Meditation: Meditation: Calmness of the Calmness of the

SoulSoul

By: Shri Shrutpragya Swami

IntroductionIntroduction

ShrutPragnaji SwamiShrutPragnaji Swami Peace of Mind Foundation, Rajkot, Peace of Mind Foundation, Rajkot,

GujaratGujarat BackgroundBackground

Jain ReligionJain Religion MedidationMedidation

MeditationMeditation

In today’s world, we In today’s world, we are so involved and are so involved and busy that we forget to busy that we forget to live in the present. live in the present. These daily tasks lead These daily tasks lead to physical and mental to physical and mental strain, stress develops, strain, stress develops, and there is no internal and there is no internal harmony. Meditation is harmony. Meditation is a practice to help a practice to help achieve that harmony achieve that harmony between your body and between your body and mind.mind.

What is Meditation?What is Meditation?

Meditation techniquesMeditation techniques Latin Meditatio from a very meditariLatin Meditatio from a very meditari

To think, to contemplate, devise, ponderTo think, to contemplate, devise, ponder

What is Meditation?What is Meditation? In the Western world, meditation focuses In the Western world, meditation focuses

on thinking & Contemplatingon thinking & Contemplating In the Eastern world, it’s called ‘Dhyana’, In the Eastern world, it’s called ‘Dhyana’,

the focus is on internal spirituality which the focus is on internal spirituality which goes beyond the mind and thinking: goes beyond the mind and thinking: 1) Concentration on a particular object1) Concentration on a particular object 2) Practice for awareness2) Practice for awareness

Simply put, meditation helps improve Simply put, meditation helps improve mental concentration and self awarenessmental concentration and self awareness

ConcentrationConcentration

Three types:Three types: Distractive concentrationDistractive concentration Productive concentrationProductive concentration Spiritual ConcentrationSpiritual Concentration

Why Meditate?Why Meditate? Increases ability to Increases ability to

concentrateconcentrate Increases awarenessIncreases awareness Increases working Increases working

capacity and efficiencycapacity and efficiency Improves calmness Improves calmness Awakens spiritual Awakens spiritual

energyenergy Meditation ClipMeditation Clip Helps answer the Helps answer the

question “Who Am I?”question “Who Am I?” Helps us find the Helps us find the

strength to overcome strength to overcome challenges through challenges through inner calmnessinner calmness

How to Meditate?How to Meditate?

1) (Kaigupti – Body + Stability)1) (Kaigupti – Body + Stability) Sit somewhere and try to keep your body Sit somewhere and try to keep your body

steady for 10 minutes. Practice this for a steady for 10 minutes. Practice this for a month, once a day.month, once a day.

Body stability is a requirement for Body stability is a requirement for meditation.meditation. Example: Imagine a pot filled with water. The Example: Imagine a pot filled with water. The

body is like the pot and the mind is like water. body is like the pot and the mind is like water. If we cannot stabilize the pot, the water can If we cannot stabilize the pot, the water can never become stable.never become stable.

How to Meditate? (cont)How to Meditate? (cont)

2) (Swasdarshan Sadhna – Practice 2) (Swasdarshan Sadhna – Practice of observing breathing)of observing breathing)

Close your eyes and focus on breathing. Close your eyes and focus on breathing. Breath normally; don’t apply pressure or Breath normally; don’t apply pressure or force. When you focus on breathing, the force. When you focus on breathing, the mind will naturally become calm and quiet. mind will naturally become calm and quiet. Do it for a minimum of 10 minutes and Do it for a minimum of 10 minutes and gradually increase. gradually increase.

BreathingBreathing

The simplest and The simplest and easiest form of easiest form of meditation is meditation is breathingbreathing Simplest because it Simplest because it

is inherentis inherent Easiest because it Easiest because it

is involuntaryis involuntary

How to Meditate? (cont)How to Meditate? (cont)

3) (Vichardarshan Sadhna – 3) (Vichardarshan Sadhna – Practice of observing thoughts) Practice of observing thoughts)

In this step you will focus on the thoughts. In this step you will focus on the thoughts. Observe your state of mind: whatever Observe your state of mind: whatever thought comes to mind, look at it neutrally thought comes to mind, look at it neutrally without an opinion or reacting to it. Do it without an opinion or reacting to it. Do it for a minimum of 10 minutes and for a minimum of 10 minutes and gradually increase.gradually increase.

PracticePractice

Now let us Now let us practice practice meditationmeditation

Meditation RulesMeditation Rules

Sit on a yoga mat or asana in a quiet Sit on a yoga mat or asana in a quiet and clean placeand clean place

Always practice on an empty Always practice on an empty stomachstomach

In general, morning time is bestIn general, morning time is best Keep your back and neck straightKeep your back and neck straight

Question & AnswerQuestion & Answer

BlessingsBlessings

Make meditation a part of your lifeMake meditation a part of your life