There is a common ground between Samyama and Vipassanna. Dharana can be the focusing on the Prana which is what is done Vipassana. This is mere observation and hence different from Pranayama which is more an effort to regulate the Prana. Then at the Dhyana stage, one can experience the bodily sensations as in Vipassana. Intellectually, focusing on the Prana gives an anchoring in one's life. One of the names of Vishnu is Prana itself. As is said in Vipassana, watching Prana is watching a feedback mechanism of life that keeps bringing everything back to stability or normalcy. It's the triangle of mind-breathe-body, all of them affecting each other (like a project scope triangle...lol). Unlike in the initial stage of Pathanjali Yoga where one tries to regulate Prana, here one can watch the Prana regulating us. Pratyahara for me is Sharanagathi and after surrendering, it's re-assuring as well as brings to stability watching Prana do the regulation. Prana, the God that it is, is like a parent and so being in touch with it, brings re-assurance. Ofcourse, one can take anything as an object for the focus of mediation, like Krishna or Shiva or whatever one's Ishta Devatha is etc. The beauty of this association is that as it is said in a Tamil proverb, "Poovodu serndha naarum manakkum" (the leaf that is with the flower also smells good), one gets the nature of whatever one associates oneself with. But unlike material associations like a hot cup and a cold cup where they both become equally moderate, the energy of the primal source is unlimited. So any association with it doesn't exhaust the source whereas one becomes as energetic as the source. Prana is something that is there even when one sleeps. Even observing the breathe for 10 seconds lowers down panic or a psychotic or neurotic symptoms. One can watch it as long as one lives to move towards stability and after one is dead, while one cannot ofcourse watch it, it isn't necessary either because by then it would have brought one to the eternal indestructible state, which is Samadhi. When one watches the breathe, one starts experiencing the bodily sensations, some of them as pain and some as pleasure. These are nothing but the results of the past Karmas and to be liberated into Samadhi, one has to go through these temporary changing experiences. This should be bearable if one has gone through the previous steps before trying to experience this pain or pleasure. Otherwise it will be like terrible and disappointing. More on Samadhi...there are 4 keywords in it (I am not saying from the roots but from my understanding coming from texts and intuition). These are state, being, eternal and indestructible. Samadhi looks scary because it is associated with death but it is not necessarily so bad or even be associated with death. It is also the most beautiful expression of oneself...for example, suppose a movie actor is there who in his early years takes on the roles of the hero, villian, comedian, supporting artist etc. Through his career, he would have had one role which was unique, great and good. But then, for reasons like money or fame or power etc., he might be doing roles he that he never was interested in or even that was just not meant for him. But he might not even be consciously aware of this. Maybe oneday he starts changing, and then as he starts leaving the other roles and focuses on the role tailor made for him. Eventually, at the last leg of his career, he gets into Samadhi...for example, Krishna or Jesus or Buddha etc. are known by some trade mark forms even though they are no longer there in such a form. Ofcourse, these are some big guys but even if one remembers one's own expired parents or grand-parents, one gets an image of what they were in their essence, a state of being that lingers without being mutated any further. For example, the peacock feather, the flute and the blueness of Krishna all go together and removing any one of it brings about a falsity into Krishna. It's a different matter if Krishna is blue or Shakthi is red or Saraswathi is white etc. It's the same way Mahatma Gandhi is remembered with a stick and round spectacles. Anyway, what I'm saying is that Samadhi need not be an unmanifested form as well. Never mind, these are just some thoughts of mine and use it after reflecting over it yourself.
Today, I think I have found a practical way to do my job properly. I'm using a random timer, which brings me back to focusing on my breathe as I work. A problem that I have is that I tend to analyze a lot. A long time back, another counselor of mine suggested that I do things in different ways because I think a lot. She was asking me to use more of my left part of the body. I also read in an article of Jung how he solved a girl's problem by snapping her out of depression who also had an analytical mind by doing something with an insect that was in the room. Regular reminders won't do much for me because I will always be thinking when it is going to ring and so how I should plan my work and so on. But I also need something to refocus whenever my mind wanders. So this random reminder both keeps away my thinking mind and also brings in focus every now and then. With this development, I may have after all just stepped into the 6th plane of existence (Dharana) and not the 7th as I previously thought. :-( But it's alright since atleast I have some idea of where I'm.
The job front seems to be hopefully good thanks to angels. It seems to be calling me to places...
I met my doctor today and he advised me to go on the present medication for the next month. I told him that i was still a little psychotic for4 which he immediately suggested sulpitac but I declined it. He didn't know all the spiritual practices that I do that will handle it.
Many times I have rated how much I'm well enough. If I base my level based on having just stepped into the 6th stage, then it means I'm some 63% alright and going up. I'm not saying this as some achievement but rather as an interesting fact.
Okay I think I have wandered off and I'm sorry. I have many interesting things to write but I have not developed the discipline to write the blog regularly.
Today, I think I have found a practical way to do my job properly. I'm using a random timer, which brings me back to focusing on my breathe as I work. A problem that I have is that I tend to analyze a lot. A long time back, another counselor of mine suggested that I do things in different ways because I think a lot. She was asking me to use more of my left part of the body. I also read in an article of Jung how he solved a girl's problem by snapping her out of depression who also had an analytical mind by doing something with an insect that was in the room. Regular reminders won't do much for me because I will always be thinking when it is going to ring and so how I should plan my work and so on. But I also need something to refocus whenever my mind wanders. So this random reminder both keeps away my thinking mind and also brings in focus every now and then. With this development, I may have after all just stepped into the 6th plane of existence (Dharana) and not the 7th as I previously thought. :-( But it's alright since atleast I have some idea of where I'm.
The job front seems to be hopefully good thanks to angels. It seems to be calling me to places...
I met my doctor today and he advised me to go on the present medication for the next month. I told him that i was still a little psychotic for4 which he immediately suggested sulpitac but I declined it. He didn't know all the spiritual practices that I do that will handle it.
Many times I have rated how much I'm well enough. If I base my level based on having just stepped into the 6th stage, then it means I'm some 63% alright and going up. I'm not saying this as some achievement but rather as an interesting fact.
Okay I think I have wandered off and I'm sorry. I have many interesting things to write but I have not developed the discipline to write the blog regularly.
