear about your experiences or any questions that you may have!
