'We feeling'....an essential factor for Happiness

                                        

                                  I and you make ‘we’. But the question arises is------Is it the ‘hypothetical we’ or ‘phenomenal we’? The phenomenal ‘we’ is the integration part of you and me, then there is unity and oneness. If it is the other way the oneness is lost leading to disintegration. That is what happening in our social arena. As a women’s forum it is very demanding to open up our mindset to the problem of natural integration.

                                The national integration day is being celebrated on November 14^th to commemorate the birthday of the first lady Prime Minister of India Ms Indira Gandhi. A National Integration Council is also being functioning since 2^nd June 1962 to rectify the diversities in view of the problems of communalism, casteism and regionalism. Much water has flown through the Ganges since then. It is very sad to say that still we are in the hypothetical ‘we’ and not for consolidating the unity to progress. Take the example of disparagement for selecting women for the legislative assemblies and parliaments. Men are reigning in great majority in almost all spheres even though they are arguing that women must be given opportunities but the bill for representation at both the houses of the parliament remains at large.

                                  National integration is not a literary verbosity; it is a functional climax with the proper mindset for unity, harmony and development. We have been talking about decade after decades but the political socio cultural systems are becoming more and more rigid leading to decaying of values and hence unrest of the nation.

                                   People who are patriotic can only bring integration in the nation. The divisive forces consider personal interest over national interest. The rapacity towards wealth, power and status is driving people to sabotage the national character of the state. Greed and corruption, under valuing humanity over religion, allegiance to castes to form vote banks, criminalisation of politics, corruption in education, disobeyance of constitutional rights, discrimination against women, vested interests of religions, fraudulence of bank loans, forced abortion of girl child etc. create a feeling of antipathy to the present state of affairs which in turn leads a negative outlook towards the bureaucracy and derange the integrity of our nation. Gradual frustration among the public may cause havoc.

                                    A good constitutional structure with strict adherence to civic right and civic sense is essential which keep the interest of the nation above everything thereby bringing national integration. To achieve it empowerment of the masses especially women is a must. Women empowerment and social development are interrelated. Mother is the first teacher of the child. Values and virtues are to be inculcated in the early stages of the child development through the educated mother. So empowering and educating the womanhood is a pre requisite to the task and hence the role of AIWC is beyond doubt, very essential to get involved for achieving national integration.

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Know you are the Infinite

                                                   

 

                  Freedom is a state of being free. It means independence, liberty of action and power of self determination. In other words it is the release or recovery of slavery or imprisonment from one’s own thought, deed and emotion.

                  Freedom is synonymous with responsibility. In life we have to balance personal freedom with personal responsibility. Both are related and cannot have the one without the other. The quest of freedom is fulfilling our own purpose of life. Freedom by virtue is to help to bring justice where it does not currently exist and alleviating sufferings caused by the various forms of limitations. When we stop restricting ourselves and help the world to come out of the restrictions we are enjoying real freedom.

                 Freedom help us to utilise the opportunities in front of us. Freedom also allows an individual to take the responsibility as a person and as a citizen for a worldly order and peace. If you are not free or not feeling that you are free, the result is that you are suffering from fear. Fear can very well establish in a possessive and self-centred person. Fear within you can easily put you in the prison of greed, jealous, anger and ego. To enjoy freedom is to get rid of the fear within you and turn to be creative, positive and productive person. Know that you are the infinite, then why should you fear?

 

                  If we ask an individual, are you happy and free in your life?

The answer may be, Yes I am. Why is it so? It may be due to the fabulous thinking that he and his wife are in executive positions with high salary, their children are studying in the most prestigious school in the city, owns a waterfront dream house in a posh locality, both of them own expensive cars etc. And the final comment may be that, I am very happy and really blessed. Just think for a moment. He/she feels that he/she is free because of the material riches. Let’s think about his/her interior riches. Is he/she aware about it? Are we aware about it? Nothing is in our own control. A minute, itself is enough to change the materialistic world upside down. Then the rich, happy and free person will experience the pain of loss, the fallacy of possession and suffers slavery. Here comes the importance of freedom.

                 Real freedom is nothing else but detachment from material things, to others, to pride, to the money, to the past and the ego. Freedom is the knowledge, to get away from the need for possession, my wife/husband, my children, my house, my car, my job, my friends, my community likewise. When we think of what we have, we will never have enough. But when we think what we need, we will always have the feel of fulfilment. The only way to enjoy freedom and happiness is to practice detachment.

                   My early fifties, a period of three years, was a university for me to understand about me and the world around me. The lessons on every aspect about dear ones, relatives and friends opened my eyes. That helps me to become a different and honestly a better person.

                     I was and am a normally optimistic person. I have understood the fact that some relationships, circumstances and incidents are there, where everybody are not willing to accept, appreciate, understand or even love back. I started practicing law of detachment which helped me to have healthy thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships. I realised that my goal is to love myself to fulfil my responsibility to serve the universe, enjoying freedom. Now I have set emotional boundaries, to get peace, happiness and to enjoy freedom.

                      Being a human, even now there are people and situations which tend to feel negative attitude which causes stress. I can easily overcome the negativeness of these situations and now they are less frequent and less intense. Freedom helps me to live my life according to my choices. Freedom along with detachment is the genuine path of life which is absolutely amazing.

                        Those who are completely free can love all unreservedly and no longer enslaved to the opinions of others. Freedom enables one, the pure will to work without expecting any rewards and enjoy life, living in the moment. They are wise and empathetic and are free as a bird in flight.

                         Freedom in a true sense is about inner freedom to know self and others as pure souls and become aware, we all are the beautiful children/ souls of the supreme soul. Swami Vivekananda has taught as, “We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough. You are the soul, free and eternal, ever free, ever blessed. Have faith enough and you will be free in a minute,”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty is a State of Mind

 

At dawn on 1^st June 2015, I looked out of our apartment with my grandson to experience the nature that was before us, the snowy mountains of Tredbo, Melbourne, Australia. The hills and valleys, peaks and lows, the plains and slopes, the trees and shrubs, the buildings and passages, the roads and paths were all blanched and covered by snowfall variegating a thrilling experience of flamboyant beauty which was really mesmerising. The Mother Nature was exhilarating us to enjoy her pristine beauty on the first day of winter itself.

                                                    It’s an evening today on 25^th of June 2015 in San Antonio at Texas, USA; I am before HEB, a super store with my three year old grandson. I asked for the expansion of HEB for which I got an instant reply “Here everything beautiful”. It sparkled in me the beauty of innocence which is full of love, care and compassion. These two incidents fascinated me to scribble this article on beauty.

                                                      Is it beauty the power of appearance, may be, that is why beauty contests are being carried out. On a second thought, it can be realised as the lower part of the continuum of beauty. Real beauty is not in make up or make over, it is something good inside a person. According to Ninon do l’ Enclos “That what is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.” So goodness is the ‘Pinnacle of Beauty.’

                                                        On seeing a flower, a scene or a piece of art, we say “it’s beautiful.” So beauty is seen as in our perception. But there are so many things which cannot be seen but felt and so we say that “the nature of beauty is intrinsic as the quality and its importance is that it crowns one with love and compassion. Something happens inside that exalts the soul in what the real beauty is.

                                                         How is beauty shown or expressed? It can be shown in behaviour and action which leads to the attitude of a person. Beauty is showing firm values without letting down integrity shrivel under any situations. Beauty is the light that whittles away darkness from the universe.

                                                          Beauty can be seen in a bipolar dimension; being external and eternal. External beauty is perishable which is transitory to the sense organs. A man in good vices sees his wife as angel and in bad vices sees her as devil. His definition of beauty is in the mode of infatuation of his mind. But real beauty is eternal which is the perfect glow with an inner radiance and confidence as shown by great legends.

                                                           Beauty is the refined state of mind and soul. Stillness and loveliness are the characteristics of beauty. The basic core of everything in the universe both animate and inanimate is kindling for the reciprocity of love and compassion – that is the real essence of beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laughter Therapy for Healthy and Happy Living

Laughter therapy was first started by an Indian, Dr Madan Kataria

in 1995 at Mumbai with five participants in a local public park.

 Laughter therapy is an alternative approach to health and happiness. It is also a mind body medicine.

  We are all born with a gift of laughter. Laughter is a natural medicine which lifts our spirit and makes us feel happy. It is

also a contagious emotion. Here comes the therapeutic value

of laugh.

                  Laughter provides full scale workout for muscles and

unleashes a rush of stress busting endorphins. Body can’t distinguish

real and fake laughter. Laughter makes one giggle and create a

positive impact. So those who are not having sense of humour

can also be benefitted from laughter.

Aim of Laughter Therapy

To promote overall health and happiness

To help relieve physical and emotional stress

To cope with and survive stressful life

To help build positive thoughts

To help strengthen social bonds and relationships.

Who can do Laughter Therapy?

   All age groups can participate in laughter therapy. Different ways are

practised in the sessions. Beneficial to all since it requires no skill or athletic

ability for practice. It is easy to incorporate in daily life. Laughter therapy

works with all, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, male or female,

educated or illiterate.

How to Practice

An open ground or hall is required

A laugh captain should be there to lead

Separate groups for kids

Wear comfortable clothes

Minimum 20 to 30 minutes session

Allow natural laughter to flow

Important Steps in Laughter Therapy

Clapping in rhythm

Breathing and Stretching

Child like Play

Laughter exercises

Benefits of Laughter Therapy

Good physical and aerobic exercise

Release of endorphins results in whole body relax

Tones muscles and improves respiration

Boosts immune system

Boosts respiratory system

Eases digestion

Improves mental functions

Improves overall attitude

Produce a general sense of wellbeing

Helps reduces wrinkles

Restores playfulness in life

Makes one more attractive

Improves communication and relationships

Skills required for a laughter volunteer

Communication skills

Outgoing attitude

Self esteem and self confident

Quite happy to lead the group into laughter

World Laughter Day

First Sunday of May every year is being celebrated.

Dr Madan Kataria is the founder of worldwide laughter therapy movement.

The concept of laughter therapy rapidly spread worldwide.

More than 15000 laughter clubs prevails in different countries.

Each club is run by a captain/ volunteer.

    The combined gentle breathing, stretching and stimulated unconditional

laughter in group becomes genuine which results in enhancing quality of life.

Laughter is a positive and more powerful emotion that has all ingredients

required for individual to change themselves and to change the world in a

peaceful and positive way. World laughter day is a positive manifestation for

world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood

and friendship through laughter.

Conclusion

  Choosing to laugh as and when you want is not a sign of silliness, it’s a sign of

maturity. Laughter brings people together and helps to feel more alive,

confident and empowered. This reminds the famous quote of Charlie Chaplin,

“ A day without laughter is a waste day.”

         Usually we laugh at other’s expense.

         Let us start to laugh at our own account.

 

 

 

Music for Health and Happiness

                  

Music is intrinsic to all cultures. Music is an activity that involves using the

whole brain. Music lovers can learn language through music, since language

is not a barrier. Music helps in learning language, improving memory and

concentration and also helps in physical coordination and overall development.

Importance of Music

Music improves visual and verbal skills.

Music makes one happier.

Music works in all age groups.

Music boosts immunity.

Music produces revulsive effects.

Music is an activity that builds a bond in relations.

Benefits of Music

Have positive effects on cognition.

Enhances emotional intelligence.

Increases reading and literacy skills.

Enables mindfulness and logical reasoning.

Improves mathematical ability.

Decreases stress levels.

Relieves from physical and mental pains.

Acts like a health tonic.

Helps to be optimist.

Calms, relaxes and helps to sleep well.

Makes a person lively and energetic.

How Music works

Find out the type of music which is most beneficial?

Depending on the age group and category choose the type of music.

Generally calm, melodious and slow music works well.

Music decreases the amount of cortisol, a stress related hormone produced

by the body in response to stress.

Music promotes relaxation of tense muscles and feels flexible.

Music activates both hemispheres of the brain.

Music releases endorphins in the brain that increases vascular health.

Music helps the release of dopamine and improves the mood.

In infants and toddlers

Music helps to calm down, learn rhymes, and dance according to rhymes, while rocking with a sweet music allows the baby to fall asleep.

In children

Children who undergo musical training has better effect than just listening to

music. Children with the same level of IQ also undertake musical classes, develop a better memory and perform well in examinations.

In Students

Music has the power to enhance higher brain function. Listening to music and playing an instrument helps learn better. Music activates the right brain where as the verbal retention of information in the song activates the left brain.

In Adults

Music improves body movements and coordination by reducing muscle tension. Soft music at work place energizes and helps to work productively.

Music improves physical performance and it motivates, makes it easier to start moving, walking, dancing and exercising to feel like a recreation.

In case of illness

Music may give the patient a sense of control, because music creates a positive and profound emotional experience which leads to secretion of immune boosting hormones. Reduces the intensity, frequency and duration of headache. Relieves and reduces both the sensation and distress of both chronic and post operative pain. Slow music helps, slowing breathing and heart rate to regulate blood pressure and strengthens the heart.

In case of child birth

 Music helps to decrease post natal anxiety and pain, increases the satisfaction with child birth and reduces the likelihood of postpartum depression.

In Elders

Music facilitates the recall of information. Music is great keys, for recalling memories. Playing songs mentally also helps them, changing moods, lowering stress levels, raising state of consciousness, accessing different states of mind, developing brain and is useful in meditation.

                                       Music itself is healing. Music is an explosive expression of humanity. Everyone loves music. When music hits, you feel no pain. Life is full of music and there is no better way but to live it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let it Go Meditation

                                              Everyday will not be the same. Anything can be happened at anytime. May be from an unexpected source or from our dear and near. We need to 'let it go', otherwise it will spoil not only the day but a relation, friendship or health.
                                               Sit in a quiet place in a comfortable position. Breathe normally for a minute and feel relaxed, Close your eyes and think of your feelings. Sort the feelings which have to be erased. Review and analyse the situations and the related feelings. Be bold and firm to get rid from them. Learn the good lessons from the day's experience and make it useful for positive guidance. Meditate on the skills of how to convert the ill feelings to positive thoughts and totally erase the ill thoughts. Now experience the relaxed state. Enjoy the calmness and peace within. Bring the other person in your mental picture, who you believe is the reason for the bad thoughts, send positive vibrations to the eyebrow centre of the person. Feel thankful to the person/persons for the opportunity to experience and learn the lesson. Thankfully conclude meditation with the prayer for health, happiness and harmony in the universe. Continue this meditation for three consecutive days at the same place and at the same time. Enjoy the peace and harmony.

Seven centre Meditation

The seven life centres are situated from the crown to the root centre. They are related to health, happiness and harmony. The centres need to be cleansed frequently.
Sit in a comfortable position, relaxed, holding chin mudra. Close your eyes and cleanse the surroundings by autosuggestion with positive energy. Start meditating from the crown centre. Concentrate on crown centre, visualize the pure rays are entering into the crown centre and cleansing by throwing away the impurities that creates block on it. Visualize the crown centre is cleansed and balanced. Continue meditation for two minutes. Likewise continue meditations concentrating on eye brow, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root centres. Visualize the centres are cleansed. Travel from root to crown centre, concentrate for 10 seconds on each centres and feel relaxed. Conclude meditation being thankful to the Cosmos for the opportunity.

Yoga for Computer Professionals

                              Yoga for Computer Professionals

                                        Computer professionals are sitting for a long time in front of computer for their work. Slowly it will cause discomfort to their eyes, neck, shoulders, elbows, palms, pelvic region and spinal cord. Care should be taken well in advance to avoid the stress caused by the profession. This yoga package is very helpful for the professional who sit for a long time to work and for others having sedentary lifestyle.After a tiresome day one is not able to have any physical activity and it starts deteriorating their health causing serious ailments in long run. Yoga and meditation make your body healthier and mind happier in a few minutes of time. This practice incorporates invigorating breathing, strong stretches and physical exercises for neck, face, hands and eyes.  By practicing in a systematic and disciplined way it will results in boosting up immune system, aerates the cells in your body and clears the mind which enables to be happy and healthy to perform well. Yoga and meditation improve mind-body health allowing one to experience happiness in life. Daily practice of yoga helps to control the computer with their minds faster. It regulates cortisol, the stress hormone, and enhances the production of dopamine, the happy hormone.  Combining mind and body practices in yoga help to manage psychological and physical difficulties associated with the profession. Regular practice of exercise is very important to keep away the risk of the profession.

   Set aside 30 minutes for yourself. That is- me time- the time allotted by you only for you. Once you take care of yourself, then you can explore your calibre in your profession happily. This time can be divided into three equal parts of ten minutes each without interpreting your work. These yoga tips you can do while at work in your chair. So why to wait? Let us start.  

Breathing

 Sit comfortably with your back straight, feet flat on the floor on a floor mat. Remove specs and watch. Feel relaxed. Visualize that you are going to inhale pure air and fill each and every cells with pure air and exhaling impure air. Slowly start breathing with your nose. Inhale slowly and deeply. While inhaling imagine you are filling pure air in your body, while exhaling through your nose imagine you are throwing away the impurities within including the pain, rigidity or irritation in any part of the body. After each breath visualize that you are getting better. Repeat the breathing for seven times. After breathing feel the comfort within. Take a firm decision to continue breathing for better results.

Benefits: Breathing becomes smooth. Lungs are strengthened.

Hand Exercises

Put your chair a little backward and Stretch your hands on to your front on shoulder level. Concentrating on your wrist, bend your palm downwards and upwards. Repeat for seven times.

In the same position close your fingers and rotate on both your wrists. Repeat for 5 or 7 times. In the same position open and close your fingers several times.

Benefits: Hands are stretched at shoulders and elbows. Wrists and fingers are activated.

Shoulder Exercises

Place all your fingers in the corresponding shoulders. Rotate on your shoulders five times.

In the same position bring your hands in front of your chest and back. Do it five times.

Benefits: Shoulders and elbows are strengthened.

Neck Exercises

Sit straight with feet flat on the floor and hands comfortably on your lap.

Turn your head to the right as far as comfortably you can move. Hold for 30 seconds. Return to the centre and repeat to the left. Tilt your head up and look on the ceiling. Hold for 30 seconds. Bring back to the centre and look on your lap. Hold for 30 seconds. Do these five times.

Tilt your head forward and allow your chin touch your chest. Hold for 30 seconds. Return to the centre and bend your head to the back. Hold for 30 seconds and return to the centre. Repeat for 5 times.

Bring your head to the right shoulder as far as comfortable you can. Hold for 30 seconds. Bring back to the centre and repeat on the left shoulder. Do it five times. Then rotate your head slowly concentrating on your neck, clockwise, anticlockwise and again clockwise three times each.

Benefits: Neck is strengthened. The tensed muscles are relaxed and strengthened. Increase blood circulation. Heighten mental awareness.

Eye Exercises

Sit in the same position. Blink your eyes ten times on a wall five feet away or at the roof. Then close your eyes for 10 seconds. This exercise is worth to repeat 5 to 10 times with equal intervals of half an hour.

Rub your palms and cup them on the corresponding eyes to feel the warmth on your eyes and over the eyelids.

At home, cover your eyes with wet cotton patch and allow the chillness enter your eyes.

Benefits: Relieves stress from your eyes and eye muscles.

Body Twist

Sit in the same position with hands on your lap. Twist your body to the right as far as comfortably you can. Hold for 30 seconds, return to the centre and then repeat on to the left side. Do it for five times.

Benefits: Your back muscles are relaxed and strengthened.

Desk Yoga

Sitting Tadasana

Sit erect with back straight. While inhaling bring your hands straight up through the corresponding sides, intertwining your fingers and tilting palms up over the crown of your head. Hold for 30 seconds. While exhaling bring back your hands on your lap. Do it for 5 times.

Sitting Padahasthasana

Sit in the same position. While inhaling raise both your hands up. Hold for 30 seconds. While exhaling bend forward and touch your feet with the corresponding palms. Repeat for five times.

Benefits: Whole body get stretched and relaxed. Back and trunk get strengthened.

  

                                                                   

                                           

 

 

                                                

 

            

Regular Bhajans for Kids...

 Bhajans are group prayers. Children learn culture, values and virtues from bhajans. It is wise to include small stories to explain the power of the Supreme Soul to teach the little ones in the group. The leader should be honest, authentic, simple and humble in presentation. Interactive sessions score more by attending and caring each one in the group. The intimacy level showing in the group will grow deepening the relationships and a sense of safety and security. Avoid lengthy stories or discussions to get the full support from kids. Allow each kid to sing a prayer song in the session. Monthly or fortnightly bhajans work well among kids to keep their enthusiasm. Pray for the whole universe to guide them to take part in the 'Transformation of the Universe'.

Meditation beyond Crown centre

Awakening of crown centre enables us to understand our connection with divinity with a sense of separation from the material world. At this stage the paths to the centres of the higher awareness are becoming more accessible concentrating on 8^th to 12^th centres which exist in aakash/space. 8^th centre, one foot top from the crown, is ‘Thuvasangam’. This enables one to become complete selfless, the 9^th centre is above, the full moon centre, a centre of collective wisdom, the 10^th centre is further up above in a straight line from moon centre, the sun centre, a divine union between ‘Shiva and Shakthi’, continued to the 11^th centre where is the advanced yogic powers to transient the laws of this world and the 12^th centre is the home where one is able to join with the ‘Cosmos’.

Ideal time to do this meditation is before sunrise. Perform this meditation in the presence of a Guru. Basic levels of meditations should be acquired before meditating beyond crown centre. This meditation helps the mind to operate at Delta level of frequencies and gains control over the mind; enabling one to merge with the Cosmos. Sit in a quiet place in sukhasana comfortably with back erect. Take a few deep breaths and feel relaxed. Place your palms facing up on your knees. Imagine the divine energy around us purifies the surroundings and descends upon us. Star meditating on the eye brow centre for five minutes. Then focus on the crown centre and meditate for five minutes. Imagine the crown centre is opening and your life force is raised one foot above reaching the 9^th centre. Meditate for two minutes on ‘thuvasangam’ imagining being selfless. Focus straight up to the 10^th centre, the full moon. Meditate on full moon for two minutes on the collective wisdom. Further imagine going straight up to the 11^th centre, the sun, the universal energy field, the divine centre between Shiva and Shakthi. Meditate for two minutes feeling the free soul. Imagine further moving up to the 12^th centre, the Shiva centre, in the aakash/space, the home from where we came and meditate for two minutes visualizing as a part of the Almighty. Be blessed by the Divine bliss. To conclude meditation slowly comes down step by step through all the centres meditating one minute in each centre. At the crown centre imagine that you are back in your physical body. Spread the meditated energy throughout the body, mind and soul. Feel gratitude to the Cosmos enabling to complete the meditation. Rub your palms strongly and feel the warmth on your eyes, slowly open your eyes and feel the warmth of your palms all over the body.

May the whole universe enjoy harmony and serenity! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti!!!

                                                                                                

Blissful Meditation

The qualities one urges are strength, purity, happiness, love, peace, wisdom and bliss. Our seven life centres are the pools of these qualities. But in the fast and advanced life stress makes one sad and unhappy. Even in this busy life let us enjoy a quality life by meditating on the seven centres attaining bliss and contemplation in this life.

Sit comfortably in sukhasana posture with your spine straight. Take a few deep breaths and feel relaxed. Place your hands on your knees with palms facing up. Close your eyes. Meditate on each centre for two minutes each. Meditate on root centre and visualize that you are strengthened. Meditate on sacral centre and visualize that you are purified. Meditate on solar plexus centre and visualize that you are so happy. Meditate on the heart centre and visualize that your heart is full of love for self and others. Meditate on throat centre and visualize that you are peaceful. Meditate on eye brow centre and visualize you are becoming wise. Meditate on crown centre and visualize that you are experiencing and enjoying bliss.  Continue meditation on crown centre for 10 more minutes. Feel bliss is entering on every inhale. Feel you are spreading the bliss in each and every cell, mind and soul. Now spread the meditated energy throughout the body, mind and soul. Experience the eternal bliss within you. Now bring back awareness to your physical state. With gratitude to the universal energy pray for the prosperity, happiness and harmony of the whole universe. Strongly rub your palms; feel the warmth in your eyes. Open your eyes. Spread the warmth in your palms to the whole body. Conclude by chanting, Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!

                                                                                             

 

Aura Meditation

Aura is the electromagnetic field of energy surrounding the body. Aura forms one’s personal energy space. Aura cleansing is very important to live healthy and happy. Every living organism has an aura. Aura is the subtle energy which surrounds the physical body. Meditating an aura enables one to get protected from negative energy and open up to receive the abundant blessings from the divine source of energy.

Daily practice of aura meditation is very essential to harvest the complete benefits of a cleansed aura. Best time to meditate on your aura is before bed and every morning when you wake up. Your aura is an oval energy field extending about two feet around you. Periodical cleansing of aura through meditation is a vital part to strengthen your life.

Sit comfortably on a quiet place with your back erect. Take a few deep breaths and feel relaxed. Close your eyes and focus on inward to balance the chakras. Focus on root chakra for two minutes and feel you are anchoring to the earth. Likewise focus on all the chakras two minutes each. Focus on sacral chakra to assure purity, on solar plexus to enjoy happiness, on heart chakra to be lovable, on throat chakra to experience peace, on eye brow chakra to attain wisdom and crown chakra to attain bliss. Now feel the meditated energy flowing out from the crown and the root chakras along with the universal energy strongly vibrating around you forming an oval shape aura and strengthening it around your whole body from all the sides about two ft around. Continue meditation for five more minutes on the protective shield making you more and more strong, feeling peace and serene in body, mind and soul. Meditation on aura helps one to energise their spiritual source of energy and build up the protective shield to drive away all the negativity that surrounds outside your aura.

 

                                                                                              

Astral Travel Meditation

Astral travel makes us more aware and alive. Inner calmness is developed with deeper sense of inner peace and increased spirituality. Astral travel reveals that our existence continues beyond our physical being. We can go beyond the skies, planets and ocean or where ever we wish. We can use our own energies to heal ourselves and other living beings.

Lie in a supine position on a mat with feet apart and hands 45 degree away from your body. Relax your whole body from the toes to the forehead. Start relaxation from the legs giving auto suggestion,’ Blood circulation, heat circulation, air circulation and energy circulation are all regular in my legs. I am feeling sufficient strength in my legs. I have given rest to my legs. Now my legs are relaxed.’ Likewise give autosuggestions and relax the body parts knees, thighs, hip region, abdomen and stomach, chest region, shoulders and hands, neck, face and head one by one. Give autosuggestion, ‘from my toes to forehead I am relaxing. I am enjoying a total calmness. I am calm and serene. Now I am doing astral travel’.

Raise your astral body 6 feet high from your physical body; see your physical body lying on a mat and travel up towards the sky. See the moon, stars and the entire celestial bodies. The celestial bodies are showering on you abundant blessings and energy. Receive their blessing power and energy and become energised. Then slowly come down and go to your favourite holy place. Take three rounds around and enter inside and experience the divine energy. The divine energy is showering blessings and strength on you. Receive them and become powerful. Slowly come out of the holy place and go to your home. Your family members are in the prayer room join with them and pray for them. Then come out from home and go to your ever favourite nature’s spot. Enjoy the nice panorama, the fragrance of the flowers and the feel of the cool breeze. Then slowly come back to your meditation room, see your physical body lying down, enter into your physical body. Slowly start shaking your legs, knees, thighs, hip region and one by one up to the head. Rub your palms strongly, feel the warmth on your eyes, slowly open your eyes, spread the warmth all over the body. Chant Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!! Slowly roll to your right and get up.

                                                                                                       

Five Elements Meditation

Meditating on five elements known as Panchabhootas in Sanskrit enables to connect with the universe. Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Aakash are the five elements. These elements are the soul of natural existence. The same five elements exist in us and in all living organisms. Earth represents the solid matter in the universe and it gives form to the body. Air is the wind that is movable, changeable and dynamic. Air within us is the breath, motion and circulations. Fire is sun in nature. It is hot, powerful and transformative. Within us it is the body heat. Water covers two third of the surface of our planet. It is smooth, cool and flowing. On winter it can be solid. It represents as blood and fluids in our body. Aakash or ether is empty and expansive. It is responsible for the formation of all the elements and functions as our life energy.

Sit comfortably on a mat with your back erect. Take a few deep breaths and feel relaxed. Keep your palms facing downward on your knees. Close your eyes. Imagine mother earth is stable, solid and grounding. Visualize our body like a rock, stable, strong and unshakable. Meditate on mother earth representing as our body for five minutes. Imagine the water element; it is free flowing to support the earth. Visualize the blood and fluid circulation in the body is purified and balanced. Meditate on the water element for five minutes. Imagine the fire element. Fire is hot and bright, Fire makes our body active and energetic. Think of fire element and meditate for five minutes. Imagine the air element. Think about the wind outside is balanced and cool. Visualize the air we breathe in is sufficient enough to purify and strengthen our respiratory system and regulating the air circulation within. Meditate on air element for five minutes. Imagine the aakash element which is the area where all the other elements are formed. It is vast without boundaries. Feel the limitless space, our mind and meditate on aakash for five minutes. Imagine the magnetic force of the five elements earth, water, fire, air and aakash be beneficial to us. Let the magnetic force merge with our life force and be beneficial to us to regulate blood circulation, heat circulation, air circulation and energy circulation in our body, mind and soul. Meditate on the feel for five more minutes and conclude meditation feeling gratitude to the five elements of the universe which represents our body, mind and soul. Experience the oneness with the universe. By saying ‘May the whole universe enjoy prosperity, happiness and peace.’ Open your eyes and conclude the meditation.

                                                                                                        

Insight Meditation

One could experience full sphere of meditation when the mind is thought free. Mind is a garden of thoughts such as thoughts of happiness, ambitions, doubts, jealous, worries and many more. Thoughts are the weeds of worries. Thoughts are desires and desires keep one restless. Insight meditation helps one accepting the thoughts, recognizing the thoughts and let them vanish. When the thoughts and desires are gone then you can experience the purity and lightness in your mind. This also increases the energy level of your body enabling to experience inner peace and to realise your infinite potential.

Sit comfortably in a relaxed mood. Place your palms on your lap facing upward. Close your eyes. Breathe normally. Imagine a clear white board in your mind and focus on the whiteness. When thoughts come into your mind, read it on the white board, imagine wiping it out and clearing the board. Repeat the process each time when a thought, feeling or impression comes into your mind. Wiping and cleaning the board helps you to return to the mental image of pure white. Continue meditation until you make sure the board is completely clean and your mind is calm and serene. At this moment, slowly bring your attention back to your normal state. Feel gratitude to the Almighty for enabling you reach a state of thought free. Strongly rub your palms, feel the warmth on your heart, then on the eyes and spread to the whole body. Slowly open your eyes, feel refreshed and relaxed. This meditation can be practised from ten minutes to one hour based on one’s need.

                                                                                  

Meditating on a Flame

The technique on meditating on a flame of a lamp is simple and easy for beginners. It enables one to let go off thoughts when concentrating on the flame. Flame is fire and fire is the third element of the panchabhoothas. It lights up the inner soul and lead to the path of deep meditation between self and the universe. I prefer gingelly oil with wick in lamps. Lamp/light/flame meditation helps to increase the bio magnetic energy in the body. Meditating on a flame warms up and enhances the wellness. This meditation is to be done before sunrise. Select a quiet place at home. Light the wick and assure a bright and steady flame. Sit about three feet away from the flame in a cross legged posture with spine straight. Place your hands on your lap with right palm on your left palm touching the tips of the thumbs together. Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. Feel relaxed.

Chant the mantra ‘Asatoma Satgamaya, Tama soma Jyothirgamaya, Mrithyoma Amritham gamaya, Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!! Open your eyes and gaze the flame for one or two minute. Close your eyes and imagine the flame of the light in your mind. Open your eyes, meditate on the flame for a longer time.  Close your eyes bring the light of the flame into your heart illuminating the path of the life centres. Open your eyes and meditate on the flame for a little longer time. Close your eyes and imagine the brightness of the flame has spread your whole body, mind and soul removing the falsehood within, removing the darkness within and the bondages within. Now experience the lightness in your body and mind. Feel your body, mind and soul are illuminated with pure white light glowing and energising the sense organs. A total of 15 to 30 is worth for flame meditation. Feel yourself purified by the rays of light and experience oneness of self and higher self. Pay gratitude to the ‘Supreme Power’ and conclude by chanting Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!