Mahaprana
An Ancient System of Modern Personal Development.
Tagged with meditation …
The Goal of Yoga is Freedom.
According to the Yoga Sutras, the ultimate state of Yoga is freedom, or “kaivalya.”
The Bhagavad Gita describes Yoga as the “path of the eternal and freedom from bondage.”
The goal of Yoga is to be free like a bird – but not like a bird in a cage…
The Yogi knows that he or she is very lucky to receive a human body. This body is not meant to be an abode of stress and worry. The Yogi is “dhrityutsahasamanvitah” – full of intelligence and enthusiasm, but not at all bothered about how things finally turn out. Our Natural State is meant to be one of freedom, viewing the world as a mart of joy, absorbing the Divine Bliss that pervades the universe.
The accomplished Yogi is happy, and feels free like a bird, but not like a bird in cage. Some may say, “This bird is lucky, it lives in a gold cage.” But the Yogi sees all cages as the same.
Here is what two Yogi’s have to say on the subject of “freedom.”
Swami Vivekananda:
“Utilize the things of this world and the next for just one goal – the attainment of freedom.”
“Possessions, learning, beauty, everything else – as long as they help us to that goal, they are of practical value. When they have ceased helping us onto that goal of freedom, they are a positive danger.”
“What are we here for? We are here for freedom, for knowledge. We want to know in order to make ourselves free. That is our life – one universal cry for freedom.”
“Freedom – physical freedom, mental freedom, and spiritual freedom are the watchwords of the Upanishads.”
“Our desire for freedom is above all, our desire for God. It was to this freedom above all that Christ referred when he said, “the truth shall set you free.”
“Bondage and freedom are in the mind. Thinking of weakness and bondage, one becomes weak and bound. Thinking of strength and freedom, one becomes strong and free.”
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:
“Attachment is bondage, detachment is freedom. To crave is to slave.”
“Happiness depends on something or other and can be lost; freedom from everything depends on nothing and cannot be lost.”
“Nothing physical or mental can give you freedom. You are free once you understand that your bondage is of your own making and you cease forging the chains that bind you.”
“But whatever be the condition of your mind, in what way does it reflect you? It is only your self-identification with your mind that that makes you happy or unhappy. Rebel against your slavery to your mind, see your bonds as self-created and break the chains of attachment and revulsion. Keep in mind your goal of freedom, until it dawns on you that you are already free.”
“To act from desire and fear is bondage, to act from love is freedom.”
“Freedom is freedom from worry.”
“The moment a realized man becomes predictable, he cannot be free. His freedom lies in his being free to fulfill the need of the moment, to obey the necessity of the situation. Freedom to do what one likes is really bondage, while being free to do what one must, what is right, is real freedom.”
Rules To Live By
- Be the happiest person in the world.
- Live without fear
- Live a simple and sober life
- Pray that attachment to transitory material things become less every day
- Let humor spice and lighten your life
- Repeat “I have the ability to accomplish any task I want with ease, and fearlessness”
- Stay in the living present – not swinging between the past and future like a pendulum
- I am not the body. I am the Light within.
- Refuse to impersonate.
- Be effortless
- Meditate
- Before going to sleep – think positive thoughts of peace, joy and fulfillment
- Embrace the struggle
Pranayama
Pranayama is the 4th limb of the Eight-Limbed / Ashtanga Yoga system of Patanjali.
“Purification is the keynote of Hatha Yoga, and the foremost practice of purification is Pranayama.”
”When the breath wanders the mind is unsteady. But when the breath is calm, the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.” -Hatha Yoga Pradipika
“When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world.” -B.K.S. Iyengar
“Inhale and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.” -Krishnamacharya
1
The World’s First Word.
Om, or Aum, is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe. It is the original sound that contains all other sounds, all words, all languages and all mantras.
Upon first hearing, this might seem a bit far-fetched. Yet Om is from the Sanskrit language, which is one of our oldest languages and is the antecedent to English and most European languages. More evidence can be found for this in three of the world’s major religions. It is thought that “Amen” in Christianity, “Amin” in Islam and “Shalom” in Judaism were all derived from AUM. Even “mom” or “ma,” the first utterance of many children, are strikingly similar to the word Om.
Om is considered the supreme mantra, or sacred syllable used for meditation. Om is thought to be the holiest of all words, and has been the object of profound religious meditation. The mantra “OM” is the name of God, the reflection of the absolute Reality, the vibration of the Supreme.
Om consists of three sounds, a – u – m. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M symbolizes the holy trinities or sacred triunes that are integral to Hindu Philosophy.
A few examples of sacred triunes are:
- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
- Creation, Preservation, Destruction
- Truth, Consciousness and Bliss – or Satchitananda
- Rajas, Tamas, Sattva – the Three Gunas or qualities of matter
- Birth, life, death
The three phonemes a (a-kāra), u (u-kāra), m (ma-kāra), are themselves considered to be spiritually charged. A-kara refers to solid forms or shapes – like earth, trees, or metal. U-kara refers to formless or shapeless matter – like water, air or fire. Ma-kara means neither shape nor shapeless – such as thoughts, or the dark matter in the Universe. When we combine all three phonemes we get AUM.
The combination of these three sounds produces an all-encompassing range of speech. Remarkably, though composed of three elements, it is still pronounced as one syllable. This reflects a higher state of Reality, a state of non-differentiation, non-partiality and equanimity. In essence, Om is the signifier of the ultimate truth that all is one.
The pronunciation of this monosyllabic word is complex and has been described as: “A long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel.” Various Sutras have emphasized that the repetition of Om should be made with an understanding of its meaning. It is so laden with spiritual energy that it should be pronounced with complete concentration. For its correct pronunciation please view the video that accompanies this post.
So the next time you hear or speak this word, know that the power of this word goes well beyond any individual – and, in fact, serves to unite us all – while connecting us to the beginning of time.
