602 – Healing traits to have

Plant seeds of happiness, kindness and friendship; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of Nature. – Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

He further says that within all of us there is a very special quality—Sam Rakshan, the caring nature. Sam means complete and Rakshan means to protect and preserve. It is this innate nature that takes one out of one’s self-centered ego and puts the comfort and happiness of others first.

Oxytocin is a powerful hormone which functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. While it is traditionally associated with sex, breast feeding and childbirth, almost any form of social bonding or positive physical contact can trigger oxytocin. It is linked to warm, fuzzy feelings and it has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in some studies.

It has the power to regulate our emotional responses and pro-social behaviors, including trust, empathy, gazing, positive memories, processing of bonding cues and positive communication. On account of oxytocin, one feels good with persons one likes. So, the more we care about others, the better we will feel.

Women have higher oxytocin levels because it is a key hormone in childbirth and lactation. It is been found that both men and women experience oxytocin in the same ways. It facilitates bonding with children, increases romantic attachments and plays an important role in reproductive health.

Research has also revealed that oxytocin in males improves the ability to identify competitive relationships and navigate their fight-flight-response. In women it tends to improve the feelings of kinship. This maybe because of the behavior of oxytocin in the male and female amygdala which is responsible for emotion and behavior.

The practice of Breath Awareness and Meditation can increase levels of oxytocin in both males and females.

Breath Awareness

  1. Awareness means being aware of one’s breath.
  2. Visualizing oneself inhaling prana with the breath, pausing and then exhaling and pausing.
  3. Counting one’s breath backwards from 54 to 0. No errors to be made, because then one has to repeat the process.

Outcome one is aware of one’s breath, one is detached as one is engaged in a neutral activity, and one’s prana is being balanced.

Antar Mouna

In this practice one is withdrawing one’s senses externally. The sadhana is Antar Mouna (Inner silence). One must sit still, with eyes closed. By practicing breath awareness, one has quietened one’s mind. One’s thoughts cannot engage with one. Now one listens to the external sounds. Paying attention to the loudest sounds and the softest sounds. After a while switch to the internal sound of the breath. Go back and forth between external and internal awareness. After twenty minutes open eyes. One will feel refreshed and calm.

Sam Rakshan comes into play, and one finds that one has a sense of well-being which is transferred to others also.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash

600 – Dry your tears

“Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya”. I bow down to the Lord who resides in the hearts of all beings. Lord Vishnu dries our tears with his love and compassion.

The best time to chant Lord Vishnu Mantra is between 4am—6am (Braham Muhurta). Have a bath and sit on a mat. Meditate on a picture of Lord Vishnu. The picture is one of Lord Vishnu in Yoga Nidra. Focus on his divine form. Use a Tulsi mala. Thursday is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and praying to him on this day will enable one to have all of one’s dreams fulfilled.

Meditation on the form of Lord Vishnu from the Bhagavatam. Continue reading

590 – Who is a Hindu?

Hinduism is the world’s oldest faith in the world. Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continues cycle of life, death and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect). In Hinduism, the soul or Atman is the crux of it. Continue reading

What is Yoga Vidya e.V.?

Creed and practice // Statement by Sukadev Volker Bretz.

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(Originally in German with German subtitles. Activate YouTube subtitles and choose your language.) 

As a spiritual-religious community, the members of Yoga Vidya e.V. live the teachings of Vedanta and Yoga in all aspects. How these two pillars shape the self-image of Yoga Vidya e.V. as a spiritual-religious community with an educational mission is explained by Sukadev Volker Bretz in this video. Continue reading

568 – Chant with your heart – the original

The practices of Ajapa Japa were given by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1963 in Cama Hall, Bombay.

In his talk, he has given six practices for the followers of Yoga. They are simple and easy to follow. What is essential is that the Ajapa Japa sadhana has to be practiced for a month. I have written the sadhana as he gave it and it is simply said by the Guru for all to follow. Continue reading

565 – Chant with your heart – part 4

Merging of Soham with Hamso.

Start rhythmic breathing. Breathe in and out with full awareness. As you breathe in, be aware of the breath passing down from the navel. As you breathe out, be aware of the breath passing up from the navel. Be aware of soundless, peaceful and relaxed breathing. Continue reading

564 – Chant with your heart – part 3

The individual sounds of So and Ham.

In the first stage, one synchronized Soham with the breath. In the second stage, one synchronized Hamso, with the breath. Now in the third stage the introspection is upon the individual sound of So with the ingoing breath and Ham with the outgoing breath. After So there is a pause again and after Ham. Be aware of the two individual sounds and do not unite them. Continue reading

559 – Meditation on Food and Drink

How is it possible to meditate on food and drink? When one thinks of the amount of time one spends on the planning, purchasing and cooking of it, it’s a great deal of energy. It is important for us to do so as our body and mind need fuel. This fuel has to be healthy and pure, and one should think of one’s body as a temple. Continue reading

557 – Meditation on Devi

In the mudra of granting what you desire.

The mantra for granting our heart’s desire is from Saundarya Lahiri – Verse 3.

Avidyaanaamantas-timira-mihirodveepa-nakaree
Jadaanaam Chaitanya tabaka-makaranda-sruti-jharee;
Daridraanam chintaa manigunanikaa janmajaladhau
Nimagagaanam damshtraa muraripu-varaahasya bhavati.

Continue reading

537 – The mightiest meditation sadhana

Ananthasayana is the lord of the creative energy. One glance from him grants material energy, the prana to give birth to all organic and inorganic matter. He is Vishnu, the sustainer and he is often portrayed as sleeping on the cosmic serpent that coils itself into a bed, positioning its many heads as a canopy. The Sesa Naga is identical to Vishnu, who is also known as Naga Sayana. Continue reading

534 – Allow Prana to make you free of your needs

I wrote earlier about being needy and how much I detested the word. I also described the practice of Anuloma Viloma, which is visualizing one’s breath while inhaling and exhaling. What is remarkable is that this sadhana unblocks the nostrils and allows the breath to flow freely. Please read the preceding blog. Continue reading

529 – Lifelong Celebration of Easter with Sadhana

Give your full attention to whatever you are doing and recognize the constant renewal of life all around you. Appreciate the beauty and spiritual radiance in people. Open your heart with compassion and accept people as they are. Lastly leave the past to God’s mercy, the future to his discretion. Live in the present with awareness and empathy. In your heart resides your soul. Let us make this our life long celebration of Easter. Continue reading