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Meditation
Support
The Daily
Meditator - October 2002
Dear Meditator,
There are now
over 500 subscribers to The Daily Meditator, plus hundreds of others
who regularly visit our site. Your practice of meditation has helped
to create an international community of seekers who are consciously
bringing peace into this world. At this time especially, our efforts
to attune to God and to express His loving presence are essential.
I would like
to thank those of you who've sent in emails, telling us about your
successes and challenges in meditation. We have received many letters,
from so many people, telling us how the Hong Sau technique has helped
them establish a dynamic and rewarding practice. Please remember
to share the Meditation Support site with your colleagues and friends
who might benefit from it.
This month I'm
thrilled to share with you a technique of energy control (pranayama)
that Paramhansa Yogananda created in 1916. He said that if you were
stranded on a desert island and could have only one yogic technique,
you should choose this one, because through it you would eventually
discover the entire science of yoga. This technique, called the
Energization Exercises, is a marvelous tool for recharging the body
with energy at will, thereby driving away fatigue and disease. More
importantly, it is an invaluable tool for developing divine awareness
in its most subtle aspects.
Energy is the
key to success in meditation and in every human endeavor. Have you
ever noticed how your practice of meditation reflects your energy
level? When you're tired or sleepy, don't you find your mind wandering
all over the place, or - even worse - in a drowsy fog? It takes
tremendous energy to meditate effectively. Our level of awareness
is determined by the amount of energy we have at our command.
Both science
and yoga tell us that our physical bodies are made of energy, so
potentially, we have vast reserves of energy we can draw on. Yogananda
said, "There is enough energy in one gram of flesh to keep
the city of Chicago supplied with electricity for a week."
Through your practice of the Energization Exercises, you will learn
to become aware of the flow energy within you, and how to direct
that flow.
"The more
aware you are of the flow of energy, the more you can direct that
energy by will power not only to the body, but toward anything that
you do - toward your work, toward creative inspiration, toward God
in meditation, and in every aspect of your life. All success depends
ultimately on energy. Energy is really the differentiating factor
between genius and mediocrity. So these exercises are much more
than just physical. They're the cornerstone of Yogananda's whole
system of teaching, and, in fact, of all spiritual progress."
- Swami Kriyananda, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga
We have created
a special section on our website to help you better understand and
practice the Energization Exercises. I suggest you read the following
articles in sequence to gain a more comprehensive understanding
of the technique.
Energization
Exercises Article Series
1. Importance of Energy
2. We are Energy
3. The Energization Exercises: an Introduction
4. Discover the Principles of Energization Exercises
• The Missing Link Between the Body and the
Mind
• Become Aware of the Energy
5. Experience Some of the Energization Exercises
After you have
had a chance to study the articles on Energization, please let us
know if you have any further questions.... May your practice and
understanding of the Energization Exercises bring you ever closer
to the Truth within you.
In divine friendship,
Bharat
Cornell
Ananda Meditation
Ministry
14618 Tyler Foote Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-478-7561 ext. 7014
meditation@ananda.org
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