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Questions and answers about meditation, yoga, the spiritual life, and more

Category: Meditation

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November 18
2009

KJ
India

Question

I have been meditating, practicing EE for a long time now but I’m not getting peace from meditation , though during meditation my body is stilled but mind keeps wandering most of the time. I have been very anxious from my childhood ( I’m 27 now).This anxiety is more when I have to present something or when I talk to people, I get nervous in front of people and I can’t help it.I want to get rid of my anxiety. Pls suggest

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear KJ,

Keeping up your practices of Energization "for a long time" is a wonderful thing in itself. Well done!

The wandering mind is not a thing easily conquered. Ask any long-time meditator! They'll tell you it is a constant process, but absolutely worth the effort!

November 17
2009

John Shelton
United States

Question

I have been meditating twice a day and am going through the lessons in the home correspondance course. I’m on the Hung-Sau technique. My problem is in the morning when I wake.

I sit to do the meditation and have the hardest time staying awake. I have been sitting in half-lotus position during my formal meditation times. Should I wait awhile to wake up before doing my first meditation of the day? My night meditation is going alright.

Seva Wiberg

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear John, This is a good question as we all have faced this problem.

Some people use a stimulant before starting the morning meditation, such as tea or coffee. The idea here is to have energy to start meditating, as you seem to for your evening practices.

November 14
2009

Shibu
India

Question

For nearly 1yr I have been getting vibrations at the third eye region due to vipasana practice for 7 years. Joined Ananda 6 months back and have been practicing Hun-Saw. For nearly 2 mnths now, as soon as I sit focusing attension at the third eye region, my forehead muscles gets pulled upwords, breath stops and becomes very shallow, and there are strong jerks from the bottom of the spine as if some thing is trying to come up. is this common? how to overcome this? Is this a medical problem?

Shivani Lucki

Ananda Assisi, Italy

Answer

Dear Shibu,

When we meditate, we are taking a journey, similar to visiting a different country. If you visit Agra, for example, you expect to see the Taj Mahal and many other fascinating things which are special to Agra.

In meditation, we are visiting our inner kingdom, and it is to be expected that the breath will become shallow and sometimes cease to move, that we will feel pleasant sensations at the spiritual eye, and that the energy which we normally use to perceive and live in the world will become redirected into the spiritual body.

November 11
2009

Nair
India

Question

I have been practicing the Hong-Sau technique for some time now. However, I am having trouble keeping my eyes focussed at the point between the eyebrows. After some time, invariably, I find my eyes have shifted focus. Is there any other technique by which I can overcome this. Another challenge I am facing is while mentally repeating Hong Sau and focussing on the breath, there is a tendency to control the breath to follow a particular rythm. How can I overcome these, pls help.

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Nair,

It is wonderful to hear that you have been practicing Hong-Sau for some time now. Keep it up!

Probably everyone has at least some difficulty keeping the eyes focused at the point between the eyebrows and having them never move from that place.

Jason
Los Angeles

Question

Sometimes after meditation (not kriya yoga), I will get up to stretch my back. Then I feel supremely light-headed and I feel inner sensations all over my body. Is this normal? What is this?

Thank you.

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Jason,

To answer your question better, I’d need to know what sort of meditation techniques you are using (you say "not kriya yoga") and for how long you have been sitting in meditation, when these sensations happen to you.

Some breathing exercises can make you light-headed if not practiced correctly. Or perhaps your posture needs some modification.

November 2
2009

Donald L. Smith
USA

Question

My question deals with meditation. I have been meditating for sometime using Masters teachings every day. However, in the recent past of approx. two months, during, and only in my very, very deepest concentration of God my hands, wrists, and forearms vibrate and I mean its very overt, meaning they really shake. I should also say my hands and fingers are interlocked when I meditate. Could this possibly be a sign of the kundalini beginning to awake or ? Thanks for your help!

Anandi Cornell

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Donald,

Thanks for writing. You mention the vibratiing of your hands and forearms. There are so many different kinds of things that can happen when we meditate, it’s difficult to know exactly what’s going on.

I’d recommend placing your hands as Yogananda suggests, not with hands interloced, but palms upward resting on the thighs near the juncture with the trunk of the body. You might also put a pillow or folded up blanket underneath the hands. This helps relieve pressure that sometimes builds up in the back.

November 2
2009

Charles
USA

Question

3 questions

1. Should we fear GOD? I hear Christians say you should fear GOD. Why should I fear The Divine if he/she is the savior, the grace, the love, and joy of my life. That I should not fear I should embrace. Right or wrong?

2. I have been meditating for about 2 months now and I have seen am image of a beautiful golden female face. I call it divine mother. Is it too soon for me to be seeing this?

3. I have felt a presence of a spirit infront of me while meditating. What is this?

Anandi Cornell

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Charles,

The Indian teachings do not emphasize the concept of fearing God. Instead, as you say, they describe a God of love and joy. It is really important to cultivate love and devotion for God -- and not fear. Yogananda speaks of God as our Divine Mother, always loving us no matter how we err.

Craig
America

Question

Hello,

When meditating, using the Hong-sau technique, and I am getting 'deep' in my left ear area, I hear something that sound like wind blowing against a microphone. I’m not sure what this means or what to make of it.

Please tell me you thoughts or experience.

Thank you.

Craig

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Craig,

Glad to hear you are practicing Hong-Sau. I am not sure exactly what you mean by "getting deep in my left ear area," but I'll do my best to answer your question anyway.

In meditation, whether you are practicing a specific technique or not, it often happens that you hear inner sounds. These are the sounds of the chakras, and each chakra emits a slightly different sound.

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