Stages of Meditation
The last five millenniums since Patanjali, the foregoing steps have proven as invaluable aids in the act of meditation, the ultimate aim of which is union of our consciousness with God consciousness.
1) Yama – Called the Don’ts, they include avoidance of injury to others, untruthfulness, stealing, incontinence (the non adherence of celibacy), gift receiving
On the surface of it this list of instructions (similar to the 10 commandments wouldn’t you say) seem fairly self-explanatory. But in fact the study of the whole of the yoga sutras is a very deep and interesting subject. Take for example the first item, being the avoidance of injury to others. In India this is called Ahimsa. It is also the very basis that Mahatma Gandhi founded his independence movement on to free India from British rule. A deeper understanding of this one rule will give you an insight as to what spiritual giants his follows were.
The completed meaning of Ahimsa is not just the avoidance of physical injury to others, but also the avoidance of injury in thought, word and deed. Not just to human beings but all creation. It is the recognition that the one (God) is in the whole (all of creation) and what we do unto our brothers we do unto him. It is possessing in one’s heart no ill will toward anyone but instead loving all.
For example if vegetarian was to even think ill of another person for eating meat. Under this rule that act itself is considered an act of violence against the other person. So we see here a glimpse of the deeper meaning of the teachings of the Yoga Sutras that lead to meditation and ultimately to God realization or self realization.
It would be understandable if the average person reading this at this point thinks such discipline is beyond the reach of ordinary man. It is a good thing therefore as scriptures of the world have pointed out that God is a gracious being. God knows our hearts, as long as we are making the effort to love him that is what his is concern about. How do we do that, by doing our best to follow his laws.
The other points listed, untruthfulness, stealing, incontinence (the non adherence of celibacy), gift receiving. Keep the soul bound to the body by the law of Karma and by the effects of the respective action for instance Incontinence or sex experience keeps the consciousness associated with the lower centers of the body called Chakras. Whilst gift receiving can bring obligation to the receiver again adding a fetter to the soul.
2) Niyama – Called the Do’s – Purity of Body and Mind, Contentment, Self-Discipline, Self Study, Devotion to God and Guru.
Keeping the Body clean and looking after the health of the body, Keeping the mind free from negative thoughts and emotions, Being even minded being neither overcome by grief or over excited by favourable circumstance, Doing the things one knows he should do, Daily examining one thoughts and actions at the end of the day and planning ways to improve. Following, obeying and loving God and his emissary on earth which is what a true Guru is (a God realized master of himself sent by God to show others the way back to God)
3) Asana – Correct Posture ( particularly in meditation)
Correct posture generally is important but particularly in mediation. It aids in two ways 1) it keeps the body from falling over when you lose body awareness in deeper states of meditation. 2) A straight spine aids in the follow of energy following through it during meditation thus making it easier to reach the higher states.
(Traditionally the famous Lotus posture is the ideal Asana as it locks the upper body in place. But for many westerners whom limbs have become too stiff over the years this posture is not possible and should not be tried without expert guidance from a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher. Therefore many westerners need the aids of meditation cushions, or meditation chairs to help them achieve the ideal asana for them)
4) Pranayama – Control of prana, life energy
Prana is the life energy that surrounds all life and seems to be the most misunderstood stages of meditation. It has erroneously been called a breathing exercise because of the link between breath and Prana. However Prana is not breath, but it is present in the oxygen we breathe. Breath keeps the attention on the body, but by the practice of specific pranayama techniques one gains control over Prana and subsequently the breath and is thus able to free the attention away from objects of distraction and turn it inward. Therefore it aids in the attainment of the next step Pratyahara.
5) Pratyahara – Withdrawal of senses from external objects
The attainment of Pratyahara can be likened to sleep, except sleep is an unconscious act and the practice of Pratyahara is a conscious act. It is the successful act of keeping the attention turned inward so that no object of distraction can divert ones attention until the practitioner is ready or willing to turn his attention outward again.
6) Dharana – Concentration
One of the single most important stages of meditation. With the successful attainment of Pratyahara, the yogi this then able to place his whole attention on his object of choice in this case God.
7) Dhyana – Meditation
Now that you have read a little so far you can perhaps see why meditation is ranked seventh in Patanjalis 8 stages of meditation. It is concentrated attention on God in simply telling him how much you love him or in supplication to him for the attainment of noble desires.
Samadhi – Super conscious perception
Samadhi is the last of Patanjalis stages of meditation. It is the actual experience of God when your consciousness is identified with the consciousness of God and thereby experiencing the qualities of God, such as omnipresence, (knowing and feeling your consciousness as being everywhere at the same time) as well as being the most intimate part of all creation. It is the experience of being complete, that there is nothing else that you could possibly desire. It is the experience of complete bliss and being saturated with perfect love and joy.
For more information on the stages of meditation and yoga meditation in general an excellent starting point is the following book Autobiography of a Yogi or you can visit us on the web at http://www.historyofmeditation.net
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