Post by Yogavatar सौन्दर्य on Feb 11, 2024 13:27:04 GMT
Ajapa japa is normally translated as ‘continuous repetition’, but the
principles involved in it need to be considered first. In the
beginning, after you complete the preparatory stage of body
awareness there is awareness of the breath, which is an external
activity. Using the external activity of breath there is a process of
going within. Initially the breath is experienced as a flow in the nasal
passages, next as a flow in the frontal psychic passage between the
navel and throat, and then as a flow in the psychic passage,
extending from mooladhara to ajna. Here the external movement,
the external awareness of the breath is internalized and experienced
in the psychic passage. Later, a mantra, which is a sound or vibration
of power, is added to stop the self-induced dissipation of
concentration, of the mind running after this thought or that sound
or this sensory experience of the body.
So, ajapa japa covers the gross, external aspect, using physical
activity, the breathing process, to internalize the awareness. Then
mantra is added to stop the self-induced mental fluctuation. Later
on, depending on the intensity of the practice, if there is deep
concentration on the mantra then even the causal manifestations,
inherent experiences of the senses and the world, tend to dissipate
gradually. So there is also an advanced level of ajapa japa practices
belonging to the dharana group.
Yoga nidra, a technique that induces deep relaxation, is another
practice we will describe briefly from the pratyahara point of view.
Although there are many stages in yoga nidra, generally few are
taught because yoga nidra belongs to the pratyahara group, the
dharana group and the dhyana group. There are clear divisions in
yoga nidra.
The pratyahara group of yoga nidra practices includes awareness
of the body, rotation of the mind through the various parts of the
body, breath awareness and the awakening of different physical and
psychological sensations and feelings, such as heaviness/lightness,
heat/cold, pleasure/pain. These sensations and feelings are different
experiences that are accumulated and stored in the mind, and by
this practice these impressions are released.
In the Yoga Sutras such impressions are termed pratyaya. Even in
the highest meditative states or in the states of samadhi, pratyayas
continue to exist. The three divisions of yoga nidra aim at removal of
the pratyaya from the conscious or external plane, the subconscious
or subtle plane and the unconscious or causal plane. Therefore,
certain techniques of yoga nidra, which belong to the aspect of
dhyana, become aids to experience that state of samadhi. In the
pratyahara state of yoga nidra, however, there is mainly a release of
stored impressions of sensory or mental experiences
Yoag Darshan by Swami Niranjan
Ari Sundari Saraswatione Paradaiza
Patreon.com/GodElohimArchangel
principles involved in it need to be considered first. In the
beginning, after you complete the preparatory stage of body
awareness there is awareness of the breath, which is an external
activity. Using the external activity of breath there is a process of
going within. Initially the breath is experienced as a flow in the nasal
passages, next as a flow in the frontal psychic passage between the
navel and throat, and then as a flow in the psychic passage,
extending from mooladhara to ajna. Here the external movement,
the external awareness of the breath is internalized and experienced
in the psychic passage. Later, a mantra, which is a sound or vibration
of power, is added to stop the self-induced dissipation of
concentration, of the mind running after this thought or that sound
or this sensory experience of the body.
So, ajapa japa covers the gross, external aspect, using physical
activity, the breathing process, to internalize the awareness. Then
mantra is added to stop the self-induced mental fluctuation. Later
on, depending on the intensity of the practice, if there is deep
concentration on the mantra then even the causal manifestations,
inherent experiences of the senses and the world, tend to dissipate
gradually. So there is also an advanced level of ajapa japa practices
belonging to the dharana group.
Yoga nidra, a technique that induces deep relaxation, is another
practice we will describe briefly from the pratyahara point of view.
Although there are many stages in yoga nidra, generally few are
taught because yoga nidra belongs to the pratyahara group, the
dharana group and the dhyana group. There are clear divisions in
yoga nidra.
The pratyahara group of yoga nidra practices includes awareness
of the body, rotation of the mind through the various parts of the
body, breath awareness and the awakening of different physical and
psychological sensations and feelings, such as heaviness/lightness,
heat/cold, pleasure/pain. These sensations and feelings are different
experiences that are accumulated and stored in the mind, and by
this practice these impressions are released.
In the Yoga Sutras such impressions are termed pratyaya. Even in
the highest meditative states or in the states of samadhi, pratyayas
continue to exist. The three divisions of yoga nidra aim at removal of
the pratyaya from the conscious or external plane, the subconscious
or subtle plane and the unconscious or causal plane. Therefore,
certain techniques of yoga nidra, which belong to the aspect of
dhyana, become aids to experience that state of samadhi. In the
pratyahara state of yoga nidra, however, there is mainly a release of
stored impressions of sensory or mental experiences
Yoag Darshan by Swami Niranjan
Ari Sundari Saraswatione Paradaiza
Patreon.com/GodElohimArchangel