Meditation is a practice which has developed over many thousands of years. Meditation has played, and continues to play, an important role in the cultivation of s
piritual energies in the lives of spiritual seekers. The techniques you will learn at our classes have been used by men and women throughout history.All of the techniques can be adapted to whatever goals or belief systems you have. For example we will teach you how to focus your mind through the use of concentration exercises. One of the techniques you will learn is to focus on a candle flame. You can then use this same technique to concentrate on a tree, a flower, a Tibetan mandala or a statue of the Blessed Mother, it is up to you. Ultimately, the deepest experiences of meditation transcend the physical world and allow the individual to merge with the essence of all existence. That deepest existence is beyond name and form.
One of the most important skills you will learn is the ability to visualize and hold an image or thought in your mind. This is the essential technique that is talked about in the popular movie and book The Secret.
In many respects “breath “ is the key to meditation techniques. Sri Chinmoy writes:
“Proper breathing is very important in meditation. When 
breathing, try to breathe in as slowly and quietly as possible, so that if somebody placed a tiny thread in front of your nose, it would not move at all. And when you breathe out, try to breathe out even more slowly than when you breathed in. If possible, leave a short pause between the end of your first exhalation and the beginning of your second inhalation. If you can, hold your breath for a few seconds. But if it is difficult, do not do it. Never do anything that will harm your organs or respiratory system.”
The techniques you will learn in our classes are based directly upon the teachings of Sri Chinmoy. Here is an example of his writings focused on teaching meditation:
“If you are unable to take a shower or bath before sitting down to meditate, you should at least wash your face and your feet. It is also advisable to wear clean and light clothes.
It will help if you burn incense and keep some flowers in front of you. There are some people who say that it is not necessary to have flowers around during meditation. They say, “The flower is inside; the thousand-petalled lotus is inside.” But the physical flower that you have in front of you reminds you of the inner flower. Its color, its fragrance and its pure consciousness give you a little inspiration. From inspiration you get aspiration, and from aspiration you get realization.
It is the same with using candles during meditation. The flame from a candle will not in itself give you aspiration; it is the inner flame that will give you aspiration. But when you see the outer flame, then immediately you feel that the flame in your inner being is also climbing high, higher, highest. And when you smell the scent of incense, you get perhaps only an iota of inspiration and purification, but this iota can be added to your inner treasure. If someone is on the verge of God-realization or has actually realized God, then these outer things will have no value. But if you know that God-realization is still a far cry, then they will definitely increase your aspiration.”
There are many Spiritual teachers that Sri Chinmoy deeply respected and admired. In our “history” section we will reference two of those teachers: Swami Vivekananda and Ramana Maharshi.
History
Meditation has ancient roots in all of the world’s religions and has been well documented in the writings of ancient India. In this tradition meditation is considered part of the practice of yoga. Yoga is traditionally divided into eight aspects. To quote the great Indian yogi Swami Vivekananda:
“The first is Yama – non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receiving of any gifts. Next is Niyama – cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study, and self-surrender to God. Then comes Asana, or posture; Pranayama, or control of Prana; Pratyahara, or restraint of the senses from their objects; Dharana, or fixing the mind on a spot; Dyana, or meditation; and Samadhi, or superconsciousness. The Yama and Niyama, as we see, are moral trainings; without these as the basis no practice of Yoga will succeed. As these two become established, the Yogi will begin to realize the fruits of his practice; without these it will never bear fruit. A Yogi must not think of injuring anyone, by thought, word, or deed. Mercy shall not be for men alone, but shall go beyond, and embrace the whole world.
Give up all desire for enjoyment in earth or heaven. Control the organs of the senses and control the mind. Bear every misery without even knowing that you are miserable. Think of nothing but liberation. Have faith in Guru, in his teachings, and in the surety that you can get free. Say 'soham, soham' whatever comes. Tell yourself this even in eating, walking, suffering; tell the mind this incessantly, - that what we see never existed, - that there is only 'I'. Flash, - the dream will break!” (Raja yoga by Vivekananda
In order to learn meditation it is important to have a good sense of where one is going with the practice. Ramana Maharshi was a great Spirtiual master who lived in India in the first have of the 20th century. Sri Chinmoy has spoken very highly of his teachings. Ramana Maharshi wrote:
“Happiness is the very nature of the Self; happiness and the Self are not different. There is no happiness in any object of the world. We imagine through our ignorance that we derive happiness from objects. When the mind goes out, it experiences misery. In truth, when its desires are fulfilled, it returns to its own place and enjoys the happiness that is the Self. Similarly, in the states of sleep, samadhi, and fainting, and when the object desired is obtained or the object disliked is removed, the mind becomes inward-turned, and enjoys pure Self-Happiness. Thus the mind moves without rest, alternately going out of the Self and returning to it.”
Meditation is the process of reconnecting with that innate happiness that lies at the core of all of us. Daily practice brings this deeper nature forward.
Health Benefits
Many helath benefits has been linked to meditation and yoga. Note the following articles:
Yoga and Heart Disease
Retardation of coronary atherosclerosis with yoga lifestyle intervention.
Manchanda SC, Narang R, Reddy KS, Sachdeva U, Prabhakaran D, Dharmanand S, Rajani M, Bijlani R.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
J Assoc Physicians India 2000 Jul;48(7):687-94 Related Articles, Links
Background
Yoga has potential for benefit for patients with coronary artery disease though objective, angiographic studies are lacking.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We evaluated possible role of lifestyle modification incorporating yoga, on retardation of coronary atherosclerotic disease. In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 42 men with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) were randomized to control (n = 21) and yoga intervention group (n = 21) and were followed for one year. The active group was treated with a user-friendly program consisting of yoga, control of risk factors, diet control and moderate aerobic exercise. The control group was managed by conventional methods i.e. risk factor control and American Heart Association step I diet. RESULTS: At one year, the yoga groups showed significant reduction in number of anginal episodes per week, improved exercise capacity and decrease in body weight. Serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels also showed greater reductions as compared with control group. Revascularisation procedures (coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery) were less frequently required in the yoga group (one versus eight patients; relative risk = 5.45; P = 0.01). Coronary angiography repeated at one year showed that significantly more lesions regressed (20% versus 2%) and less lesions progressed (5% versus 37%) in the yoga group (chi-square = 24.9; P < 0.0001). The compliance to the total program was excellent and no side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Yoga lifestyle intervention retards progression and increases regression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with severe coronary artery disease. It also improves symptomatic status, functional class and risk factor profile.
The overall benefits of yoga on risk factors for heart disease were evaluated by researchers at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Medical Division, in Mumbai, India. (Mumbai is the new name for the city formely known as Bombay. The name was changed in the mid 1990s. The effect of yoga on the body, psychological well being, and cardiovascular risk factors was studied in a group of middle aged patients. Twenty patients (16 males, 4 females) in the age group of 35 to 55 years with mild to moderate high blood pressure underwent yogic practices daily for one hour for three months. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Biochemical and psychological parameters were studied prior and following period of three months of yoga. These biochemical parameters included blood sugar, lipid profile including cholesterol, and blood levels of catecholmines (stress chemicals like epinephrine or adrenaline). The overall results were quite positive. There was a decrease in blood pressure along with a decrease in blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides. The patients also reported an improvement in overall well being and quality of life. There was also a decrease in the levels of catecholamines, suggesting a decrease in sympathetic activity. A decrease in sympathetic activity indicates that the patients were calmer and experienced less tension and stress, and that their blood pressure would be lower. The authors of the study conclude that yoga can play an important role in decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in those with mild to moderate hypertension.
Yoga Helps Cancer Patients
SOURCE: Cancer, April 15, 2004.
A new study published in the April issue of Cancer, a medical journal targeted to doctors who treat cancer patients, reports that a gentle form of yoga helps those with lymphoma sleep better. Lymphoma is a cancer that arises in the cells of the immune system. The investigators found that among 39 patients being treated for lymphoma, those who participated in only seven weekly sessions of yoga said they got to sleep sooner, slept for longer, and needed fewer drugs to fall asleep. Study author Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, explained that living with cancer can be a very stressful experience, as patients cope with a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness and the side effects of treatment. As is well known, stress can often interfere with patients' sleep habits. Over the years, studies have linked yoga to a number of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, beating fatigue and easing chronic pain. In the current report, Cohen and his team asked half of the patients to participate in seven weekly sessions of yoga and the results were compared to other patients with lymphoma who did not participate in the yoga program. Some studies have suggested that up to three quarters of cancer patients struggle with sleep. This may have important health consequences since sleep disturbances have been linked with problems with the immune system, and an increased risk of illness or death. Individuals with cancer should be cautioned that while undergoing or recovering from treatment one should adopt a gentle routine, and avoid excessively strenuous routines. This is particularly true for cancer patients who have metastases to the bones which would make the skeletal system more prone to fractures. There is good reason to expect that a gentle form of yoga would be beneficial to not only patients with lymphoma, but those suffering from other types of cancer.