Page 9 - Lesson 8.xps

Spiritual Aspects MODULE-2
Dimension of Physical
Meditation is related to the evolution of human consciousness. Education and Yog

The sole objective for human being should be to evolve spiritually. To evolve
spiritually means to be able to understand what lies within us beyond the body,
beyond the senses, beyond the mind and beyond the ordinary understanding.
This is the process of expansion of consciousness. This external existence and
this external experience are not the ultimate one. There is something beyond it.
There are layers and layers of experiences that can be experience through the
process of meditation. Note

Meditation should be balanced with karma yoga and bhakti yoga, we have to
work on karma and samskara.

8.5.1 Some Meditative Techniques

In Ashtang Yog philosophy Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi are called antarang
yog.

Pratyahara is gateway to antarang yog, it is withdraw from external senses. It is
the practice which prepare for meditation. Pratyahara practices train our mind
for meditation.

Dharna means internal concentration of mind. It is the step before meditation
and is concerned with fixing awareness on one object. In the very beginging it
not possible. By experience one can realize how difficult it is to maintain
awareness of one object without any thought intervention. The mind is full of
inner chatter in the form of memories of the past and projection of the future.
Various methods can be used to induce mental one- pointedness. Religions in
general try to induce it through rituals, pooja or worship, chanting, prayer and so
forth. Yoga utilizes a psychic symbol (Prateek) as a focal point for Dharna.

These days’ common meditative practices are Pratyahara and Dharna.

Pratyahara Practices may be done with Yog Nidra and Antar Mouna.

Yoga Nidra- Yoga Nidra means sleep with trace of awareness. It is a state before
sleep and during the practice awareness remains in sub conscious level .It is an
art of relaxation and more efficient and effective form of psychic and physiological
rest. Through the practice of yog nidra threefold tensions can be released
(muscular tension, emotional tension and mental tension). It is not a concentration
practice, it is a practice of pratyahara stage. Yog nidra is the best yogic technique
to manage psychosomatic disease. In the practice of yog nidra we can put on
something positive, creative and we can release negative aspect of our personality
as phobia, bad habits.

Physical Education and Yog

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