Like a long-distance runner, meditators have techniques for warming up — including prayer, yoga postures, and chanting — and for cooling down, for example by easing their transition into daily life with simple activities. As athletes do, meditators should review their form and technique occasionally. These articles by Swami Kriyananda, Nayaswami Jyotish, and Nayaswami Bharat cover some of the most … Read More
Overcoming Attachments Wins Inner Freedom
Swami Kriyananda wrote a little booklet called Secrets of Meditation, in which he offers 31 suggestions for deepening our inner experience: one for each day of the month. All of them are precious jewels. Today we will take a look at the first one. You will find effective techniques designed to help you apply this “secret” to your meditation. Significantly, … Read More
God Does the Rest
The goal of all yoga practice is to bring the life force into the spine, the altar of Spirit, where one worships God as ever-new joy. When we are fully in control of the mind, Paramhansa Yogananda said, “it will be like the coat you hang on a peg: it will stay there” in God consciousness. Unfortunately, as every meditator … Read More
Motherhood and Meditation
As a new mom this year, I’ve noticed many changes in my spiritual practices. For one thing, there seems to be less time to do them! “Free time” is when our baby goes to sleep (for however long that lasts) and that time is usually spent accomplishing other things like cleaning, eating, working, and spending time with my husband. If … Read More
Yogananda’s Double-Breath Technique for More Energy and for Getting Rid of Stress
Nayaswami Gangamata shares the “super-breath” of Paramhansa Yogananda, known as the double-breath, which help to oxygenate the bloodstream and can give an instant boost to one’s mood, removing stress and creating peace of mind. If you want to practice a set of techniques that takes advantage of the double-breath, look for the Energization Exercises of Paramhansa Yogananda — there’s a … Read More
The Journey Home
The practice of meditation can be described as a journey back home, back to our native land, as Paramhansa Yogananda called it. As we practice meditation, we find that the journey is not always easy. At the end of summer 2014, my husband and I went to Squaw Valley in California, to relax in nature. Each day we went hiking … Read More
Reaching the Mountaintop in Meditation
On a recent vacation, my husband and I were hiking near Calistoga, California. When we started our hike, we were in a valley: thick forest, many trees, but little sunlight. We kept putting out energy to climb, and as we neared the top of the mountain, we began to see more and more of the whole valley; it was dramatic. … Read More
A Simple Meditation Technique
Nayaswami Maria, founding member, Lightbearer and minister of Ananda Worldwide, gives us everything we need to know about starting a practice of meditation. Transcript Nayaswami Maria: Hello everyone, I’m Nayaswami Maria, and this video on meditation will give you everything you need to know to start a practice of meditation. What Is Meditation? Meditation is a wonderful tool for helping … Read More
3 Ways to Combat Stress
Stress happens. These three tips can help. Transcript Aryavan (Bryan) McSweeny Meditation to Calm the Mind from Stress Hi, I’m Bryan, and this video will give you three ways for you to combat stress. Tip 1: Breath My first tip for you is one of the most important things in combating stress. And that is the breath. Most people in … Read More
How to Sit Comfortably for Meditation
When you are sitting comfortably in meditation your energy is freed up to focus on more subtle realms of consciousness. Learn various ways you can enhance your comfort for meditation by watching this video. Transcript Nayaswami Anandi Hello, I’m Nayaswami Anandi. I’m here today to show you some ways that you can sit more comfortably for your meditation. When you’re … Read More