20. Better Health Meditation

INTRODUCTION

It was on his eighth birthday, i.e., on 6th December 1955, that the author received a very special and a rare birthday gift from his father and that was introduction of meditation. Practice of this system he enjoyed a lot. Academic results were wonderful. His memory reached the highest peak. He could complete his graduation with high ranks at very young age of 17, he was able to read, write and speak 14 languages by then. The progress was unparallel. But on 27th April 1966 he met with a shocking accident making him unconcious for 9 days. When he came out of that stage, there was a complete loss of memory, he lost all his vast information, languages and was prevented to continue Mechanical Engineering. His second phase of meditation practice restarted in December 1966. This time he could complete his intensive research in meditation and finally successfully formulated the systematic syllabus.

The first 4 week camp was organised on 8th August 1988 at Jain Temple, Koti in Hyderabad. Success continued thereafter. Till 2009 in about 500 camps, about 40000 people have been trained in this BETTER HEALTH MEDITATION, a system giving the aspirants better health day by day. The title was given on 6th December 1988.

There are a number of popular methods to attain the state of meditation all over the world. The ultimate aim of all the methods of meditation is to unite the Atma (Soul) with Paramatma (the Supreme Soul). The foundation for all the methods of meditation is the awareness of breathing that helps in attaining the concentration of mind leading to total peace.

Concentration of mind is the primary requirement for Better Health Meditation also.

The practice of BHM is initiated with 1) humble prayer to Supreme GOD for sometime and 2) Mantra jap sadhana-chanting of single word OM or a mantra/sentence of the choice of the aspirant, for few minutes.

The thought is concentrated on the breathing, that is, the mind concentrates on inhaling and exhaling. This is called breath awareness. The feeling of the touch of the breath inside the nostrils should be felt by the mind. This should be continuously felt for few minutes. This is the first stage of Better Health Meditation.

The mind is always disturbed by various thoughts. The mind is to be made free from such disturbances and should be brought to zero level or ‘no thought state’. It requires intensive practice. The activities of the five sense organs are the main sources for the disturbance of the concentration. There is a close relationship between the control of the sense organs and the concentration of the mind. As the control over the sense organs increases, the intensity of the disturbance in the mind decreases. The disturbances in the mind are thus streamlined and ultimately reduced to zero. This is the second stage of Better Health Meditation.

In the third stage of practice, the mind is trained to become totally silent. It is free from disturbances and thoughts. Now, the mind is concentrated on the internal energy centers of the body. It is gradually tried to feel happiness and the divine bliss of the spiritual light – this is the peak in meditation and that is the ultimate and grand finale of this course.

Throughout the practice, breathing normally, the eyes are closed calmly, body is at ease.

THE FIRST STAGE-BREATH AWARENESS:

Before starting the main process, the following processes are done:

Recognizing the importance of breath:

Without breathing no one can live even for couple of minutes. But the breathing is so natural and automatic; we never feel its importance at all. For recognizing its importance, breath is inhaled and held inside, by shutting the mouth and nose, as long as possible. At this moment the aspirant struggles to breath out. That is when, he recognises the importance of exhalation. Then slowly it is breathed out completely and held outside as long as possible. When he struggles to breath in, he recognises the importance of inhalation. This is done for 2 to 5 minutes continously.

Preparing to feel the touch of breath:

The back of one palm is placed very near to nose, but without touching. Now the breath is every time exhaled forcefully. The touch of it is felt on the skin of palm. This is done for 2 to 5 minutes.

With the above two processes, now the aspirant is ready to practice breath awareness.

The steps of concentrating the mind – through breath awareness.

Each of the following steps should be practiced for 2 to 5 minutes.

1. Either sitting comfortably or lying, slow and deep breath is inhaled and exhaled in natural way. The touch of breath should be felt on the skin inside the nostrils while inhaling and exhaling. This should be felt continuously for few minutes.

2. The coolness should be felt in the nostrils while inhaling and the warmth while exhaling. The cool and warmth feelings should be continuously felt inside the nostrils for some time.

3. While breathing in, it should be felt that the body is being energized by the Oxygen that is inhaled and while breathing out, it should be felt that the impurities of the body and mind are sent out in the form of Carbon di Oxide. The practitioner should feel that his body is energized and the mind and body are purified with every breath continuously for some time.

4. The divine bliss should be felt entering inside while inhaling the breath and while exhaling it should be felt that, the pains, sorrow, diseases, agony and tension are being eliminated. One should feel happiness & joy being inhaled and all problems exhaled with every breath continuously for some time.

5. While breathing in, it should be felt that the noble-satvika qualities such as love, affection, friendship, kindness, sympathy etc. are being further developed and while breathing out, the negative tendencies such as anger, lust, passion, hatred, jealousy, ego etc. are being eliminated from the mind. Thus with every breath, one feels that he is becoming a better person.

6. While inhaling, the mind should follow the breath, through the nose, throat, wind pipe and deep into the lungs. Similarly, while exhaling, the mind should start from the lungs, pass through the windpipe, throat and nose and go out of the body. The mind should follow the breath, continuously for some time.

Practicing the above six processes, it should be tried gradually to acquire efficiency in them in few days. It may take generally 3 to 4 days. Each process is to be practiced 2 to 5 minutes at the beginning. After succeeding a little in the first, the second may be taken up and so on.

Each of the above processes should be treated as complete and independent ones. One or two or all may be practiced, wherever and whenever one gets some leisure time.

The main purpose of the above activities is to make the practitioner efficient in
1. Using his time in a better way for a good cause,
2. Developing concentration,
3. Making the meditation techniques easy,
4. Giving up the ill thoughts,
5. Reducing the depressions and anxiety in the mind,
6. Strengthening the welfare and good thoughts etc.

THE SECOND STAGE- PANCHEDREEY-NIGRAH SADHANA:

Activities to control the five sense organs to streamline their activities:

Controlling the five sense organs is the main task in this stage. It is necessary to get a grip of control over ears, tongue, nose, eyes and skin. There has been no prescribed procedure to control them hitherto. Continuous research has been conducted for many years and practicable systematic procedure is evolved to control the sense organs. This unique procedure is successfully followed in Gandhi Gyan Mandir Yoga Kendra and in its branches.

It should be tried to control one after another sense organ. The concerned sense organ functions more efficiently when it is controlled. Also the disturbances in the mind, due to the activity of that sense organ, is reduced almost to zero level by continuous effort.

1. Control over ears:

Listening is the main function of ears. Whenever any sound is heard, the concentration of the mind is distracted. But whenever mind likes any sound, at that time no other sound can disturb at all. For example, when we listen to our favourite song or if we talk to the people we like most, our ears don’t listen to any other sounds though their vibrations touch our ear drums. Basing on this fact, we can acquire the skill of controlling our ears. The following six techniques or methods are suggested in this regard.

The first method:
Sitting in erect position, a loud sound is created in the nose through quick successions of breathing in and breathing out as in Bhastrika. No other outside sound should be listened. The loud sound created in the nose only should be listened. It should be done for a minute at the beginning and gradually increased to 2 to 5 minutes, with rest in between.

Note: This should be done with empty stomach in morning or after 4 hours of taking meals. Persons suffering with heart problems or weakness should perform lightly.

The second method:
Sitting comfortably in the erect position, long and deep breaths are inhaled and exhaled slowly, creating deep sound in the nose. The mind should be concentrated on listening only to the deep sound in the nose for 2 to 5 minutes. At that time, all other sounds should be avoided.

The third method:
This is a subtle activity. Breathing should be normal. No external sound, even that of the breath, is heard. The mind should be fully applied on inhaling and exhaling and it is tried to feel listening the minute sound of breathing that the ears are unable to listen. This should be practiced for 2 to 5 minutes.

The fourth method:
There are always many sounds around us. Some are loud and the others mild. Any one sound among them should be selected and that alone should be heard with complete concentration for about 5 seconds. Then the next and the third and so on. ..one after another should be tried to hear. Only one sound is to be heard at a time for 5 seconds. Except that particular sound all other sounds should be tried to avoid. Continue this for 2 to 5 minutes.

The fifth method:
Giving up all the nearby sounds, a distant or remote sound coming from any direction or even from the sky should be selected, such as the sound of a bus, a lorry or a train or an aeroplane etc. or any sound produced at a far off place and it should be tried to listen that for about 10 seconds. One after another such far off sounds should be tried to listen avoiding all other sounds. Though it is a complicated exercise, but not an unachievable one. This is better done in late nights or early morning hours.

The sixth method:
Both the ears are closed with the thumbs to prevent all the external sounds. It is tried to listen to the inner sound. At the beginning a low humming sound would be continuously heard for 2 to 5 minutes. Immersing completely in that sound, it should be tried to succeed further down into the lotus heart (the middle of the chest) to listen to the divine sound called “Brahma Naad”. It takes a long time in acquiring the efficiency to reach this stage.

The above six methods / kriyas help in streamlining the listening skill. They also increase the capacity of hearing even mild and minute sounds. Regular practice will help to get control on ears, so that at the time of higher sadhana of meditation, no sound will disturb the aspirant.

2. Control over the tongue:

Tongue performs two tasks. (a) It talks (b) It tastes and swallows. These two tasks are to be performed with great care. If one doesn’t have control on talking, he may spoil the good relations with others. Also if one doesn’t have control in eating, he may eat things, which may spoil the health. Whenever relations with others are spoiled, negative emotions generate and they disturb at the time of meditation. Also if physical health is spoiled, that also will disturb. Hence, the following process, which can control both the activities of tongue, is quiet important.

Whenever a favorite or a delicious item is eaten or drunk, its taste remains for a long time in the taste buds of the tongue. Whenever that delicious item is again seen or thought of, its taste is felt again in the buds and the saliva starts secreting. This phenomenon is explored and used in controlling the tongue.

A number of items (solids-liquids-paste etc.) are consumed in a day. It should be tried to recollect each item for 2 to 3 seconds. Then the place and time of consumption should be recollected for 2 to 3 seconds (This is mainly done to improve the memory). Finally the taste of the item should be felt by focussing the mind on the tongue for 5 to 6 seconds. Like wise each item consumed during the day is to be recollected and felt one after the other. This helps the mind in controlling the speech and taste buds. If once the buds come under the control of the mind, even the most delicious item in the world cannot tempt them unless the mind wants to. Similarly howsoever the situation may be, the speech always remains sweet.

Note: To get early perfection in this kriya, the tastes of consumed items are recollected by the tongue immediately after the consumption, for few seconds. The gap between the consumption and recollection should be increased day by day.

By doing so the tongue is brought under control and neither unwanted words are uttered nor harmful things (howsoever delicious they may be) are consumed.

This kriya also helps in using soft words and improves the sense of feeling the taste. Soft words make the life sweeter.

3. Control over the nose:

At the time of meditation, if suddenly some things having good / bad smells are brought near to the aspirant, these smells may create a big disturbance in the practice. So the following process to control the nose is quite important.

A number of foul smells and good fragrances are smelt throughout the day.

All the smells smelt during the day should be recollected each one at a time for 2 to 3 seconds in their order. Then the time and place of feeling that smell is remembered for 2 to 3 seconds (This is done to improve memory).

Later that particular smell should be felt in the glands of the nostrils for 5 to 6 seconds. It should also be felt that as if the object emitting the smell is present near the nose. Like this, all the smells one after the other should be felt taking 10 to 12 seconds each.

Note: To acquire proficiency in this skill, the practitioner has to actually feel every type of smell, stint and fragrant and immediately after some time he should recollect it with the help of mind and try to re-feel the same smell. The gap between the smelling and recollection of its feeling should be increased day-by-day.

This activity improves the capacity of smelling and gets control over the smelling organ, the nostrils, so that no smell will disturb the aspirant at the actual time of meditation.

4. Control over the eyes:

Among all sense organs, eyes are intensively disturbed. In turn they disturb the concentration of the mind. It is necessary to arrest such disturbances. The following activities will help to attain control on eyes.

Eyes are closed and the mind is concentrated on eyes. It is felt that there is a dark coloured screen in place of eye lids. In fact eyelids work as a screen.

1. The faces of the persons seen on that day (during the previous 24 hours) should be recollected and seen one after the other on the imagined screen behind the lids. Each face is recollected for 2 to 3 seconds. Then place and time, where the person was seen should be recalled for 2 to 3 seconds (for improving the memory) and the face is visualized by the mind on the screen for 5 to 6 seconds.

2. Every day a number of objects and events are seen. They should be recalled and seen one after the other on the screen. Each is recollected for 2 to 3 seconds. It should also be recalled where and when that object or the event was seen for 2-3 seconds. Each object or the event should be felt seen or visualized on the screen of closed eyes for 5 to 6 seconds, one after the other in the sequence of their occurrence.

3. News papers, magazines, posters, sign boards, advertisements, books, invitation cards, identity cards etc. of different colours – sizes – subjects – languages etc. are read every day. They should be felt seen on the screen of the closed eyes one after another. Each is recollected for 2 to 3 seconds. To improve memory, it is also recollected where and when it was read for 2-3 seconds. Later it should be felt read on the screen each at a time for 5 to 6 seconds.

Note: For effective and quick results, whenever a person or an incident is seen or a paragraph is read, the above kriya is practiced immediately after some time initially. The gap between actually seeing and recollecting should be increased day-by-day.

The above kriyas enrich the performance of the eyes. The disturbances in the observation of the sight are reduced. The clarity of the sight is improved. The disturbances in the mind are reduced and the concentration is improved.

The Kriyas are very useful for STUDENTS.

5. Control over the skin:

At the time of meditation, if any mosquitoes or insects bite, or anything touches any part of the body, mind is disturbed. By performing the prescribed following kriyas, a control on skin can be achieved and no touch will disturb the aspirant thereafter.

Skin is the largest sense organ covering the whole body. Skin starts responding to stimulations right from the birth. Something or the other touches the skin every moment, but it is rarely felt, unless it is very rough or smooth, hard or soft, cold or hot etc.

The following kriyas help in controlling the feeling of touch.

1. The air of the fan touches the body. Though it is a common experience it is seldom noticed. In this kriya, the air of the fan is felt touching the skin, directly or touching through the hair or through the clothes.

The mind is to be concentrated on the top of the head. The mind should feel the air of the fan touching the skull. Later the touch of the air should be felt on the forehead, eyes, ears, nose, lips, cheeks and chin. Then neck, back, backbone and waist. After that throat, chest, abdomen, right arm (from shoulder to fingers), and right leg (from thigh joint to toes). Similarly left hand and left leg respectively.

Apart from the air of the fan, whenever traveling, the air in the moving train or bus or on any moving vehicle should be felt touching the different parts of the body as said above. The drivers should not practice this Kriya, as they have to concentrate their attention on the road alone.

2. Sitting erect, it should be realized that the body is being pulled down by the gravitational force of the earth. After some time, the aspirant will automatically feel the body either heavy or light. This state of the body should be felt for few minutes. This helps in making the body aware that it always touches the ground.

3. The skin generally does not realize the touch of clothes or garments that are worn. They are only felt when either they are too rough or too smooth or too heavy.

If certain parts of the body are moved, the clothes rub the skin and the touch can easily be felt.

Sitting erect, shoulders are moved up and down and the rigorous touch of the clothes on a small area on the back is felt. After few seconds the movements of the shoulders are stopped and it is tried to feel the continuous touch of the clothes at the same spot of back even though they are not moving.

Then the shoulders are moved forward and backward. The rubbing of the clothes is felt on a small area on the chest or the abdomen. After sometime, the movements of the shoulders are stopped, the touch of the clothes is continuously felt at the same small area.

The right shoulder is moved up and down and the touch of the cloth is felt on the right upper arm. The movement is stopped and the touch is continuously felt for few more seconds. Then it is practiced on the left shoulder also.

Legs are stretched, placing palms on the floor, the right knee is moved up and down, the skin on a small spot of the leg feels the rubbing of the clothes. The movement of the leg is stopped and the touch of the cloth is continuously felt at the same small area. The same action is repeated on the left leg.

While changing the clothes and drying the body after bath with a towel, the skin can easily feel the touch of clothes. The touch of the cloth is felt continuously for some time.

4. Certain parts of the body touch each other but no one takes a note of it. The aspirant has to notice it and feel the same later. For example eye lids touch the eyes, lips touch each other, tongue touches different parts in the mouth and lips. Similarly hands touch the legs when one sits or gets up. Fingers touch among themselves and so do the toes.

A pressure is created for 2 to 3 seconds at the point where two parts touch each other and this touch is felt. Then the pressure is released and the same touch is continuously felt for few more seconds. In this activity the sense of touch should be started feeling from the right eye to the point between the last two toes of the left leg one after the other, covering all such touches in the entire body.

5. Human body is composed of innumerable cells. Thousands of cells are used up or destroyed every moment. Thousands of new cells are generated every moment. The part, where these cells are generated or destroyed, vibrates minutely. These minute vibrations are not noticed as the mind is always busy in one or the other work. In this kriya or activity, the practice of the feeling of the vibrations is here under explained:

A torch light is carried in the dark room to search a particular thing. If that particular thing is identified the focus of the light is concentrated on it.

This minute kriya of feeling the minute vibrations is like focusing the light in the dark on a particular object.

Either lying or sitting comfortably the mind is slowly spiraled on the skin of the each part of the body and concentrated upon the point where minute vibrations are felt for 2 to 3 seconds and then the process is continuous to cover the skin of the whole body.

At the beginning the mind is concentrated on of the head performing the above kriyas. Later the concentration is shifted on to the face, neck, back, waist, chest and abdomen and the minute vibrations on these parts are carefully felt. The same activity is continued also on both the hands and legs. At every part the concentration is spiraled and the vibrations are felt for 2 to 3 seconds. The entire skin of the body is surveyed with concentration, feeling the vibrations at every point on the body. It is a difficult activity.

The above activities help in acquiring control over the skin. During the practice of meditation, a number of disturbances are to be faced. Mosquitoes may bite, buzzing of the insects may disturb the concentration. When, once the control over the skin is acquired nothing can disturb the Yogi. Even the pricks of the needles or the fire on the skin are conveniently borne without any disturbance in the concentration.

Each of the above kriyas related to the five sense organs is a complete process in itself. They can be practiced in any order or at any time whenever it is convenient. But they are to be practiced every day regularly to acquire the skill of controlling the activities of sense organs, and thus day-by-day reducing the disturbances finally leading towards the ultimate stage of meditation.

THE THIRD STAGE-ANTARANG YOG SADHANA :

The higher Yoga for the development of mind, intellect and spirit:

In the third stage of Better Health Meditation the focus is on the internal Yoga practice.
(1) Pratyahaar = detachment of the mind
(2) Dharana = concentration and
(3) Dhyan = meditation constitute the third stage.

In Pratyahaar the mind is totally made silent or thoughtless detaching from all subjects and objects, and prepared for the next stage of Dharana, in which the mind is concentrated on various energy centers and from that the aspirant enters the final stage of Dhyan or meditation.

1. Pratyahaar – Detachment of the mind:

The main objective of Pratyahaar is to train the mind to be in a stage of thoughtlessness. The mind is to be kept away from various feelings, emotions and thoughts. The body should be actionless and the mind should be peaceful and thought free. This state of body and mind is called Pratyahaar.

How can mind be kept in thought free state? There has been no correct answer to this question. After practicing and analyzing various existing methods, techniques and procedures, a systematic procedure has now been evolved successfully. The same procedure is being followed in here.

Let us consider the following phenomenon. If the electricity breaks down suddenly in the night, it is dark everywhere. Nothing is seen. And again if the electric supply is resumed, immediately the darkness vanishes. It is clear with the example that there was brightness before the darkness and also after the darkness in the room. Similarly, there is a small time space between one thought and the next thought. That very small space of time between the two thoughts, which may be of just a second, it is the thoughtless state of mind. The practitioner should try to keep the mind in that thoughtlessness for a little more time and gradually increase this vacuum between the thoughts. The time space between the thoughts is the time of Pratyahaar. This requires great commitment and total attention.

Procedure:
The body is kept at ease either in the sitting or in the lying position. The mind observes the thoughts in it as just a witness for some time. Then the mind is concentrated on the breathing. When the concentration is focused on the breathing, the other thoughts are gradually reduced. After concentrating the thoughts on the breathing, slowly even the consciousness of the breathing should be reduced and ultimately given up. This is the thoughtless state of mind. During practice, one or the other thought may come in the mind, the practitioner should be quite strict at this point and expand the state of the thoughtlessness between every two thoughts. Even the thought of thoughtlessness should not be there in the mind. This is neither absent-mindedness nor unconscious state nor asleep state. This is the state of thoughtlessness i.e. state of zero activity or total silence.

This is one of the most difficult states of mind in Yoga science. It can be achieved by regular practice every day. If some thing is to be written on the black board, the black board is cleaned first, so is the case of the mind. All the thoughts are to be removed from the mind. This is the silence or Pratyahaar. In short the mind is kept clean through the process of Pratyahaar for better results in the next steps.

2. Dharana – Better Health Concentration:

No work can be successfully completed without concentration. Even in a simple ordinary work like eating-drinking-reading-writing-speaking– listening-walking etc. the concentration is necessary.

Different procedures are followed in different schools that teach Dharana for example Tratak Kriya, Mantra – chanting, breath awareness, sitting in front of a photo or an idol of a deity and concentrating the mind on it, focusing the mind on various energy centers in the body etc..

In this Better Health Meditation course, the following process of Dharana is followed, which is the result of continuous research of many years. During this long period, the following four parts of the body have been finally identified as the energy generating centers.

1. Navel is the center of physical energy for the entire body. The vital energy generated in the navel is supplied to the total body through 72000 energy channels. Concentration on navel helps to develop physical energy.

2. The pit below the throat is the center for the mental development. The thoughts are generated here. They reach the brain through Manovaha Nadi and then relative action starts. Focusing the mind on this pit in throat helps to develop psychological powers like memory, concentration, will power, confidence etc.

3. Bhrukuti, the center between the eye brows is the center for intellectual sharpeness. It develops the thinking capacity and improves the knowledge. This is also called ‘Agnya Chakra’ center for issuing the instructions to the different parts of the body. Concentrating the mind at center of eye brows will help in sharpening of intellect.

4. The pit below the center of chest is the center for spiritual development. This is also known as Lotus Heart. Behind this, is the main residence of soul i.e. spirit. Focusing the mind in this center will help to develop spiritual powers.

If the mind is concentrated regularly on the above four points in the body; physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual progress starts taking place.

The Better Health Concentration (Dharana) is practiced in three steps:

The first step:

In the initial stage, it is necessary to concentrate the mind on the four centers (1) Bhrukuti – the center between the eyebrows; 2) the pit below the throat; 3) the lotus heart in the center in chest and 4) the navel. The mind should feel their existence for some time. This feeling is the first step in it.

Procedure:
1. Either in lying or sitting position, Bhrukuti the center between the eye brows is touched with the tip of the right fore finger for some time. The feeling of the touch is felt. The finger is taken off. Still the touch of the finger should be tried to feel continuously at the same spot for some time. This feeling is called concentrating the mind on the center that sharpens the intellect.

2. The right fore finger touches the pit below the throat for some time. The feeling of the touch is felt. The finger is taken off, and it is tried to continue the same feeling of touch at the pit below the throat. This feeling of touch (without the touch of the finger) is called concentrating the mind on the center that develops the psychological power.

3. Putting all the right fingers and thumb together, a bunch of the five finger tips is made. The pointing bunch of the fingers is placed in the small pit in the center of the chest – the lotus heart and the touch is felt. After some time the fingers are taken off from that place, and it is tried to continue the feeling of the touch. This is called the concentration of the mind on the center for spiritual power.

4. The bunch of the right fingers is placed on the navel and the touch is felt. After sometime, the fingers are taken off from the navel. The feeling of the touch should be continuous for some time, though the fingers don’t touch. This is called concentrating the mind on the center for physical energy.

After continued regular practice of feeling the same with and without touch, the direct concentration of the mind on the energy centers can be felt. At the beginning the feeling of the touch on each point should be felt for 2 to 3 minutes. This experience should be repeated 3 to 4 times. Whichever energy out of the above 4 is more required, the mind should be concentrated on that particular energy center for a longer period.

The second step:

In the second step, the four energy centers are made to feel the special experience through the mind. This is an act of mental visualization i.e. mental feeling is just like one sees with open eyes.

Procedure:
1. The center of the eye brows is related to intellect, and intellect is related to knowledge. Knowledge is deemed to be the Light. The Sun is the source of light. Concentrating the mind on the center of the eyebrows, it should be tried to visualize the scene of the rising sun there. After continued practice of feeling sunrise for few days, the golden pink coloured sunrays are to be felt spreading on the entire forehead. This process indicates the expansion of the knowledge every moment just as the sunlight brightens every moment.

2. The psychological power is centralized in the pit below the throat. The mind is related to joy and happiness. Happiness is indicated by delightful green colour resembling the greenery of paddy fields. The mind should be concentrated on the pit, visualizing a green belt, the sign of pleasure and happiness around the neck. This helps to feel more happy.

3. The spiritual power is unlimited as the sky is. The sky is blue. The mind is concentrated on the lotus heart in the pit in the center of the chest. It should be tried to visualize that the sky blue is spreading all over the chest. This experience of visualization increases the spiritual power of the aspirant.

4. The physical energy is indicated by the flames of fire and the flames of fire are indicated by bright orange-red colour. The mind is concentrated at the center of the navel and it is tried to visualize a bright red circle around the navel, resembling the colour of flames of fire. This feeling increases the physical energy.
After experiencing gradually, one after the other feelings are felt in the mind. Initially the required colours may not be felt at all, there is no need for disappointment. Continuous practice helps in getting the desired results in few days.

The third step:

The above (a) intellectual, (b) psychological, (c) spiritual and (d) physical energies are inked with the Supreme Energy, the GOD in this third stage. The aspirant has to visualize the all pervading Supreme Energy in the form of OM $ symbol in each of the above four energy centers, in specific size and colour. This is further extension of the above – second step.

Procedure:
1. Pink-golden rising sun is imagined and felt in the center of the eyebrows. Keeping the sun in background, the symbol OM $ of half an inch in size in bright red colour is visualized in the circle of sun. This is the union of the intellectual energy with the Supreme Energy (GOD).

2. Making the pit below the throat as center, the pleasant green coloured belt should be felt in the entire neck. The symbol OM $ of one inch in size in dark green colour should be visualized on the throat pit. This is the union of the psychological energy with the Supreme Energy (GOD).

3. The sky blue colour should be felt spreading all over the chest. The symbol OM $ of two inches in size in dark blue colour should be visualized on the lotus heart. This is the union of spiritual energy with the Supreme Energy (GOD).

4. The bright red circle should be felt around the navel. The symbol OM $ of half an inch in size in dark brown colour should be felt on the navel. This is the union of the physical energy with the Supreme Energy (GOD).

According to the choice of the practitioner, any other symbol such as Swastik, Semi Circle, Crescent, Cross, Star etc., may be used in place of OM $. Even the figure of the favorite Deity may be visualised of in place of OM. They should be felt in the above referred size and colour.

The symbols can be felt seen either from the inside of the body or from the outside.

It is expected that the practitioner, following the above kriyas of concentration, will acquire the skill of developing the intellectual, psychological, spiritual and the physical powers and try to reach the highest peak in the meditation and successfully feel the BLISS OF THE SUPREME.

3. The Highest Peak of Meditation:

It has already been said that there are a number of different methods and techniques in use to meditate. The Better Health Meditation has evolved a unique technique in two stages:

1. The union of MIND and ATMA (Soul) or visualisation or feeling the touch of the soul with the mind.

2. The union of ATMA (Soul) with the PARAMATMA (Supreme Soul)

The first stage requires constant practice. The second stage is the result of the perfection of the first stage. In the Better Health Meditation course, the acquisition of the skill of attaining the highest peak in the first stage is the final and ultimate.

Generally the existence of Atma is felt in the entire body. The important seat of Atma in the body is at the back of the Lotus Heart (pit at the center of the chest), exactly in the middle between the chest and the back named as the Hriday Gufa (Heart Cave). The prime objective of Better Health Meditation course is to make the practitioner get the utmost minute feeling of Atma through the mind penetrating through the Lotus Heart….. and reaching the above referred heart cave.

Whenever anything is lost in the dark, we use a torch light and search it. The torch is made to move from one spot to another spot to search the required thing in the dark. Exactly in the same way the MIND has to enter the Lotus Heart and start the search in, above, below, left, right, around and all the sides of the line connecting chest and back and exactly behind the lotus heart by moving the mind from spot to spot. During the course of this search, a slight minute touch of Atma is felt by the mind. This feeling is like the sparkling flame of a lit candle. Different practitioners may feel the flame in different colours like blue, green, orange, red, golden, white etc. This feeling of sparkling flame may be for just a second or two in the initial stage. The constant practice gives the capacity to retain it for more time. When the mind feels this Divine light of Atma, the entire body starts to feel the divine bliss. A melodious music is heard in the ears; a delicious taste is felt on the tongue; a sweet fragrance is smelt in the nose; a bright light is felt seen in the eyes; a smoothening and caressing blissful touch is felt all over the skin. The practitioner feels these Divine Experiences but cannot express them in words. In the words of Saint Kabirdas.

“Atam Anubhav Gnyan ki Jo Koyi Poocchai baat;
So Goonga gud khaikai kahai kaun mukh swad?”

How can anyone describe the blissful spiritual experience when asked? How can a dumb person describe the taste of jaggery??

Procedure:
It is practiced either lying comfortably or sitting erect at ease. The mind is concentrated on the breathing. When the concentration is settled, then it should be shifted to the Lotus Heart and tried to send the concentration into the chest. As a niddle of an injection is pricked and sent in, so the concentration should be sent into the lotus heart. The mind should be completely calm and peaceful. The concentration, according to the already explained process starts searching the Atma. At the beginning the experience of the spark is possible for only a fraction of a second. The search should be continued.

It should be practiced for 10 to 15 minutes in the initial stages. Later the practicing time may be extended gradually to one hour.

During the practice the body should be in a stable position, i.e., it should not be moved. If not, the concentration is disturbed. The practice should be intensified with a strong will and perfect concentration.

This sparkling experience is the ultimate achievement of the sadhana of Better Health Meditation, full of spiritual bliss.

Better Health Meditation (AUDIO) :

Breath Awareness

Controlling Senses – 1

Controlling Senses – 2

Pratyahar – Dharana – Dhyana


Through the above methods, the practitioner acquires the skill of performing a number of kriyas/ activities simultaneously. The practitioner has to make good use of the available time in attempting various kriyas.

The success of breath awareness, controlling sense organs, Pratyahaar, Dharana and acquiring grip in Meditation……..depends upon the interest and the strong belief of the practitioner.

It is expected that the aspirants will follow the methods suggested in Better Health Meditation course and get relieved of the physical and psychological problems and attain the Divine Bliss, and feel the union of Atma with Paramatma in this life itself making their lives worth living by realising the Supreme Soul.