Meditation – Wednesday 7.30pm

MEDITATION CLASS – WEEK 2

Bathing in the Confluence of Three Rivers

We started our meditation with a lesson on the flow of the vital energies (vayus) within the body.

• Prāṇa is inward flow of vital energy, the life force that ignites as we breathe in deeply into the body. We can direct this vital energy to the brow centre, increasing concentration and focusing the mind. Practice breathing in and holding the breath for 20 counts. Focus on the left and right petals of the ājñā chakra. Also focus on the triangular centre between the two petals.
• Apāṇa is the downward flow of vital energy, governing outward movements through the base organs. Practice breathing into the base of the spine and grounding into the earth. Apana helps us let go of repressed emotions. Practice following the breath out mindfully with clear intention.
• Udāṇa is the upward flow of vital energy, which drives speech, sound, breath and life force. It also governs the time of death and the depths of meditation. Practice following energy upwards via the heart and throat. Listen to the sound quality and length of breath.
• Samāṇa is the flow of vital energy from the heart into the navel. Here the breath is assimilated into the system of the body. Practice breathing in a powerful light energy from the heart to the navel and imagine light unblocking trapped emotion and blocked tension.
• Vyāṇa is the flow of vital energy into the cellular system, governing circulation of life force around the body. Practice breathing in to the vital centres of each chakra, allowing energy to infuse the cells and nourish the living tissues of the body.

Combined practice:  breathe into the brow centre and illuminate the mind with the breath focus. Then draw the breath into the base of the spine gently awakening vital energy of kuṇḍalini shakti. Guide the breath flow upwards, through the heart and throat. Listen to the sound quality and length of the vital breath. On the next inhalation, practice breathing light into the heart and navel, imagine light energy being assimilated to the cells and tissues, and then breathe mindfully out, releasing any repressed issues from tissues. Imagine the body radiant with the energy of the vital winds. Return to the breath focused in the brow centre.

Here ends the lessons of the breath …

Now, its time to bathe in the confluence of the three sacred rivers!

We breathe in through the left nostril, and direct our awareness into to right petal of the ājñā lotus. We imagine this vital breath flows through the Iḍā nāḍī, like the mighty river Ganges, clearing and purifying the accumulative effects of karma. We breathe out mindfully, imagining the bright flow of the river current. We breathe in again, this time through the right nostril, and direct our awareness into to left petal of the ājñā lotus. We imagine this vital breath flows through the Pingalā nāḍī, like the might river Yamuna. We breathe in a third time from the brow centre into the base of the spine, as we breathe out we imagine the upward flow of the Sarasvatī river, up the suṣumṇā (spinal column) to the sahasrāra (crown).  We breath from the crown to the triangular centre of the ājñā lotus. We imagine bathing in the confluence of three rivers.

Yogis who image bathing in the sacred confluence of three sacred rivers are said to be blessed with the gift of knowledge and liberation. For devotees of hatha yoga practice, Lord Śiva can be visualized sit at a ‘triangular place’ within the ājñā lotus, at this confluence. We imagine uniting the flow of all three breath currents and immersing ourselves three time in the sacred current of the mind.

Here ends tonight’s lesson

Hari Om Tat Sat!

Why not join us next week? Booking is recommended