Meditations to try... sample meditations from www.YogaSmiths.co.uk

Meditation is essentially mediation between ourselves and the spirit of life of which we are a part. These short meditations will provide food for thought, have a practical level of application and will help in awakening the intuitive faculty. Some of these meditations are of a mystical nature and may not be readily understood by the beginner. However, the meditations will be added to, or changed from time to time, and are offered freely as seed ideas that can be further developed by the practitioner.

The Keystone...
lies at the topmost part of the temple dome, as it does the temple of your own being. After birth the opening is first closed in a physical sense, then next in a psychological as you are drawn further out into the world. The removal of the keystone is symbolic of letting in the light and opening upwards to the supra-mental levels of Consciousness. This opening occurs in oneself when the right conditions allow for the descent of spiritual light. This descent is not possible if your nature is that of the closed fist. There has to be openness of heart and mind, coupled with meditation and prayer, with no sense of expectancy; as grace, when it comes is not determined by human whim or desire. Sri Aurobindo that great Indian mystic tells us that with the descent of the higher levels of Consciousness, changes occur in the mental, emotional and vital nature which if continued will actually bring about a physical transformation, enriching the life and world of the individual.

Quiet, Calm, Peace and Stillness...

Reading a letter written by the spiri tual Sage Sri Aurobindo to one of his pupils, in which he differentiates the different levels of Consciousness in terms of Quiet, Calm, Peace and Stillness, which provided the inspiration for this particular meditation.

This meditation is also extremely effective if approached either as a guided relaxation, or as a technique to be practised at any time to relieve body and mind of stress. With a little adaptation it can also be central to any guided relaxation or meditation.

These methods are always very popular with absolute beginners, who need to be guided gently toward more profound levels of medi tation.

For example the visualisation could be of a beautiful Zen garden in which a Master enters, exhibiting all the qualities of Quiet, Calm, Peace and Stillness. He then sits close by in order to share your meditation, and lightly touches your forehead, imparting a feeling of perfect Quiet, and when you are ready he lightly touches your forehead and deepens the experience to one of Calm, etc.

The letters of Sri Aurobindo are published collectively in several volumes by the Sri Auro bindo Ashram, Pondicherry, India.

Quiet, Calm, Peace and Stillness

MEDITATION

Place the word Quiet in your mind. Feel for the spirit of Quiet both within and without. Then Let the word "Quiet" gradually fade from your mind, so that only its spirit remains. Feel for the Quiet beneath any noise you may hear, and underlying each breath that you take. Gradually become one with the spirit of Quiet. Taking the meditation deeper, meditate on Calm and in feeling move to this new level. Experience Calm both within and without. Gradually releasing the word, so that only the spirit of Calm remains, feeling for the Calm that underlies every thought and every breath. Taking the meditation deeper, meditate on Peace. Let Peace touch your heart, mind and breath, filling your body within and without. Finally step beyond all considerations and become still.

Bare Your Sole...
at least once a day and make contact with your environment. Walking without shoes can be a way of relieving stress and bringing yourself down to earth. If at home occasionally enjoy the freedom of walking barefoot, and feeling through the soles of the feet the texture of floorboards, carpet and linoleum. Let go of any stress that you may feel through your feet to the earth. Then open to the natural world in which you live; re-harmonise with your surroundings by placing hands on window sill or table as you look out to the world and beyond...Let your hands co-operate with your feet in making contact with your surroundings and your eyes feel the affinity they have with the world at large. By first removing your shoes and baring your "sole" you can earth yourself, relieve stress and bring yourself back into harmony with the world.

Levitation...

It is not only the body which can rise up in an act of levitation, but also our spirits. Physical levitation has been reported throughout the world from time to time, but there is no evidence to show that this is actually true. What is certain is that we can let heaviness fall away from the mind and lighten our load by attunement to the spirit of levitation.

MEDITATION

When depressed meditate and try to levitate.

Let all heaviness fall from our mind.

Let tensions slip away from the body.

Feel the spirit of levitation

In each light and easy breath.

Become as a free spirit,

An unfettered body of light.

As darkness and heaviness fall away.

Merriment and laughter will rise up,

Lifting your spirits on high.

Become One with Nature...

None of us is far removed from nature, we have our roots in the earth, and we like being warmed by the Sun, or sharing nature's frag rance brought to us on the air. To become one with nature is to be healed by the spirit of the tree, to be refreshed by the clear running stream, and brought to life by the clear morning air. The following can either be practised as a meditation or be part of a relaxation technique.

MEDITATION

As easily as the mind can make you its slave, just as easily can the mind make you free.

Imagine that you meditate out of doors.

You are naked and in a secluded place.

The rain softly falls, making rivers on the skin.

Clear rivers that run away to the sea.

Your ears and eyes open wide to the gentle breeze.

Still the rain falls, making rivers on the skin.

Clear rivers that run away to the sea.

Let your mouth and tongue accept the clear waters.

A gentle breeze blows, whispering time away.

The Sun reaches out with myriad shafts of light,

Expressing itself as Joy in all things.

Take in the light.

Become one with the light.

There are in essence as many types of Yoga as there are teachers, as no two people teach in exactly the same way. Therefore study and develop your own unique way of doing things. From time to time it is our intention to add to this website and increase the fund of ideas.

Pam & Gordon