Most people think that the goal of Raja Yoga is exclusively the achievement of Samadhi, that is, the liberation of the soul from negativity, from that which causes pain and suffering. Of course, getting rid of all this is one of the goals of Raja Yoga, but there are other goals that are no less important: for example, achieving in daily life a state of deep peace and bliss .

Every person wants not only to live, but to live in peace. And this goal can be realized through meditation.

Every person's life has ups and downs, successes and failures. Maintaining mental calmness and composure in all situations is, of course, everyone strives for this.

In India lotus flower symbol reflects the lifestyle and mental state of a Raja Yogi. The lotus grows in a muddy pond, in a swamp, and nevertheless, it always remains unstained by mud. This remarkable quality has given it a kind of national flower status in India. In the same way, Raja Yogis live among people, in the same social environment, but its negative manifestations do not affect them. They are able to maintain clarity of mind in all situations.

Another symbol representing the yogi lifestyle is turtle ... She also has one remarkable quality: while moving on land or in water, she uses her limbs, but can pull them under the shell. It is believed that due to its ability to relax, the turtle lives for a very long time. The same applies to the Raja Yogis. They regularly and accurately fulfill their professional, social and domestic duties, and then mentally return to themselves, under the shell. For a while, all physical activity is suspended, mental relaxation occurs, a complete detachment from the physical world. The yogi calms the mind, and this deep relaxation is of great benefit to him.

Another symbol is often mentioned - Swan ... The myths say that swans do not eat worms, but only feed on pearls. Of course, this should not be taken literally. The meaning of the comparison is that Raja Yogis do not perceive the negative aspects of human life; on the contrary, they awaken good feelings in every person and at the same time do not pay attention to the weaknesses and shortcomings of those with whom they come into contact, trying to see in them only virtuous qualities.

There are other principles of life according to Raja Yoga, other ideas about its goals and intentions. However, the most important and urgent task is to achieve perfect purity and peace. Raja Yogis strive for complete inner transformation. They make efforts to cleanse their habits, to acquire the divine virtues, without which it is impossible to obtain Liberation and Perfection. Of course, Raja Yogis want to become angels on Earth, but they also know: in order to get rid of sins, you need to replace your bad habits with holy qualities, give up earthly attachments and give your love and humility to the service of humanity.

So, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga - the state of Divine Bliss, that is, eternal happiness, perfection and liberation from all negative, - it is necessary: stabilization in spiritual consciousness, self-enlightenment, assimilation of spiritual wisdom and adherence to the principles of purity. And for this, the yogi must practice meditation and firmly observe the corresponding principles in daily life.

The practice of meditation in Raja Yoga is simple and accessible. For a start, you can sit in any position; the main thing is that it does not cause any inconvenience and physical stress and does not distract attention; that is, so that in this position the yogi would feel comfortable and at the same time cheerful. The back should be as straight as possible.

Meditation is a mental process in which the body is not involved. Moreover, the meditator must completely forget about his body. He reflects on his true "I" - Consciousness, which thinks, evaluates, decides, feels, remembers, performs actions through the brain and body. The brain is a control panel, a feedback switchboard, and the body is a robot that takes orders. The inner being that controls them is the one who has his own goals, desires, emotions. It is this essence that is called "I". It is not a physical self, when in relation to the body they say "mine", "mine". The "I" is not the body, but the "I" is the soul, which is in the body, like a driver driving a car. The driver decides where to go, how to go and at what speed. He has a motivating force, while the car has only a mechanical ability to realize it.

There is a lot of medical, psychiatric and philosophical research on the subject of reincarnation. One of the researchers, Ian Stevenson, described more than a hundred cases of reincarnation. In India, too, these kinds of stories have been collected, recorded on video. Some physicians have conducted studies of patients who were on the verge of death and described their experiences of the state outside the body. Other experiments have been conducted with hypnotic people. Their stories were carefully researched and found to be correct. All these facts give reason to believe in the existence of the soul. Another factor is your own feelings.

Thus, the first step in the practice of meditation is to establish yourself in the thought: "I AM THE SOUL. CONSCIOUS ESSENCE." Well, what is the soul?

Soul is a point of immaterial light. We cannot see it with our physical sight, because the soul is not material. It can be seen with the "third eye", that is, the eye of the mind. When our mind becomes clear and our latent possibilities awaken, we gain this sight. Thus, the next thought in the practice of meditation: "I AM A POINT OF LIGHT".

In addition, many neuroscientists also argue that there is reason to believe that mind and soul are not the same brain at ... One of them is the Nobel laureate Sir John Eccles. Some physicists, such as Schrödinger, Eugene Biener, also consider Consciousness to be a separate reality.

From our own experience, from the experience of others, we also know that every living creature strives for a quiet life, expects love and good behavior from others, that is, compliance with some principles of correct behavior and good character. Even if someone is too excited and even in a rage, he still internally tries to get rid of this state and find peace again. This proves that the true nature of the soul is peaceful and calm. Therefore, the next thought in the practice of meditation: "IN MY TRUE NATURE I AM QUIET, PURE AND WILLING."

We know from everyday observation that souls are not equally pure and calm. Some are morally uplifting, others too, but to a lesser extent. Some are calm, while others are so calm that even in the most tense situation they do not lose this state and pass it on to others.

Therefore, among souls there are great souls and one of the Great and Perfect ones - God He is also a point of light, but He is perfect, full of peace, knowledge and love. We can see Him with the help of the "third eye", we can know and feel Him. Just as Newton is called the father of science, the mayor is the father of the city, the liberator of the country is the father of the nation, so we call Him Father, because He is the founder of purity and peace in the world, and we consider ourselves His children.

"How we think of ourselves - that's how we become" - one of the basic postulates of psychology. From our own experience, we know that when we think about the merits of a person, we experience peace and good qualities manifest in our mind. When we think about its negative properties, we experience completely opposite feelings. Therefore, realizing God, the Supreme Soul, and His high qualities, we automatically manifest His divine virtues in ourselves. This practice is called the practice of "soul awareness" or "superconsciousness". It allows you to move away from the body, rise to a higher level of consciousness, experience peace and bliss.

So, thoughts for the practice of Raja Yoga meditation can be reduced to the following: "I am the soul, I am a point of light: my true nature is purity and peace; I am a child of God, my beloved Father is perfect, full of peace, love and bliss." When we contemplate this and there are no other thoughts in our mind, we are immersed in deep experience. This is what entails internal transformation, makes changes in behavior, improves health, increases efficiency, fills with vitality, and so on.

This meditation can be done for a short time, or thirty minutes, or one hour. And you can periodically throughout the day during work. To achieve perfection in this practice, one must follow the principle of non-violence, have contentment and patience.

B.K. Chakradhari,
General Director of Brahma Kumaris Branches of the World Spiritual University in Russia and other CIS and Baltic countries,
Director of the Museum of Spiritual Knowledge and Raja Yoga, Delhi,
National Coordinator of the Women's Wing of the Raja Yoga Teaching and Research Foundation (India)

Raja Yoga as the Path of freedom from karmic bondage.

The highest authority in Raja Yoga was the sage Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutra. He based his teachings of Raja Yoga on the ancient Indian Samkhya philosophy. The main difference between the yoga of Patanjali and the Samkhya is the religious aspect - Patanjali's recognition of the existence of the god Ishvara, free from karmic bondage, while the Samkhya considers nature through the interaction of material essence (prakriti) and spiritual (purusha).
In this context, Raja Yoga is the path to understanding Ishvara, recognizing his existence. And the very word "raja" (translated from the Sanskrit "king") refers to Ishvara.

However, Raja Yoga can also be a path for people who are not inclined to religious consciousness and the search for God beyond their Self.

In this case, the goal of Raja Yoga is to cleanse the purusha (soul, our true Self) from avidya (everyday delusion, false knowledge that prevents a person from seeing the world as it really is). In the Yoga Sutras it is said that the purusha can see only through the medium of the mind.

Therefore, for correct perception, it is necessary to purify the mind. "Since the purusha sees through the mind, the quality of observation depends entirely on the state of the mind." "The mind must become subtle and pure, like a crystal, so that it reflects paramatma and not vrittis or vasanas." The goal of Raja Yoga is to gradually purify and clarify the mind, as a result of which the Purusha gets the opportunity to see the world undistorted and convey this vision to us. In this case, the raja can be called the purusha himself - our inner king. "Whoever the king is - purusa or Isvara, in any case, raja yoga is yoga in which the king takes his rightful place." That is, the place of the one who controls us.

Patanjali pointed out the eight-step path to achieving the goal of Raja Yoga - purifying the mind and achieving samadhi, the state of Superconsciousness. The first four steps are the same as in hatha yoga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama.

The goal of the first two steps (yama and niyama) is to achieve purity of spirit, high morality, which are necessary for further study of raja yoga. This is necessary in order not to waste empty energy on correcting mistakes in life. The goal of the third stage is to attain a healthy body, since diseases of the body prevent a person from making his mind sufficiently solid and prevent him from concentrating on the spiritual.

A healthy body is necessary as a tool for the implementation of tasks of the following degrees - concentration and meditation, which are associated with a long stay in the same position with a straight back.

All stages are interconnected and complement each other. For example, the principle of satya must be adhered to during the practice of asanas - to honestly admit to ourselves what our body is capable of and to what extent we are currently able to enter the asana, otherwise you can harm your body, and this will no longer be yoga.

And even if we realize that the body is not yet able to go deeper into the asana, but we are trying to break through the rigidity in our body, despite the sharp pain, we violate the principle of ahimsa, which should be applied not only to other beings, but and in relation to oneself. And this also does not contribute in any way to progress in yoga, but often on the contrary - it leads to injuries and the need to suspend practice for an indefinite period in order to restore damaged body tissues.

The fourth step - (the method of controlling prana) gives energy and removes many physical obstacles to the study of yoga, such as weakness of the body and laziness. Breathing exercises can help you gain control of your emotions and calm your mind. Body, breath and mind are very closely related. Learning to control the body and breathing, we directly affect consciousness and come to the ability to control it. In most people, the mind is so weak that it is constantly under the control of the body - its desires and manifestations.

The goal of Raja Yoga is to learn to control your mind, to control it, thus mastering the ability to concentrate its power.

Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda points out that a person who has achieved perfection in control over prana is able to control the universe. “Just as the Vedas generalize all the diversity of the universe into One Absolute Existence and whoever knows this Oneness knows the whole universe, so all manifestations of energy are generalized in prana, and whoever knows prana knows all the forces of the universe, spiritual and physical. A person who is able to control prana controls his mind, and therefore the mind itself. A person who is able to control prana controls his body, and therefore every body in general, since prana is a generalized manifestation of energy. "

The next stage of Raja Yoga, Pratyahara, teaches us to turn the mind inward, to be able to separate the mind from sensory perceptions and control it. To do this, you must first of all stop trying to control thoughts, let them go and just observe them. “Let go of the reins: monstrous thoughts may come to mind, you will be amazed that you are capable of such thoughts. But soon you will be convinced that every day the rumblings of the mind subside ...

In the first months you will be surprised by the number of thoughts rushing through your head, gradually there will be fewer of them, then even less, until the mind is under control, but for this you need to work from day to day. " The purpose of pratyahara is to learn to see objects only with the mind, without resorting to the help of the senses. Consciousness becomes a pure mirror of contemplated objects. Consciousness directly receives information about objects, not distorted by the perception of the senses. Pratyahara is also a state in which the senses are used for concentration and meditation - for example, contemplation. The main principle of pratyahara is the subordination of sensory perceptions to the mind.

Concentration, or dharana, the next stage of raja yoga, will come much more easily to one who has learned pratyahara. Otherwise, uncontrollable thoughts and feelings will constantly distract from the object of concentration. The goal of dharana is to learn to concentrate on one object, not allowing extraneous thoughts and feelings to disturb this flow of attention.

The capacity for concentration opens (dhyana). If during the onset of dharana the mind moves in one direction, then in dhyana it plunges into a certain object and establishes a connection between its I and the object.

Despite the fact that the sequence of the steps of Raja Yoga was indicated by the sage Patanjali in this order, it should be emphasized again that these steps complement and influence each other. A person who seriously practices asanas and pranayama learns to experience the state of dharana already at these stages, since his mind should be focused on the sensations of the body.

“When performing any practice, be it asanas, pranayama or meditation techniques, the most important thing is mindfulness. This means that attention is directed to a specific activity, such as breathing, and at the same time you understand where the attention is directed. This is the first step to higher awareness. You become an observer in relation to the processes in your own body, then you learn to observe the activity of the mind, and then - and the deeper aspects of the mind. "

At the last stage in the consciousness of the practitioner, there is a complete merging of the object of meditation and his own self. The self dissolves in the object of meditation and feels itself as a single whole with it. "Samadhi is a progressive, consistent going beyond (transcendence) the spheres of object, movement, thought and instinct." In the state of samadhi, which is the goal of raja yoga, the mind is absolutely free from avidya and sees all objects, patterns and cause-and-effect relationships in their true light.

If dharana, dhyana and samadhi are directed at one object, the last three stages of raja yoga are combined into one state - sanyama. Sanyama is complete mental control over awareness of an object. "Through samyama, all other states of consciousness disappear, but the seed remains." The seed is mental constructs, the "foundation for consciousness."

The yoga sutras of Patanjali describe six stages of samadhi: savitarka, nirvitarka, savichara, nirvichara, ananda and asmita.
These are the names for very subtle fluctuations that occur before the highest samadhi - nirvikalpa. In a more general sense, the state of samadhi is divided into two types - savikalpa and nirvikalpa samadhi. In the state of savikalpa samadhi (“samadhi with a seed”), the mind contains objects of meditation (purusha, Shiva, Aum, etc.) - these are seeds that tend to grow. In the state of supreme samadhi, or nirvikalpa, the last traces of samskara and vikalpa are removed. In samadhi there is consciousness, but there is no object.

“Individual consciousness disappears…. There is not even a desire to be liberated. This state without time and without changes is the highest samadhi. " This state is the goal of Raja Yoga, the true realization of a person in this world, giving liberation from the circle of rebirth and suffering experienced by ordinary people in each new physical incarnation.

The report examines the practice of Raja Yoga, which is taught at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKVDU), founded in 1936 in India.
This practice differs from the well-known classical Raja Yoga, therefore, hereinafter we will call it Easy Raja Yoga. This name can also be found in the literature on this practice (see the list of references at the end of the article).

The origins of Easy Raja Yoga
Easy Raja Yoga is taught at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKVDU), which was founded in 1936. BKVDU is an international public charitable organization that provides spiritual and moral education.
Brahma Kumaris is more than 9000 centers in 130 countries. Light Raja Yoga is regularly practiced by over 900 thousand students of the BKVDU on all continents. The University participates in international projects, actively cooperating with the UN and UNESCO.

Easy Raja Yoga Theory and Practice
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the miraculous properties of yoga and stated that it can help solve world problems: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. She personifies the unity of spirit and body, thoughts and deeds, the harmony of people with nature. It helps a person to feel oneness with himself, others and with nature. "

Easy Raja Yoga taught at the BKVDU includes a specific daily routine, a vegetarian diet, meditation practice and rules of conduct. This practice is essentially very similar to classical Raja Yoga, which includes eight steps: yama, niyama, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. However, there are also very significant differences.

Practicality, efficiency and accessibility are the main criteria that can be seen both in the presentation of the theory and in the practice of Easy Raja Yoga itself. The motto of the BKVDU students is: “If you want to change the world, start with yourself. If you want to change yourself, start with your thoughts. "

Throughout history, various forms of yoga have arisen and developed. Each focused on specific methods and practices to achieve its goals:
- personal liberation (from illusions and suffering);
- achievement of perfection of consciousness and improvement of character;
- restoration of the connection between mind and body;
- a state of inner happiness, based on self-knowledge;
- restoring close relationship with God that was lost.

Different types of Yoga in one way or another, to some extent, lead to these goals.
* Hatha Yoga is a system of physical postures (asanas), the purpose of which is to cleanse and strengthen the physical body. And also, thanks to concentration of attention and control of the internal state, preparation of consciousness for deep self-contemplation (reflection).
* Karma Yoga - selfless selfless service to the people around with the realization of God as the doer.
* Mantra Yoga - concentration of consciousness on sound through the repetition of certain universal sounds (mantras), which are a representation of a special aspect of the Spirit.
* Bhakti Yoga is an all-encompassing devotion, the desire to see and love in every being and in the whole world, the divine essence, thus maintaining a constant cult of worship.
* Jnana Yoga - the path of wisdom leading to the awakening of the intellect (opening the third eye) and its subsequent application in practice to achieve spiritual liberation.
* Raja Yoga is the highest, Royal Path of Yoga, systematized in the second century BC. by the Indian sage Patanjali, who combined the essence of all other paths.

The foundation of the practice of Raja Yoga is spiritual and moral values, and the main goals are self-awareness of one's spiritual essence and spiritual awakening, the development of personal relationships with God and the acquisition of inner harmony and integrity of the individual.

A strong, free from all negative personality, who manifests virtues in his actions, becomes an inspiring example for others. The spiritual strength of a person is manifested in how stable and pure, free from negative emotions, we remain during trials and life problems, as well as in how much peace, strength, joy, love and support we give to others every day.

Easy Raja Yoga, taught at BKVDU, connects the process of spiritual self-improvement with four main subjects (instead of eight steps in classical Raja Yoga):
* Gyan - the study of spiritual knowledge, understanding of spiritual laws;
* Yoga - the practice of meditation;
* Dharna - the assimilation of spirituality in one's practical life, the development of a strong exalted character based on virtues;
* Seva - spiritual service to society.

The spiritual knowledge (Gyan) that you need to master in order to successfully practice Raja Yoga meditation includes four basic lessons. The main ideas of these lessons are as follows.

1. Who am I? Soul Consciousness
What we usually call and realize as "I" is the conscious energy, the life force that controls the body. In Raja Yoga, "I" is designated as the soul - a conscious being, distinct from the body. The soul in its qualities and nature is fundamentally different from the physical body and any object of the material world. Each soul is eternal, unique (as a person), a source of pure spiritual energy. It is absolutely positive in its original nature. In shape, the soul is a point, a source of spiritual light and dwells in the body in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows (the area of the third eye).

If the soul forgets itself, then it seems to fall asleep and forget its original spiritual qualities: calmness, happiness, love, strength, purity, wisdom. Then weaknesses, shortcomings and sinful inclinations develop in the soul, which, in turn, sooner or later lead to losses and sorrow.

The goal of this lesson is to develop pure spiritual self-awareness: “I am the soul. I am a source of positive energy. I am in control of my thoughts ”, in contrast to the prevailing“ body consciousness ”, when a person considers himself a limited and mortal being.

The soul has three abilities:
* Mind - is responsible for creating thoughts and feelings;
* Intelligence - the ability to discriminate, choose and make decisions;
* Sanskaras - the ability to capture (remember, save) all the experience gained. Habits and character traits are formed on the basis of sanskaras.

When a person begins to realize himself exclusively with his soul, then there is the power to control the mind, his thoughts, make accurate decisions with the help of the intellect and form a strong positive character. In the bodily consciousness, the mind and intellect are often influenced by acquired foreign and harmful sanskaras. This creates problems and anxiety.

2. Supreme Soul
All souls have one Father - the Supreme Soul, God. God is one for all: everyone belongs to Him, and He belongs to everyone. We, souls, inherit all our best qualities from the Supreme Father, therefore it is very important to get to know Him accurately and establish a relationship with Him.

The Supreme Father is always incorporeal - in the form of the Soul, the Source of light and power. He is a person, the Higher Conscious Energy. God is eternally Pure and Perfect. The powers and virtues of God are limitless. God is Truth, He never loses his original qualities, as it happens with people. God is the Eliminator of sorrow and Bringer of happiness, Cleansing and Giving of salvation, the Eternal source of all strength and blessings.

3. Yoga and states of Meditation
The literal meaning of the word "yoga" is union, union. In the spiritual plane, it is the union of the soul with the Supreme Soul with the help of thoughts, communication with God, a relationship full of love with the Supreme Father.

When such a connection (yoga) is established between the soul and the Supreme Soul, then the soul is colored with the qualities of God, filled with spiritual forces from the Father. The high and strong energy of God, like fire, cleanses the soul from impurities. Negative qualities, weaknesses and vices burn out in this "fire of Yoga".

The gross material consciousness, the feeling of being a body, prevents the soul from feeling the subtle vibrations of God. Therefore, it is important to accurately learn the first lesson: the soul needs to free itself from the body consciousness, which blocks yoga with God, and realize itself as a soul, a child of God.

In order to establish a deep and stable connection with God, to achieve union with Him, the soul goes through four stages:
a) attitude - preparation for meditation. You need to relax and calm your thoughts.
b) meditation - meditation in silence. We create thoughts about the soul, about its original qualities, about the Supreme Soul, about the qualities of God. It is important here not only to think (create thoughts), but also to visualize, feel and experience each thought.
c) concentration - occurs when the mind stops wandering. There is no longer a need to specially create thoughts, the soul becomes the personification, the embodiment of these thoughts: about oneself, about God ... Thoughts and feelings merge together.
d) awareness is complete realization. Thought is replaced by sensation. The soul experiences lightness and freedom, it is summoned by the rays of light, peace, love, purity, coming from the Higher Soul.

Beginners have to pay more attention to the first two steps, however, as they practice and develop, the first steps go faster and faster and the yoga practitioner gets more and more experience of concentration and awareness.

4. Philosophy of Karma (action)
The Spiritual Law of Karma is universal in nature: "You reap what you sow." Like the law of conservation of energy, it always works. There is a clear relationship between action and outcome. This is the law of cause and effect.

The Law of Karma is the law of the highest justice. If you give happiness to others, you will get happiness. Each action creates a karmic account. And sooner or later, we will have to pay off all such bills. Everything good or bad in our life comes to us precisely on the basis of karmic accounts. That is, we earned it ourselves by our own actions. Everything is fair.

At the same time, the philosophy of karma is very deep. In every birth that the soul takes, it interacts with many people and creates a huge karmic network. Some actions influence others: either they inspire for the best, or provoke mistakes, and then the fruits of such actions multiply.

The seeds of our actions are thoughts. The quality of thoughts determines the quality of our actions and, as a result of this, the quality of our life. Therefore, it is very important to keep track of your thoughts: stop negative thoughts and purposefully create strong positive thoughts.

The practice of meditation helps you to manage your thoughts and create the right thoughts based on understanding. Thanks to this, we have more ideas and reasons for positive actions that lead to success and give joy to ourselves and those around us. In this way we strengthen our positive sanskaras and create a positive karmic account.

The Theory of Easy Raja Yoga creates a holistic worldview that promotes the development of positive thinking and the creation of a strong stable state. The simple, at first glance, concepts presented here are profound in their content. A full understanding of spiritual laws and concepts requires practical mastery. This practical part is contained in the rest of the subjects: Yoga, Dharna and Seva.

The practice of meditation (Yoga) helps to deeply realize and assimilate the theory, that is, to gain a state of calmness of mind and inner purity, to practically develop awareness of oneself as a soul. Dharna is manifested in the fact that we adhere to spiritual principles and follow spiritual laws in our lives. Thanks to this, a person deeper understands the importance and value of spiritual knowledge.

Serving society (Seva), on the one hand, is an exam, as it shows how much we have progressed in our spiritual development. After all, only those who are fulfilled themselves can really help others. But on the other hand, Service is also a powerful means for further development, helping to assimilate many virtues and spiritual forces.

Results of Easy Raja Yoga Practice
People who regularly practice Easy Raja Yoga notice many positive changes in their lives. These changes are manifested in almost all areas: health and internal state, self-development and relationships, business activity and material well-being, creativity and self-realization.

The first thing that those who begin to practice Raja Yoga systematically notice and feel in themselves is the achievement of inner peace and release from stress. Peace of mind is the first prerequisite for successful meditation practice and the first achievement from the practice. Thanks to the strong and pure thoughts about ourselves and those around us, which we assimilate in consciousness during the morning meditation, it becomes easy to remain calm throughout the day. Thanks to this, we clearly, without distortion, perceive events, release from internal tension (stress) and make accurate decisions at the right time.

Modern medical statistics show that about 95% of diseases develop precisely because of internal (mental) tension and stress. Therefore, the systematic and long-term practice of meditation has a pronounced positive effect on a person's physical health. There are several unique examples of the use of Raja Yoga for the healing of serious diseases.

The medical wing of the BKVDU, based on the definition of Perfect Health proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), has developed the concept of four-dimensional health, in which, in addition to physical, social and mental (mental) health, a spiritual dimension has been added. Spiritual health is based on an awareness of the true nature of a person, his spiritual essence and the practice of positive thinking. As the experience of many raja yogis shows, it is spiritual health that becomes a reliable foundation for both good mental and social and physical health.

In 1998-2000, a study began in India on the effect of meditation (positive thinking) on the treatment of moderate to severe coronary atherosclerosis. In addition to moderate exercise and a special vegetarian diet, it was proposed to include stress management based on Raja Yoga meditation in the treatment program. The research results have shown the high efficiency of the proposed program. Later this project was successfully developed under the name "Healthy Heart". For several years, about 2500 people with coronary heart disease took part in it. They were able to noticeably improve their well-being without surgery. After reviewing the results of these studies, the Government of India in January 2008 gave the project the status of a national program for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, research conducted by the BKVDU Medical Wing in 1985 found that the vast majority of Raja Yoga practitioners quickly and easily get rid of bad habits (smoking and alcohol). After a month of Raja Yoga practitioners from the surveyed group of 183 smokers - 135 gave up this unhealthy habit (74%). After one year of practicing Raja Yoga, only 5 people out of 183 smokers (2.7%) were unable to free themselves from this addiction. And in a similar study on alcohol dependence from a group of 80 people - 78 completely got rid of alcohol dependence by the end of the month. It took one person 6 months and another 1 year.

Also, thanks to the positive inner attitude learned in meditation and the release from inner tension, relationships both in the family with loved ones and with colleagues at work are noticeably improved. These are the main components of social health and well-being.

Business people and leaders of organizations, practicing Raja Yoga, note that the efficiency and efficiency of business activity are noticeably increased. In general, things are going easier, there are fewer conflicts and difficulties, but even those problems are now solved faster and easier. Life is becoming more harmonious - there is enough time for everything: for business, for communication with family and loved ones, for professional and personal self-development and for spiritual service to society.

In addition, many noted the following achievements from the practice of Raja Yoga:
- an increase in the power of concentration, which is clearly felt during training: the perception and understanding of new information, memorization improves;
- character improves, the habit of noticing good qualities and characteristics in others develops;
- creativity and talents develop;
- develop spiritual forces (acceptance, patience, discrimination, cooperation, decision-making, etc.)

Summing up, in general, it can be noted that the practice of Easy Raja Yoga, despite its apparent ease and simplicity, shows high efficiency. The methodological approach to teaching harmoniously combines both the "Western approach" to teaching: detailing, rational analysis and understanding of information, and the "Eastern (contemplative) approach" based on inner feelings, introspection and self-observation. Thanks to this, the theory of Raja Yoga itself is understandable and accessible to most ordinary people.

References
1. Raja Yoga. Method and Purpose, B.K. Jagdish Chander. BKVDU, Moscow, 1994
2. New Knowledge for the New World. Central House of Culture, Moscow, 2011
3. Life without stress. BKVDU, Moscow, 2004
4. Healthy heart. BKVDU, St. Petersburg, 2010
5. Moral values. Central House of Culture, Moscow, 2011
6. Business and Yoga. BKVDU, Moscow, 2006
7. How to achieve the goal with the help of the eight forces. Central House of Culture, Moscow, 2014

Kurganov Sergey Yurievich,
coordinator of the department of the Interregional Public Organization

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Meditation of ancient raja yoga. Achievements. Theory. Practice

Posts in this topic: 16

Jonsnow

Without masturbation: 3 years, 10 months, 4 days

Advances in Raja Yoga

When a person begins to engage in spiritual practices, it is important for him to know what he will receive as a result of this. Therefore, I will list the main achievements and abilities that develop through the meditation of the ancient Raja Yoga.

As a result of this practice:

1) The power of concentration and clarity of thinking increases. Meditation disciplines the mind - it stops wandering, we gradually get rid of negative and empty thoughts, unnecessary conversations and wrong actions. As a result, any work is done quickly and accurately.

2) The ability to see dignity and virtue in others develops(and not shortcomings) and, adopting them, we ourselves become more virtuous.

3) Changes in character, behavior, outlook and attitude towards others, improves relationships, increases communication skills. Knowing the philosophy of karma: what is good and what is bad, we try to do only the right deeds

4) Raja Yoga helps maintain a balance between the spiritual and physical sides of life... This practice frees one from the body consciousness and all the vices that arise from it: lust, greed, anger, fear, attachment, ego, envy, from all negative habits.

5) Our health improves by relieving stress since internal conflicts end, and harmony of mind and intellect, soul and body comes. There is a very deep connection between our state of mind and our body. A stressful state of mind is the cause in ninety percent of physical illness. Only when the mind is healthy is the body healthy.

6) By controlling the mind, we are able to control our thoughts and senses and also use your time economically. The intellect gains strength, thanks to which it can easily adapt, accept criticism and change.

The practice of meditation stops the VD-internal dialogue. Knowing the philosophy of karma, we understand that all the suffering that we are experiencing at the present time, we deserve by committing sinful actions in this and past births, thus accumulating the account of sinful actions.

7) By practicing Raja Yoga, we close the old account of wrong and sinful actions... Raja yoga is compared to fire: it, like fire, burns old vicious sanskaras, removes impurity and negativity from the soul. The soul is cleansed, receives a lot of strength, becomes light and light. The soul seems to grow wings; she experiences supersensible joy and bliss, which is more than happiness.

8) Spiritual forces develop.

Eight Spiritual Forces:

1. Strength of Packing

This is the ability to leave (store) in your mind and consciousness only what is necessary. Thanks to this power, we do not carry negative and empty thoughts with us everywhere, which frees us from mental and physical fatigue. We save our energy and keep a positive outlook on things and situations.

2. The Power of Patience

This is the ability to go beyond the influence of negative situations, to be able not to react to negativity even in thoughts. Even if someone provokes me to insult, criticism or anger, if physical suffering comes, then I can remain internally calm and joyful thanks to this power.

Someone may mistreat us, criticize unfairly, insult us, but a true yogi does not feel irritation or discontent even in his thoughts.

Stones are thrown into a fruit tree, and it gives fruit in return, just as we give everyone pure feelings and good wishes, accepting victories and defeats, praise and glorification with dignity.

Only on the basis of the consciousness of the Soul can I give souls true Love, Strength and Peace.

3. The Power of Acceptance

This is the ability to be above any conflicts and negative situations. Get along with those who have weaknesses and shortcomings, but at the same time do not spread this garbage around you, talking about them with others. Just like the ocean, which can take in all the rivers ...

4. Power of Discrimination

With this power, we can shape our thoughts, words and actions, as well as the thoughts, words and actions of others. Just as a jeweler can recognize and distinguish a fake diamond from a real one, so I must be able to maintain positive, worthy thoughts and abandon negative and harmful ones. It is negative thoughts that often cast a shadow, interfering with true discrimination. Through meditation we eliminate them.

5. The Power to Make Decisions

This power allows you to make clear, quick, accurate and impartial decisions. To do this, we need to be above the influence of situations, emotions and views of others. It also requires a very clear understanding of what is wrong and what is right.

Raja Yoga meditation gives the intellect such clarity and strength, thanks to the understanding and awareness of your inner world.

6. Power of Endurance

This strength helps to maintain calmness and inner stability when serious problems and obstacles come in life. Such courage develops in the soul through meditation, through which we experience our original nature (peace, strength, love ...) and become detached from the consciousness of the physical costume. Then we are able to avoid falling under the influence of problems, highlighting the positive side of what seemed absolutely negative.

Having understood the Knowledge about the soul, the three aspects of time, the law of Karma, one can cope with any situations with courage.

7. The Power of Collaboration

Developing this power requires a gaze of spiritual consciousness so that we can see everyone as our brothers. This creates unity and increases the strength of the team. Thanks to this collaboration, every task is easy.

8. Power to Disconnect

This is the art of turning your thoughts to a point (a state of introversion). We have many moments in life when there is no great need to involve our mind and intellect in work, then instead of wasting time and energy, we can go beyond the sound and consciousness of the body, go to the eternal House of the soul, to the Supreme Father. This controlling force brings consciousness to the highest form of concentration and fills the soul with divine power.

9) Willpower develops

10) Intuition develops

11) The soul is freed from the "burden": depression, guilt and depression go away.

12) A person easily gets rid of bad habits.

13) Establishes a healthy daily routine and lifestyle

14) Develops self-esteem and self-confidence

15) The general level of vitality rises: optimism and activity

16) The accuracy of actions increases and virtues develop:

Carelessness

Fearlessness

Politeness

Flexibility

Foresight

Discipline

Benevolence

Kindness

Maturity

Introversion (introspection)

Sincerity

Ease

Love

Mercy

Courage

Indefatigability

Unselfishness

Obedience

Acceptance (the ability to appreciate the virtues in others and adopt them)

Simplicity

Joyfulness

Determination

Self esteem

Modesty

Sweetness, sweetness

Humility

Cooperation

Patience

Tolerance

Accuracy

Confidence

Satisfaction

Royalty

Honesty

Purity

Enthusiasm

17) Analytical skills are improved.

18) Creativity improves.

Theory

The word yoga means union or union; It involves controlling the mind, intellect and controlling the five senses through daily meditation practice.The soul is cleansed and receives a lot of strength, it becomes light and bright ...

Raja Yoga is a loving memory of the Supreme Father. People are more likely to remember the person from whom they receive something. And therefore, if we learn and realize what can be obtained through this practice, we will have a goal and there will be time for its implementation. The Supreme Soul is Almighty. He is like the Ocean, and from Him you can get all the treasures.

Target

Raja Yoga is the highest of the teachings, because its goal is perfection. Not just a little change in a person for the better, no. The very goal of Raja Yoga, by definition, is perfection. It is recognized that the soul was divine. Now she has lost her divinity. But it can be returned. That is, Raja Yoga deals with the soul. Yoga (connection) is understood as a method through which the very essence of a person, the very nature of the soul, that is, sanskar (habits) is transformed. This means that the negative qualities accumulated over the past several millennia will disappear, and the original divinity will shine again.

Method

The goal of Raja Yoga is perfection. Her method is connection with the Supreme. Connecting myself with different people or even with prophets and messengers, I cannot reach my most exalted state. But when I unite with the Almighty, I gain strength to eliminate my shortcomings, assimilate all the virtues. I am reaching perfection.

The stage of perfection

THE LEVEL OF PERFECTION can be defined as a state in which the soul is COMPLETELY SINNESS, GOOD, FILLED WITH ALL DIVINE GIFTS AND QUALITIES, in which VIOLENCE IS COMPLETELY ABOVE, the soul leads a higher lifestyle.

The teachings transmitted to us by the Almighty, and the method of meditation that He gives us, make this possible. Yoga means union, Raja Yoga means union with the Supreme. This is the highest of all unions. This is the yoga through which the soul attains perfection.

I become the master of myself, the master of my thoughts and feelings, of my “I”. I can develop in the direction I choose myself. Instead of being a blind instrument in the hands of circumstances, events of the external world and even the will of other people, the soul sees the goal and will go towards it with constancy and inflexibility. Achieving this goal is her highest task..

Practice Meditation

Meditation is a process of pure sublime reflection, a journey into the depths of oneself, comprehension of one's inner world and awareness of one's spiritual essence. Spiritual consciousness (self-awareness) helps in the development of personality and the disclosure of inner potential.

States of meditation

Raja Yoga has two meanings.

First- "Royal Yoga", that is, the practice thanks to which I - the soul, become the king of myself, the master of my thoughts and feelings.
Second meaning- "The Highest Union" or "Connection with the Most High", thanks to which we receive the powers of God. This "union" gives us a feeling of inner happiness, the enjoyment of a state of purity, peace and bliss.

To establish an accurate and strong Yoga (connection) with the Almighty, one must have an accurate idea of oneself as a soul, as well as of the Supreme Soul, that is, of the One with Whom we want to meet.

You also need to understand what "language" we can communicate with Him, and about the place where the meeting can take place - about our House, the World of Souls. But all this knowledge must be present in us at the level of practice: one must constantly be aware of oneself with the soul.
Then only we will be able to take our thoughts away from the body and from the material world, tuning in to the wave of God. Then we achieve union with Him, directing thoughts full of love to the Father.

1st stage - Attitude.
External silence is important here. You need to relax, calm your thoughts, be aware of your thoughts and slow down their movement. If extraneous or empty thoughts appear in the mind, then they must be noticed and transformed, replacing them with positive strong thoughts.

We begin to create thoughts about ourselves (soul), about the Supreme Soul and about the Eternal Home. At the same time, you need not only to think about it, but to visualize every thought, try to feel it, realize it, penetrate into the depth ... Thinking about peace and strength, feel peace and be filled with strength ...

3rd stage - Concentration.
This state occurs when the mind stops wandering. There is no longer a need to create thoughts, since we become the embodiment of strong thoughts: about the soul, about the Supreme Soul ...
Thoughts and feelings merge together.

4th stage - Awareness.
Pure sensation replaces thoughts. The soul experiences lightness and freedom.
Rays of light, strength, peace, purity, vibrations of love coming from the Supreme Soul fill the soul and spread throughout the world.

Practical exercises for meditation

Exercise number 1

Choose a quiet place so that your hearing and sight have no unnecessary distractions. If you want, you can turn on quiet, gentle music to help create an atmosphere of relaxation and lightness. Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight. Read the following words slowly and quietly. (Try to experience and see in your mind's eye everything that is said so that you really feel what these words express):

Outside this room, nothing exists ... I feel completely isolated from the outside world and free to study myself ... I direct all my attention inward, concentrating all the energy of my thoughts in the center of my forehead ... I separate from my physical body and physical environment ... I begin to realize the silence inside and outside myself ... The feeling of natural peace takes over me ... Waves of peace gently wash over me, eliminating any anxiety ... I concentrate on this feeling of deep peace ... There is only peace ... I am peace itself ... Peace is my true state of being ... My mind becomes very quiet and clear ... I feel light and content ... returning to my natural state - the state of calm ... I sit, enjoying this feeling of peace and quiet ...

The best time for this kind of meditation is in the morning, before you start your day's activities, and in the evening, when you have finished all your activities. The duration of the exercise is 10 minutes. Throughout the day, keep reminding yourself that peace is your true nature. As you practice meditation, these calm, positive thoughts will appear more and more in your mind, and peace of mind will gradually begin to become more natural.

WHO AM I?

At first glance, it seems that such a simple question is very easy to answer. But as you begin to think about it, you realize that your name or description of your physical appearance is not enough to describe the myriad of thoughts, moods, actions and reactions that make up your life.

Even describing your actions confuses you because you are playing different roles. You start the day, maybe, as a wife, then at work you become a secretary, an official or a teacher, at dinner you check your son's lessons. Which of these roles is yours? In every role you play, different qualities of your personality are manifested. Sometimes you feel that you have to play so many different and opposite roles that you no longer know who you are. If you meet your boss at a party, and at the same time your parents and friends come up to you, you become confused, not knowing how to behave. And you have not only established a certain way of interacting with them yourself, but you have also limited them in your mind to a certain role. You are capable of treating them only as your boss or as your parents, but not just as other people. Yet you realize that your true personality is not determined by the role you play. Who are you really?

You need something permanent, reliable and unchanging. This is how our bodies appear. But we all know that this is an illusion, because our body does not remain constant and unchanged.

In meditation, we turn to our ability to think and identify with it, because we always have thoughts, regardless of our age. Their content may change, but our ability to think is unchanged.

First of all, "I" is a thinking, feeling being. And thoughts are not something physical that can be felt with the help of physical senses. You cannot see a thought or taste it.

“I” is not a physical, but a spiritual being. And we use the word "soul" to refer to it.

The soul is something that cannot be destroyed, something indivisible, beyond any physical dimension. The soul is the source of everything you do, all thoughts, all words, all actions. Everything that you do, think or say, is done by you, the soul, through your body.

Your true personality is your soul, and everything else is just different roles that you play: teacher, woman, mother, friend, relative. A good actor or actress can play any role. They will play their part as well as they can, but they will never really think, "I am Hamlet" or "I am Cleopatra." They know that no matter how they get used to their roles, at the end of the day they will take off their costumes and return to their true identity. So, no matter what role you need to play, you should always understand and remember that your true nature - the soul - is a living, spiritual, eternal essence, and your body is just a temporary physical suit.

The soul initially possesses its inherent natural qualities that you are looking for. The first quality is peace. All you need to do is to feel yourself as who you really are, that is, to constantly be aware of yourself as a soul. This is what is called "spiritual consciousness." This can be experienced not only during meditation, but also in the process of performing actions. As you become more and more aware of who is performing each action, you gain more and more control over your thoughts, feelings, words and actions. Then the natural awareness of your true nature fills all your actions, and the desire for peace of mind is fulfilled.

During meditation, you begin to think about your true nature. You fill your mind with thoughts of the soul and its true qualities. In the beginning, it doesn't matter how quickly thoughts arise, as long as they go in the right direction. If thoughts get distracted, you gently return them to thinking about the soul again. Once you start experiencing the right thoughts, you start enjoying them. A simple phrase: "I am a calm soul" comes true when you begin to experience it.

Exercise: experience detachment from the body. When you look at someone, do not pay attention to name, race, gender or age, look at him as a soul, the same as you, but just playing a different role. This will help you develop the qualities you need to remain calm at all times, such as patience, tolerance, and love.

Exercise number 2

Choose a place that is quiet and peaceful. It is good if this is a room that you do not use often. If this is not possible, then choose a corner where familiar objects would not distract your attention. Always sit in the same place, and gradually it will itself remind you of your goal - of meditation. This little mental preparation will help you concentrate. The exercise time is 10-15 minutes. Lighting should be soft and calm. You can turn on pleasant soft music.

When you finish your meditation, take at least one minute to reflect on your experiences. See how your mood has changed.

Another tip that will bring you greatbenefit.Meditate not only when you feel like it. The greatest progress is possible when you really do not want to meditate or when you feel that you cannot meditate. This is the time when you need meditation most of all!

I withdraw my attention from the physical body ... I focus on myself ... I listen through these ears ... I look through these eyes ... I am behind these eyes ... I am an eternal spark of life energy ... This life energy gives strength to the body ... I am a non-physical entity ... eternal soul. I am an actor ... this body is just my costume ... I focus my thoughts on a point in the center of my forehead ... a tiny point of conscious light ... I feel completely detached from the body ... calm and light ... I am a star emitting light ... Inside myself I find a deep peace and contentment ... Now I know my true "I" ... Eternal, pure, calm soul ... I am an ocean of peace ... all conflicts are over ... a deep, deep silence takes possession of me ... I am a calm soul.

SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Why should the thought “I am a calm soul” be of more benefit to you than the thought “I am the body”? It allows you to be detached from the role you are playing. The most important thing is to understand what the word “detachment” means. It does not mean striving for external or internal isolation, when all connections are interrupted. It also does not mean that you become an indifferent observer of what is happening around. This word means that you have the awareness that you are an actor.

You play your role with great enthusiasm and love, but you do not allow grief, situations or people to influence your own understanding that you are a calm person. In fact, the word “detached” cannot be separated from the word “loving”. Realizing yourself with your soul, you feel your natural qualities: peace, love and happiness, and it is with them that detachment should be associated with you. You simply do not allow external factors to influence you, your true state of peace.

Spiritual awareness will help you improve your attitude towards yourself and others. You will stop comparing yourself to others, and move on to realizing your own worth. This will not in any way lead to a feeling of superiority, but simply to a sense of stability and self-confidence. Self-doubt is replaced by deep faith in yourself. You will understand that you are surrounded by the same souls, whose qualities are also peace, love and happiness.

When someone is angry with you, do not respond harshly, feeling threatened. A quarrel will surely begin. This is a manifestation of the bodily consciousness. Instead of seeing a calm soul in the interlocutor, you look at his role and think that this is his true nature.

Spiritual consciousness can help you.

Realize that their anger must be related to their own confusion. This will serve as your protection and you will not invent an attack threat when there is none. Plus, a calm reaction will help defuse the atmosphere.

When you are determined to look at people as souls, then you will respond to their anger in a completely different way, regarding it as something temporary and not inherent in their nature.

When spiritual consciousness appears, spiritual understanding comes after it, spiritual vision opens. Treat the people around you like little children, because they do not even understand who they are (and they are also souls). They identify with the role they play, be patient with them, give them love and positive emotions. They will definitely feel it. They just don't know, so why be angry with them?

Spiritual awareness also allows you to feel natural in the company of other people. Ease and simplicity in communication on your part helps them to feel free. They see that you are not expecting anything from them. You see only good in them. Increasing love and respect for other souls develops as you realize your spiritual relationship with them. This is the realization that we are all friends in misfortune, living in the same world.

Exercise number 3

The first step is to simply relax. Many people would consider it a tremendous achievement if they were able to relax at will.

When we relax, everyday sorrows and worries disappear and our mind is free to think about subtle things.

What your mind is filled with, so are your experiences. Reflecting on peace helps you experience peace. And the more you relax, the deeper becomes a pleasant feeling of relaxation and tranquility, spreading from within.

When meditating, use very simple thoughts or uncomplicated topics. Two or three carefully selected thoughts are enough. Repeat them calmly, giving yourself ample time to explore the feelings behind them. For instance:

Peace is like drowning in a feather bed ...

Lightness is flying on a cloud ...

Love is a warm golden glow in my mind ...

Exercise number 4

As you immerse yourself in such thoughts and experiences, you will gradually feel that you move away from worldly thoughts and tensions and become light and free. Now you have gained spiritual consciousness, awareness of your true nature. It is this ease of awareness that you need to bring into your daily life in order to easily and effectively overcome any problems and obstacles that arise in front of you. Like a flying bird, mountains will appear to you as small bumps.

For the next few days, take only two or three simple topics or phrases, such as these:

I am a calm soul ...

I am a being of light, filled with peace and love ...

carrying these feelings to others, to the whole world ...

Calmly ponder these thoughts, delving deeper and deeper into the experiences they cause, until your thoughts and feelings merge together. When this happens, the discord between what you do and what you think disappears, and the soul feels contentment and fulfillment.

Also, see others as souls who play a role, like actors.

ABILITY OF THE SOUL

Sitting and feeling peace is one thing, but actually using it to transform your life is something else. There may be a gap between intention and action, and then you have to say: "I didn't want to do that, but ..." or: "Sorry, I didn't mean to say that." To have complete control over your life, you need to not only know, but also understand the process of turning intention into action.

For example, a factory uses different materials and components: parts, nuts, bolts, electrical wires, paints, and so on. They are similar to your feelings and intentions. During the production process, these materials become a finished product that we can compare with action. But imagine that there is a recurring defect in these finished products. You could repair every item that leaves the assembly line, but that would be time-consuming and hard work. And besides, the factory was not built to release faulty goods.

Therefore, it will be a mistake to start changing your life simply by changing your actions outwardly. This will have an impact to some extent, but you will continue to encounter “faulty” activities coming off the “production stream” and it will feel like hard work without much reward.

Instead, check the “raw material” of your feelings and familiarize yourself with the “production process” of your desires and actions. The better we understand how we “work,” the easier it is for us to eliminate those actions that we do not want to do. What is a "manufacturing process"?

First and foremost, the path from experience to action is through thoughts. Thoughts arise in our mind. Thoughts, like the mind, cannot be regarded as something physical, it is the ability of the soul.

For example, you have a thought: "I want to drink a glass of juice."

Thought can be viewed in two aspects. The first is the thought itself, the second is the awareness or understanding of this thought. To understand thoughts, INTELLIGENCE is used.

With the help of this, the second, ability of the soul, we determine the value of what arises in the mind (thought). Therefore, when we say, “Think before you say,” we are asked to use our intellect and determine whether our thoughts are worthy of being spoken aloud.

The purpose of meditation is to put a brake on your thoughts.

There is the ability of the soul, which includes the ability to store the impressions left in the soul from the actions we have performed. These impressions are called SANSKARAMI. (This word is from Sanskrit, and there is no exact translation for it.) Habits, inclinations, temperament, manners are based on sanskaras, imprinted in the soul by the actions that she performed. Sanskaras create our personality in the same way that individual shots of a feature film create a narrative. Everything is recorded: whether it be a physical movement, a word, or even a thought.

In turn, the thoughts that arise in the mind in a given situation depend on the sanskaras, which determine the distinctive features of souls, their individuality.

You can create beautiful, positive sanskaras when you sit in meditation and feel calm. This sensation forms the sanskara of peace, which next time will replace the old sanskara of irritability.

Exercise number 5

Take one aspect that you would like to change in yourself. Several times a day create one or two very strong, positive thoughts that will help change a negative habit or character trait, investing in it all the energy and all the enthusiasm that you have. This will create a very strong sanskara. And when the positive thought “I want to change” comes into your mind again, it will bring with it an experience of enthusiasm, which will help you at the appropriate time to translate this intention into action.

For example, if you want to break the habit of criticizing people, continue to create a positive thought throughout the day:

"I will look at everyone as calm souls, I will only see their virtues and characteristics."

MAINTAINING BALANCE

Peace, detachment, ease, spiritual consciousness in meditation is wonderful, therefore, having received positive emotions in meditation, try to keep them as long as possible. And transfer the experience gained in meditation into your daily life.

There are four aspects to keep in mind in order to maintain inner balance. And if all four aspects are given due attention, then we can not only be in inner harmony, but also naturally progress. These aspects are: UNDERSTANDING, CONSCIOUSNESS, IMPLEMENTATION and GIVING.

UNDERSTANDING refers to the understanding of knowledge. You already know the basic facts: "I am the soul, my nature is peace." By scrolling this information in your mind, playing with it, comparing it to your life, you begin to create a complete picture. One day you will come to understand that you are in control of any situation.

AWARENESS refers to meditation and is the basis of the experience. Even if you can establish all the logical connections between the pieces of information received, but until you have realized their true meaning, you cannot say that you have understood them. For example, of two students who read the same poem without error and are equally capable of retelling its content, one can become so imbued with its meaning that it will change his whole life, while for the other this poem will remain only an exercise for developing memory.

How can we understand the meaning of such words as peace, love, soul, detachment?

Only after experiencing them.

The true meaning of the word "peace", its deepest content is the experience of peace. It also gives you a foundation for faith, because only when the word and the experience coincide can the soul feel confidence and conviction. For example, politicians or salespeople often make us feel uncomfortable because we do not feel enough sincerity or truth in their words. What they say does not always reflect their thoughts or facts in reality.

EMBODIMENT refers to actions. We have just talked about the harmony between knowledge and experience. If there is a contradiction between them, then trust and stability disappear. There is a need to restore the balance between "internal" and "external". If you sat in meditation and felt like a peaceful soul, and then immediately after that you became angry with someone, then this makes the experience of peace meaningless, and the soul will feel confusion and confusion. Meditation needs to be made practical by translating its positive power into action. It is wonderful to experience an exalted state in meditation, but your goal is to manifest during the day only those states, glimpses of which were previously difficult to achieve in meditation.

In general, translating the results of meditation into practice should be conscious. This will not happen supernaturally or by itself if you do not pay attention to it.

If even during meditation you catch the sanskara of peace, the old sanskara of anxiety can continue to create negative thoughts in your mind for a long time, and sometimes very strong ones. And only with the help of the conscious can you recognize and change your behavior. Your every refusal to act on the prompting of your sanskara will weaken it.

It is important to understand here that you will never make progress if you do not make an effort to practically change your negative actions and habits. If your good thoughts during meditation constantly contradict your actions, your mind will turn into a battlefield instead of becoming an abode of peace.

GIFTING Is a harmonious and altruistic attitude towards people.

You should pay special attention to this aspect also because it is the relationships with others that fuel your anxiety. It's easy to be friendly and generous when everyone is friendly and generous. Unfortunately, in today's world we often find ourselves in situations where relationships range from mildly uncomfortable to openly hostile. In such situations, the practice of giving becomes your reliable protection. It protects you from negative experiences, and also brings benefit to any unfortunate person who has reached the point of aggressiveness. You cannot give and receive at the same time, so if you intend to spread only peace and good wishes, then you have no reciprocal feelings of fear, resentment or awakening anger.

If you are still angry or allow carelessness, then this suggests that you need to return to repeating the material already passed through.

Giving means that you have no desire to receive an answer or a reward. Such giving is true, selfless, and pure.

The bestowal will still come to you, at least in the form of happiness and satisfaction, and there is no need to desire or expect this. When you have already gained sufficient experience in the practice of meditation, then donation will occur without the help of words. The knowledge and experience of meditation will become so part of your life that you will give others a sense of peace and virtue simply by being in spiritual consciousness. It will become so natural for you that you will simply always be in spiritual consciousness without thinking about it.

When all four aspects: understanding, awareness, embodiment and giving are in harmonious balance, the soul will be in harmony with itself and others. This state of practical spiritual consciousness is called "liberation while alive."

Exercise number 6

Practice detachment from your own thoughts. Feel that you, the soul, are sitting in a movie theater and watching your own thoughts appear on the screen of your mind. They will gradually slow down. If you find that your mind is disobedient or even negative, focus on the thought: “I am a soul. I am a calm and peaceful soul. "

KARMA

Karma is one of the laws of the universe. When you were not yet aware of your true nature and fully identified yourself with your physical costume, you did not understand that your every action leaves a deep mark. Now, having learned that you are a soul, you began to realize that every action leaves a record that you carry with you. You found it very difficult to determine what was right and what was wrong. In different periods, your definition of right and wrong has changed.

What is the criterion by which you could determine absolutely exactly what is right and what is wrong?

Only in the consciousness of your true self - “calm soul”, you are able to understand exactly what is right and what is wrong. The soul can perform actions simply by being in spiritual consciousness. These actions will be beneficial actions that bring happiness and positive results.

In the bodily consciousness, pure intentions are not behind actions. In this case, your actions are performed with hidden selfish motives, such as greed, arrogance, and so on, and therefore they bring sadness and negative results. What matters is the consciousness with which the actions are performed.

The law of Karma, the law of bestowal, applies to the spiritual realm and is absolute.

It says that every action has a return. What

You commit to the world and to other people, you get back in equal amounts.

If you bring happiness, then sooner or later you will receive happiness in return; if you cause sorrow, then you will receive sorrow in return.

The law is simple, but being assimilated in all its depth, it can provide an opportunity to penetrate into the meaning of world events. There are many expressions to illustrate this truth. For example: "You reap what you sow." Karma is also known as the law of cause and effect.

Having understood this, you realize that the effect can take place only when there is a cause. So, Karma (which literally means "action") is the cause, and the fruit of Karma is the effect. Everything that happens to you is due to your past actions or Karma.

Usually people tend to forget that they themselves are responsible for what they have. If the fruits of Karma are bitter, you point your finger at others, saying that they are responsible for your suffering. But now you understand that if there is sorrow, then you yourself are the cause of it. Rather, your previous actions. Understanding the law of Karma means responsibility for every situation, for your entire life. And even for the lives of their children and grandchildren, up to the seventh generation.

Sometimes only half of the law of Karma is understood, that which concerns predestination. Someone may think in despair: “Everything that is happening to me now is due to my previous actions, and therefore there is nothing I can do about it. This is my destiny. " This is certainly true. Awareness of this truth brings great patience, acceptance, and endurance.

However, the other half of the law of Karma is no less important: by your conscious, pure actions, you can create your own future.

Due to the negative actions that you have committed in the past, you have got into "karmic debts". But there is no point in wasting time grieving, just now you have to work off this debt, bringing happiness. You must close your past karmic account. However, this does not mean at all that Karma will change immediately, as soon as you change your attitude towards others. With the help of spiritual consciousness, over time, you will certainly receive love and respect from others in return. Every action performed in the spiritual consciousness is an action, the benefit of which extends to everyone, including you. In the spiritual consciousness, you are connected to eternity, and you do not get impatient to see the results as soon as possible. But the results will and will be much faster than you think. Your attitude to life has changed, and as a result, the reality around you has changed. Thought is the seed of action. What the thought is, so is the result. Thoughts, like actions, spread vibrations (color the aura) and affect the energy around you. Karma will return these vibrations to you. Pure, calm, happy thoughts are the most valuable treasure of your life. If you keep wholesome thoughts in your mind, then you will create a pure energy of peace and happiness. If you do not have control over your actions, you will not have control over your mind. This ties in to the previous lesson: if you slow down, you give yourself more time to do things properly. Work done in a hurry always contains mistakes that need to be corrected, which will require even more work. A job done well leaves you in a calm state of mind.

Concentrate fully on what you are doing in the present, and this will allow you to have complete control over both the mind and the body. Continue to take actions in the spiritual consciousness so that you can remain light and calm.

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Raja Yoga is meditation on Paramatma (Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu), but this Vishnu comes from Krishna. Therefore, bhakti yoga (Krishna consciousness) is superior to raja yoga.

This is not true. We are not meditating on Paramatma, Vishnu or Krishna. Raja Yoga is a loving memory of The Supreme Father.

Every person has two fathers. One is corporeal (each person has his own), and the other is the Incorporeal, or Spiritual Father (He is one for all the souls of the world).

He is the Father of all souls, and therefore all of us as souls are brothers. The whole world is one single family.
Knowing and finding God as a Father, we find each other, feel our kinship.

The literal translation of the words Raja Yoga means "union" (Yoga - union, union) with the "Supreme". Therefore, practicing Raja Yoga meditation, we direct our thoughts to God and thus unite our mind with the Supreme Father. But in order for this union (Yoga) to take place, it is necessary to know exactly God - the Spiritual Father. More details here:

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Exercise number 7

SEE YOURSELF FROM THE LIGHT SIDE

You are a bright soul.
You shine with the light of your natural energy - peace, purity, unconditional love, joy, willpower ... and you transform everything around.
Your energy of enthusiasm brings hope to everyone;
Your strength of peace becomes a support in difficult times;
Your benevolence heals hearts like a balm;
the power of your faith helps you to receive God's help at every step ...

You have a GREAT energy (like the sun)!
You are the younger sun, the sun in your life.
The light of your soul energy illuminates everything around.

Perhaps you are not completely happy with what you have now,
but since you created, attracted into your life what surrounds you now,
then you can create something else!
All in your hands! You are the sun!
You are the creator of your life.

What time do you think
Is your energy at its maximum?
Today (to be precise, here and now)
Just as the heat of the sun dissipates with distance, so your energy dissipates when your thoughts move away from the present.

Right now show in your thoughts a sense of your own spiritual purity or serenity, joy or unconditional love, your inner strength ...
Keep this soul light in your inner gaze for as long as possible, and its power will grow. After all, where attention will be directed, energy will go there, and it will increase!

Now creates yours today,
today creates your tomorrow,
tomorrow creates a week
week - month,
month year,
and the year creates life!

Live your life to the fullest now!

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Exercise number 8 INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE

Engaging your mind with positive thoughts that fill your soul with happiness and strength is an art. If you do not give the mind any task, then, like a small child, it begins to wander in different directions, being attracted to one, then to another, or falls under the influence of some external circumstances and situations that are not always a source of joy and inspiration. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop," says popular wisdom.

The great art is to occupy your mind and plan not only physical activities, but to assign work to your intellect so that it is always occupied with some useful thoughts. Otherwise, emptiness appears, and the energy is wasted on something useless, and then fatigue comes ... Protect yourself from this!

To do this, you can practice soul consciousness and reflect on the virtues of the soul, think about the qualities of God and feel your eternal connection with Him ... You can make a whole list of thoughts that fill the soul with strength and happiness, and daily choose something for practice, again and plunge into it again, try to feel and deeply experience.

For instance:
“I am a calm soul. Wherever I am, I spread peace. "
"I, the embodiment of peace, I change the atmosphere, filling it with peace and joy."
"God is the Ocean of Love, and I am His child who gives only love to everyone."
"God is my Companion, so all my affairs are solved easily and joyfully."

A decisive thought will help to practice this: "Today the intellect will necessarily act according to such and such a program." If a promise is made in relation to something, then the power to fulfill it appears: "It will certainly be done!" If you just think about it, there will be no strength yet. This is the same as with physical affairs: no matter how many of them there are, but having given a promise, we fulfill them. And time is allocated for this, and excuses are rejected. The same is true of the intelligence plans.
Thanks to this practice, there will be very rapid spiritual progress.

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Exercise number 9

BE A STRONG SOUL

Our efforts to gain spiritual strength are based on the idea of each person as a spiritual being and that the original nature of every human soul is it is peace, happiness and purity... The perception of a person only as a bodily being leads to a personality crisis, "blackout", loss of vital energy, which in turn aggravates the crisis in the area of the most important values and relationships. The further predominance of bodily consciousness, shortcomings and weaknesses in human life leads humanity to a state filled with problems, conflicts, stress, losses. The decline has already reached such a state that reliance on the power of science and politics is increasingly looking like an illusion. Life itself makes each of us turn to spirituality ...

The soul is able to regain strength only by establishing a loving union with the Supreme Soul with the help of its mind and intellect.

To create your own strong, stable state and unite on the basis of spiritual principles and wisdom - this is the call of time.

Thoughts for Pondering:

The power of the soul- this is power over oneself, which means being able to control one's mind, intellect, and senses.

The power of the soul- this is creative energy, which is necessary to improve the character and education of virtues, the revival of the best human relationships and the transformation of the world.

The image of a strong soul ...

This is freedom from fear, envy, suspicion, depression and anxiety ...

Strong soul creates around itself an atmosphere of joy, purity and peace.

Strong soul always maintains goodwill and emotional balance.

Strong soul is able to win everyone's heart with her simplicity, sincerity and honesty.

Strong soul nobody and nothing blames for the situations in which she found herself, and is not justified.

Strong soul is like a flowing river, which is not attached to anyone, but will willingly give drink to everyone who meets on its way.

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Exercise number 10 CONSCIOUSNESS CONTROL

If there is chaos inside, then outside it will be double. To control consciousness means to control, first of all, thoughts. To begin with, it is very important to set a goal for yourself: “I always keep my peace, calmness of mind. This is a great feeling! No matter what happens, I remain unperturbed as an outside observer. "
If you are detached and simply observe the situation, it will not affect your state of mind. Then your actions will become calm and correct. This cannot be achieved without detachment. Repeat to yourself over and over again:

“I am always calm ...
I am always at peace ...
I feel my inner silence ...
Under any circumstances, I remain calm ... ".

Watch yourself: how long can you remain in silence? There is no chaos of thoughts, you just watch the thoughts arise, giving them direction and remaining completely calm and peaceful. Peace appears inside, which you enjoy.

Peace is a natural state of mind... It is like a necklace around our neck while we are trying to find it somewhere.

Now we are all very restless, so we often get confused, not knowing what to do. Each of us, of course, has a similar experience. If someone touches us on the tram or makes a comment, what a whirlwind of thoughts swirls in the mind! What for? The action has taken place, nothing can be changed, and continuing to create thoughts about this situation means losing your inner strength. The trash of empty thoughts makes me dirty, tired, upset. A sign of empty thoughts is despair, loss of happiness, no enjoyment of life, complete loss of control over thoughts.

Sometimes we don't even understand why the mood suddenly deteriorates. We begin to think intensely: “It seems that I did not commit any sins, did not make any mistakes, why is there absolutely no joy? What is the reason?".

Why would you be drawn into the stream of these reflections? Do not waste time on them, do not burden your account of empty thoughts. It is better to quickly return to yourself bright, pure thoughts.
It's like a physical illness. The illness may not be serious at first. And it manifests itself only in a mild form, but then a mild form develops into a severe one. And if we do not notice it in a mild form, then in a serious one we see it very well. Likewise, a waste. The empty account grows and grows. It should be closed as soon as possible, constantly controlling thoughts and increasing the supply of bright, kind thoughts in the mind. And regularly check the savings account: how much have I saved in a day? However, we often notice and check the empty space in others, not realizing that we need to check ourselves. It is clear that one is tested internally, and others externally, so it is easier to test others.

If you are in a bad mood, ask yourself: “ What good have I done for others today? To whom was I useful? Who has dried up tears and felt light in the heart, because I was there? ". If thoughts are empty, then what will be the words, actions? You need to learn to manage your thoughts, live without offenses, assessments, patterns.

Experiment. Take a piece of paper, a pen, and for two minutes, write down the thoughts that arise in your mind.

Do you like it? How many bright thoughts were there? Be attentive to your own thoughts - your condition and your destiny depend on them.

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Exercise number 11 RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Who is he?
What is He?
What does He do?
What does He inspire? ...

When we say "God," everyone's intellect turns upward.
"God, Allah, Ishwar ..." are all the same. The Father of all souls is One.
Eliminating Sadness and Giving Happiness to All - One!
Ocean of Knowledge, Ocean of Love, Ocean of Peace, Ocean of Bliss, Cleansing - One God.
It cannot be seen with the eyes. It cannot be recognized by the gross intellect ...

In order to see and recognize Him, you need to open the "Inner Vision" ...
Let your inner vision become pure and divine, then you can know Him.
It is very important to see Him and know Him ...

Raja Yoga Meditation considers the person as a soul and provides an opportunity for direct connection and relationship with the Supreme Source of the purest energy and highest consciousness. Raja Yoga can be translated as "supreme union" or as "union with the Supreme". Every soul has a right to experience this highest relationship.

Everyone in this world is looking for love and understanding. Everyone strives for harmony in relationships. However, conflicts, tears, suffering are everywhere. When there is no peace and strength in the soul, when there is no love and joy left in the heart, what can such a soul give to another soul? What can you expect from others if their mental strength is depleted and their inner state is at the limit?

There is only one inexhaustible source of spiritual strength, selfless love and boundless happiness. This is God, the Supreme Soul - the One who is called Mother and Father. It is He, being incorporeal, who can give every soul the sweetness of all relationships and fill with strength.

Feel That God Is Yours loving mother, which accepts each of her children and says: "Whoever you are, whoever you are, you are mine." God does not look at color, nationality, origin, poverty or wealth - it does not matter to Him. He is ready to accept and understand every soul, embracing him in the arms of love and light.

How Father God fills us with strength. He is the Truth. He is Almighty. He is the Greatest Authority. Unite your mind with Him, realizing yourself as a soul, and He will fill you with strength. When we remember God, realizing that we are souls, His children, His qualities automatically begin to influence us, we are colored with the color of His society. The Father's virtues become our property.

How Teacher God shows you how to lead a virtuous life. He never loses hope as he continues to explain with love and patience. God again and again gives us the opportunity to learn, develop, move forward, regardless of past mistakes.

God is my Friend and Companion... He gives me lightness and joy of life. He tells me, “Don't hold sorrow in your heart. Whatever it is, tell me - and I will help. " As a Friend, he provides invaluable support. Make Him your friend and companion and you will see miracles begin to happen in your life. With such a Companion, there can be no worries or fears. Then no matter what happens, everything is good.

Feeding on happiness and filling with strength from the relationship with God, the soul becomes able to benefit others by its mere presence. When the soul acquires the Love of the Supreme Benefactor, the Giver, it naturally begins to radiate the light of His Love. Then the world around is transformed. Choose a place that is quiet so that your hearing and sight are not distracted.
If desired, you can turn on the appropriate music to help create an atmosphere of relaxation and lightness. Usually at the beginning of the practice (when we start to learn the practice of meditation) music helps to tune in to the desired wave.

Download meditation music:

Sit in any comfortable position with your back straight. You can sit on a pillow or a special rug on the floor with your legs crossed, or, if this is uncomfortable, just in a chair.

Prepare your meditation text in advance and read it slowly.
At the same time, try to deeply feel and see with your mind's eye everything that you read. Become aware of the depth of meaning in each sentence. Put this into practice - in your inner state.

Outside this room, nothing exists ... I am completely detached from the outside world. I direct all my attention inward, concentrating all energy in the center of my forehead ... I separate from my physical body and physical environment ... I begin to realize the silence inside and outside myself ... The feeling of natural peace takes possession of me ... Waves of peace gently wash over me, eliminating any anxiety and the tension of my mind ... There is only peace. I concentrate on this feeling of deep peace ... I am peace itself ... Peace - it my true state of being ... My mind becomes very quiet and clear ... I feel light and satisfied, ... returning to my natural state - the state of calm ...

I sit enjoying this feeling of peace and quiet ...

I withdraw my attention from the physical body ... I focus on myself ... I listen through these ears ... I look through these eyes ... I am behind these eyes ... I am an eternal spark of vital energy ... This vital energy gives strength to the body ... I am not the body - I am a soul. This body is just my costume ... I focus my thoughts on a point in the center of my forehead ... a tiny point of conscious light ... I feel completely detached from the body ... calm and light ... I am a star emitting light ... Within myself I find deep peace and contentment ... Now I know my true "I" ... I am an Eternal, pure, calm soul ... I am an ocean of peace ... all conflicts are over ... a deep, deep silence takes possession of me ... I am a calm soul.

Time
The best time to meditate is in the morning after washing or showering and before starting your daily activities; and the evening, when you have already finished all the cases.
For starters, don't sit (in meditation) for too long or too little. 10-15 minutes is best. Gradually, as you become more experienced, this time will naturally increase.

Completion
When you finish your meditation, take at least a moment to reflect on your experiences. See how your mood and inner state have changed since you plunged into meditation.

How to get experiences and sensations in meditation

To establish a stable Yoga (connection with God), you need to go through 4 stages:

2nd stage - Meditation (positive thinking).
We begin to create thoughts about ourselves (soul), about the Supreme Soul and about the Eternal Home. At the same time, you need not only to think about it, but to visualize every thought, try to feel it, realize it, penetrate into the depth ... Thinking about peace and strength, feel peace and be filled with strength ...

4th stage - Awareness.
Pure sensation replaces thoughts. The soul experiences lightness and freedom.
Rays of light, strength, peace, purity, vibrations of love coming from the Supreme Soul fill the soul and spread throughout the world.

The more we practice meditation, the easier it is for us to exercise control over our thoughts.

Over time, we stop the Internal Dialogue.Thoughts become much less.

If there is purity in our life, then we can achieve awareness

Video meditation:

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Raja Yoga, sometimes referred to as "Royal Yoga", is the totality of all yoga styles. Today, the essence of Raja Yoga goes beyond many areas of yoga.

Raja Yoga emphasizes the importance of meditation for self-realization and purposeful progress of human consciousness. This direction focuses on awareness of one's state of mind, therefore, Raja yoga is also called "Psychic Yoga" or "Yoga of Mind".

By practicing the state of concentration of the mind, a person learns to calm his mind and focus on one point. In the moment of deep concentration, we turn inward, discovering the true nature of the divine principle.

You can achieve this by following the eight-year Raja Yoga path, which includes observing the following:

Yama (abstinence): Ahimsa (without injury), Satya (truth), Aseta (without stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), Apragraha (not greed);
Niyama (Moral Observation): Dry (cleanliness) Santosha (satisfaction), Tapas (strictness), Swadhaya (study of the scriptures), Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to God);
Asana: steady posture, motionless posture;
Pranayama: control of vital energy through breathing and breathing practices;
Pratyahara: withdrawal, distraction of the senses;
Dharana: concentration of the mind;
Dhyana: meditation;
Samadhi: full realization, enlightenment, union with the divine.

These 8 steps of yoga will help a person to comprehend the basics of yoga, achieve harmony and clearly see the picture of the inner world, realize himself. Any spiritual path of yoga begins with the first two steps - Yama-Niyama.

Pit - Self-control

Yama means self-control and self-control. The first step, which preaches principles and negative qualities, which must be got rid of. Consists of 5 principles:

Ahimsa - the principle of non-violence

Ahimsa means that any living being has the right to life and it is not in our power to decide the fate of these living beings. In simple words - not to inflict pain, suffering, not to kill at the level of thought, word or action.

This includes the consumption of animal meat, since eating requires killing. According to the principle of ahimsa, yogis become vegetarians. This happens naturally, during the practice, purification of consciousness, you feel good and you want everyone to feel this state, even the animal that grew up to become food.

Animals are endowed with a strong instinct, a reflex, the process of which starts at the moment of awareness of impending death. Somehow they sense that their death is coming soon and a feeling of wild fear begins. At this moment, the hormones of fear and death are released throughout the body of the animal, which remain in the meat after killing.

Consuming meat, people do not even suspect why they can suddenly feel uncontrollable fear, outbreaks of anxiety, neuroses.

Satya - Truth

Always telling the truth is good and correct, but more important is how we communicate the truth. We have the ability to “throw” the truth at someone like a knife, but we are also able to dress that same truth in loving words.

Truth and truth are important, it is important not only to convey the truth, but also to convey the truth by your actions. Sometimes the truth can hurt like a knife, so you need to try to convey it delicately, tactfully and through your example. The teachings say not to violate the principle of non-violence in all available ways.

Take some advice about truth:

"Each of your words should fall like flowers from your lips."

Mahaprabhuji

Truthfulness means openness of feelings, freedom from evasion, resourcefulness and excuses. Each person should know his own truth and true face inside himself. Of course, for a while you can hide who we are from others, but we are pure in front of ourselves. We are witnessing true personality.

Asteya is not theft

Asteya says about the prohibition of theft. You have no right to take away what does not belong to you, be it material values or intellectual property. Asteya also concerns human feelings - one cannot take away joy, happiness or any opportunity from a person. This area also includes a disrespectful attitude towards nature, destruction of the environment around oneself.

Brahmacharya - a pure way of life

Brahmacharya is one of the stages of spiritual development, which means sexual abstinence or celibacy. But this is rather not an end in itself. but a consequence of the practice of yoga in life. All our thoughts should be directed towards spiritual development, towards the divine principle. At the same time, it is important to observe harmony in reality, to fulfill duties consciously. By observing brahmacharya, one also acquires virya (energy and heroism).

Aparigraha - Non-Aligned Possessions

Accumulation, buying and storing unnecessary things, excessive consumption - all this is not about aparigraha. The practice of aparigraha is not accepting gifts, not hoarding. The principle of aparigraha means that you should not have the feeling of striving for momentary gratification, even the simplest desires. A person should be satisfied with exactly what he has at a given moment in his life. The more property, the more worries. Less property means more freedom.

Niyama - Discipline

Niyama is the second step of yoga philosophy, which preaches the qualities that need to be included in your life. It also consists of five principles:

Shauka - Purity

Santosh - Satisfaction

Santosh is similar in meaning to aparigraha and means surprise with what we have. Adhering to the principle of satisfaction, a person is humble, satisfied with the prevailing circumstances and considers what he has to be the greatest wealth in his life. The inner feeling of contentment gives happiness much more than material possessions. In our time of materialism and consumerism, it is necessary to strive for balance.

Tapa - Self-control, Self-discipline

In our opinion, the most difficult rule, since it requires a lot of willpower and discipline. Tapa means following the direction of your development path through adversity and obstacles. You must practice with patience, diligence, and persistence. Sticking to the chosen path regardless of the circumstances is the path to success.

Swadhaya - Study of the Scriptures

Svadhaya means training, spiritual enlightenment of the traditional scriptures of yoga philosophy: Bhagavad-gita, Upanishads, yoga-sutras of Patanjali, etc. These scriptures convey valuable knowledge and provide invaluable assistance on the path to yoga.
Ishvara Pranidhana - Devotion to God

Convey whatever you do with the Divine Self with pure devotion. God protects all who betray with trust and faith.

Asana - steady posture, motionless posture

Asana is traditionally defined as "place." Most often this is a seated position used for meditation. Usually in yoga, this term is used to refer to any physical posture of hatha yoga. This is the third limb of the eightfold path of Patanjali Ashtanga, following Yama and Niyama.

Asana practice is considered important for yogis because it helps to keep the physical body healthy, strong and enduring. Considering that the body is a conduit for the spirit, taking care of the physical body is important for spiritual development. Asana practice can also bring a number of emotional and energetic benefits, increase discipline and concentration, and prepare the mind for meditation.

Pranayama - breathing exercises

This is the fourth step of yoga, which is mind control, achieved by learning to control the body and breath. Pranayama is performed to improve the movement of prana - living energy in the subtle body of a person. It is prana that gives a powerful impetus to work with energy and helps to achieve spiritual development.

Pratyahara - removal of the senses

Pratyahara is the ability to abstract, control your senses and consciousness through the practice of yoga. The teachings say that a constant thirst for the satisfaction of momentary desires distracts us from our true goals. This prevents us from being happy and free.

In conditions of constant absorption of unnecessary information, the human mind processes it and becomes restless. All this noise fills the mind and makes it difficult to notice the reality of what is happening around us.

Pratyahara teaches us to control the state of mind and feelings, to regulate the flow of any information.

Dharana - Concentration

Dharana helps to focus your thoughts and feelings on one object. Usually we succeed in this for a short time, then other thoughts come and distract us. We find out about our lack of concentration in just a few minutes. Until we are able to focus on a thought or object for any length of time, in any situation, we still have not mastered Dharana.

Meditation with candles (Trataka), special Asanas and Pranayamas, and chanting of the Mantra are very helpful in improving the ability to concentrate.

Dhyana - meditation

Dhyana is realized through preparation through various meditation techniques. With the help of concentration, meditation and illumination in this sequence, we gain spiritual perfection and pure consciousness.

What the practice of meditation gives us:

peace of mind and humility;
calm mind and concentration;
knowing yourself, your inner world;
gaining pure consciousness.

We wrote more about meditation.

A person achieves the greatest effect in meditation when his mind is calm. The yogi experiences pure being, the boundaries of the gross and the subtle are erased, and the pure light remains that shines in the heart. This unity is capable of providing answers to many fundamental existential questions.

Samadhi - Full Realization

The end point, stopping the path of development and the complete unity of the inner and outer world. This is the place where a person unites with the Divine principle, the Higher consciousness. Samadhi gives yoga silence, tranquility and eternal bliss.

In this state, all duality dissolves. There is no day, no night, no darkness, no light, no quality, no color. All is one in the Higher Self. This union of the individual soul with the Cosmic soul is the goal of yoga.

Adhering to all the laws of yoga, a person understands his own path of destination in this world. And the most interesting thing about this is that the world will oppose yoga in every possible way on the way to finding oneself - illness, crowd opposition, depression, stress, doubt. Therefore, it is important to accept yourself and understand why all this is being done.

Raja yoga

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