Meditation (in 13 points)

Swami Yogananda

1- Regularity of time, place and practice are important for meditation. 2- The most effective times are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is charged with special spiritual force. If it is not feasible to sit for meditation at these times, choose an hour when you are not involved with daily activities, and a time when the mind is apt to be calm. 3- Try to have a separate room for meditation. 4- When sitting, face North or East in order to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations. Sit in a steady, comfortable position (preferably with cross-legged position with spine and neck erect but not tense). 5- Before beginning, command the mind to be quiet for a specific length of time. Forget the past, present and future. 6- Focus on your breath. Begin with five minutes of deep abdominal breathing to bring oxygen to the brain. Then slow it down to an imperceptible rate. 7- Keep the breathing, rhythmic, inhale for three seconds and exhale for three seconds. Regulation of breath also regulates the flow of prana, the vital energy. 8- Allow the mind to wander at first. It will jump around, but will eventually become concentrated, along with the concentration of prana. 9- Don't force the mind to be still, as this will set in motion additional brain waves, hindering meditation. 10- Select a focal point on which the mind may rest. For people who are intellectual by nature, this may be the Ajna Chakra (the point between the eyebrows). Never change this focal point. 11- Focus on a neutral or uplifting object, holding the image in the place of concentration. If using a Mantra, repeat it mentally, and co-ordinate repetition with the breath. If you dont have a personalized Manta, use OM. Never change the Mantra. 12- Repetition will lead to pure thought, in which sound vibration merges with thought vibration, without awareness of meaning. Vocal repetition progresses through mental repetition to telepathic language, and from there to pure thought. 13- With practice, the idea of duality disappears and Samadhi, or the superconscious state, is reached. Do not become impatient, as this takes a long time.