Yoga Meditation Dictionary

Acharya:

teacher

(See also: Acharya ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Ashtanga yoga:

the eight fold path of yoga as outlined by Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi

(See also: Ashtanga yoga ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Aham:

ego

(See also: Aham ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Maha mudra:

the great gesture - combines the practice of moola bandha, shambhavi and khechari mudras simultaneously.

(See also: Maha mudra ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bhakti Yoga: The yoga of attaining union with God through the prescribed spiritual discipline of the path of devotion.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Asana:

yoga position or yoga pose, also called yogasana. A balanced position for smooth energy flow in specific areas of the body and mind.

(See also: Asana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Ananda:

bliss, ecstasy

(See also: Ananda ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Intensive:

The primary Siddha Yoga meditation program, which was designed by Swami Muktananda to give spiritual initiation by awakening the kundalini energy.

(See also: Intensive , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

Bhramari pranayama:

breathing practice in which a soft "humming-bee" sound is produced during exhalation to stimulate the Ajna Chakra

(See also: Bhramari pranayama ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Ashrama:

residential place of people living together in yogic tradition.

(See also: Ashrama ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Meditation

According to Swami Vishnu Devananda, meditation is "….a continuous flow of perception or thought, just like the flow of water in a river." A practice wherein there is constant observation of the mind, meditation brings awareness, harmony and natural order into life. It helps you dig deep into your inner self to discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within.

Principles of Meditation

The basic points to be kept in mind in practicing meditation are:

·      Have a special place and specific time for meditation. Try doing it daily.

·      Choose a time when your mind is not clouded with worries.

·      Sit up straight with your back, neck and head in one line. Facing north or east.

·      Condition your mind such so as to remain quiet for the duration of your meditation session.

·      Regulate your breathing. Start with 5 minutes of deep breathing. Then gradually slow it down.

·      Follow a rhythmic breathing pattern - inhale and exhale.

·      Initially let your mind wander. It grows more restless if you force to concentrate.

·      Then slowly bring it to rest on the focal point of your choice.

·      Hold your object of concentration at this focal point throughout your session.

·      Meditation happens when you reach a state of pure thought. Even while retaining an awareness of duel self.

Followed diligently you will soon be able to attain a super-conscious state.

Tips on Concentration

·      At the outset, it is hard to keep your attention to keep focussed on one object.

·      So it is better to start off by limiting your field of concentration to a category of objects.

·      Choose your objects with care e.g. any four flowers, fruits, trees...etc. You must feel at ease with what you choose.

·      After concentrating on one, you can move on to the next, if & when your mind starts wandering.

This style of meditative exercise will help you control your mind down to a finer focus, teaching you the principle of single point concentration.

Meditative Postures

Yoni Mudra

·  Close your ears with thumbs.

·  Cover your eyes with your index finger.

·  Close your nostrils with your middle fingers.

·  Press your lips together with your remaining fingers.

·  Release the middle fingers gently to inhale and exhale while you meditate.

Frontal & Nasal Gazing

·  Gaze at a point between your eyebrows, seat of the 'Third Eye' or at the tip or your nose.

·  This would improve your level of concentration. At the same time, strengthening your eye muscles. Nasal gazing has a positive effect on the central nervous system.

·  Remember not to strain your eyes. Start with one minute of gazing and then slowly build it up to ten minutes.

Candle Gazing

• Place a candle at eye-level in a darkened, draught-free room.
• Close your eyes and hold an after-image of the bright flame.
• The practice steadies the wandering mind, leading you to focus with pin-point accuracy.

(See also: Meditation , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Bahir:

outside, external

(See also: Bahir ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Brahman:

supreme consciousness, absolute reality.

(See also: Brahman ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bandha:

a posture in which organs and muscles are contracted to create energy lock in a specific area.

(See also: Bandha ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bhastrika pranayama:

'bellows' breathing technique in which the breath is forcibly drawn in and out through the nose in equal proportions, like the pumping action of the bellows.

(See also: Bhastrika pranayama ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Kashmir shaivism:

A branch of the Shaivite philosophical tradition, propounded by Kashmiri sages, that explains how the formless supreme Principle, known as Shiva, manifests as the universe. Together with Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism provides the basic scriptural context for Siddha Yoga meditation.

(See also: Kashmir shaivism , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

Tiryaka bhujangasana:

twisting cobra pose

(See also: Tiryaka bhujangasana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Sarvangasana:

shoulderstand - an inverted posture

(See also: Sarvangasana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Antar mouna:

internal silence - a meditation practice.

(See also: Antar mouna ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bhakti yoga:

the yoga of devotion.

(See also: Bhakti yoga ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Siddhasana:

a meditative seating posture in which the left heel presses the perineum (stimulating the mooladhara chakra); also called as the adept's pose or the 'pose of perfection'.

(See also: Siddhasana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)