Meditation Posture: Sit Like A Guru

How to Sit for Meditation: An Introduction

According to Sadhguru, meditation is not an act but a quality – it is about cultivating the body, mind, energies, and emotions to a certain level of maturity. To sit still, one must work on both the body and the mind, and hatha yoga is often recommended. However, meditation is not about doing, but rather about becoming meditative. The goal is to create the necessary atmosphere within oneself, allowing meditation to naturally flower. This involves keeping the body still, which will cause the mind to become still as well. Sadhguru also emphasizes the importance of right and left brain coherence, allowing for the conscious access of information that can enhance one's abilities and health.

The importance of keeping the body still

Sadhguru explains that keeping the body still is essential for meditation. This is because if the body is kept still, the mind will also naturally become still. The mind does not like this, as it knows that it will become enslaved if it allows this to happen. The goal of meditation is to make the mind the slave and the self the boss, which will not happen if the mind is allowed to rule.

The body needs to be conditioned to sit still, and hatha yoga is one way to achieve this. However, it is not enough to just work on the body, as one must also work on the mind. This is because the mind is often the biggest hurdle to sitting still. The mind has become the garbage bin of our lives, full of our own rubbish, and we must stop feeding it bad food and instead feed it truth.

Keeping the body still is also important because it creates a certain space between you and your body and between you and your mind. Since all suffering occurs on the level of the body or the mind, once a space arises between what is you and what is your body and mind, that is the end of suffering. Your ability to use your body and mind will also be enhanced.

There are many physical and psychological benefits to keeping the body still during meditation. For example, your physical and mental health will improve, and your ability to function in the world and handle life with ease will be greatly enhanced. However, these are just side-effects. The real benefit of keeping the body still is that it allows meditation to naturally occur, which is a quality, not an act.

The mind as the slave, not the boss

The mind does not like meditation. If you keep the body still, the mind will also naturally become still. This is why yoga places such an emphasis on Hatha yoga and asanas. If you learn how to keep your body still, then your mind will also become still.

The main aspect of meditation is that, right now, your mind is the boss and you are the slave. As you meditate and become more meditative, you will become the boss and your mind will become the slave—and that is how it should be. If you don't know how to keep the mind as a slave, it will put you through all kinds of endless suffering. If you allow the mind to rule, it is a terrible master. But as a slave, the mind is wonderful—it is a miraculous slave.

The reason why most people who try meditation think it is very difficult is that they are trying to do it. You cannot do meditation, but you can become meditative. Meditation is a certain quality. It is not a certain act. If you cultivate your body, your mind, your energies, and your emotions to a certain level of maturity, meditation will naturally happen. It is just like if you keep the soil fertile and give it the necessary manure and water, and if the right kind of seed is there, it will grow and bloom into flowers and fruits. Flowers and fruits will come out of a plant not because you want them to, but simply because you created the necessary, conducive atmosphere. Similarly, if you create the necessary atmosphere within yourself, on all four dimensions of who you are, then meditation will naturally flower within you. It is a certain fragrance that one can enjoy within oneself.

The benefits of meditation are numerous. Physically and mentally, it will set you apart in any crowd of people if you give yourself to the practice sufficiently. And health-wise, there is any amount of medical research today to tell you that it does miraculous things to you. But all these benefits—physical health, mental capabilities, being able to handle life with ease—are just side-effects. The real thing is slowly building up. That, you will know only when it flowers. Till then, you think nothing is happening.

The benefits of Isha Kriya

Isha Kriya is a powerful guided meditation created by Sadhguru, a yogi, mystic, poet, and humanitarian. The word "Isha" means the source of creation, and "Kriya" means internal action. The purpose of Isha Kriya is to help individuals get in touch with the source of their existence and empower them to create their lives according to their wishes and visions. It is a simple, potent process rooted in the timeless wisdom of yogic sciences.

• Improved cardiac health: Studies have shown that Isha Kriya and other Isha Yoga practices lead to a more balanced Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System and increased Heart Rate Variability (HRV) during the practice. Higher HRV is linked to better immunity to stress and improved survival advantages.
• Greater brain coherence: A study found increased coherence between the right and left hemispheres of the brain in practitioners, indicating enhanced information exchange and improved functional coupling and coordination.
• Improved sleep: A comparison between meditators and non-meditators revealed that those practicing Isha Kriya and other Isha Yoga techniques experienced better sleep quality, efficiency, and total sleep time.
• Enhanced attention and focus: Research participants who underwent an Isha Yoga meditation retreat showed improved performance in attentional tasks, indicating better allocation of attentional resources and increased cognitive flexibility.
• Reduced menstrual disorders: A survey of female practitioners of Isha Kriya reported a significant decrease in the impact of menstrual disorders, including a reduction in symptoms, the need for medical intervention, and impairment at work.
• Improved emotional balance: Many meditators have reported greater emotional balance and stability, with reduced anxiety, depression, and irritability.
• Heightened mental clarity: Regular practice of Isha Kriya can lead to increased mental clarity, focus, and improved decision-making abilities.
• Increased energy levels: Practitioners have reported higher energy levels and a sense of dynamism throughout the day.
• Better stress management: By integrating breathing, thought processes, and awareness, Isha Kriya effectively reduces stress and anxiety, helping individuals cope with the demands of modern life.
• Improved health: Isha Kriya has been linked to improved health outcomes and the management of various health conditions, including high blood pressure and blood sugar.
• Enhanced sense of peace and wellbeing: Meditators have experienced greater inner peace, joy, and overall wellbeing as a result of regular Isha Kriya practice.

Isha Kriya is a powerful tool for self-transformation, offering individuals the ability to create space between themselves and their bodies and minds, ultimately reducing suffering and enhancing their life experiences.

The purpose of meditation

Meditation is a quality, not an act. It is not something that can be forced or controlled. Instead, it is a natural occurrence that will happen when the body, mind, energies, and emotions are cultivated to a certain level of maturity. Just as a plant will flower and bear fruit when it is provided with the necessary conditions, meditation will arise when the right atmosphere is created within oneself.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health, as well as enhancing one's ability to function in the world. It can bring about a sense of inner peace, balance, and separation from attachment. It can also lead to improved health, heightened focus, increased energy, and a greater sense of peace, wellbeing, and joy.

Moving in the Right Direction

How does one know if things are moving in the right direction? There are physical and psychological manifestations, as well as manifestations beyond these, that indicate progress. For example, there may be a greater coherence between the right and left brain, enhancing one's ability to function and take action in the world. However, these benefits are considered side-effects, as the real thing slowly builds up over time.

Samadhi and Realization

While samadhi, or deep meditation, can provide a new level of experience and open up new dimensions, it is only temporary. It does not lead to permanent transformation or freedom from the mind. True realization comes from breaking the grip of this reality and experiencing a new one, not from getting caught up in higher levels of experience.

The science of meditation

Meditation is a quality, not an act. It is not something that can be forced or controlled. Instead, it is a natural occurrence that happens when the body, mind, energies, and emotions are cultivated to a certain level of maturity. Just as a plant will flower and bear fruit when provided with fertile soil, necessary manure, water, and the right seed, meditation will occur when the right atmosphere is created within oneself.

The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. It can enhance one's ability to function in the world, improve health, increase focus and energy, and bring peace, wellbeing, and joy. It is a powerful tool to cope with the hectic pace of modern life.

The Practice of Meditation

Meditation is not about forcing the mind to be still but about creating the necessary conditions for stillness to arise. This includes cultivating the body through practices such as Hatha Yoga and Asanas, which help to keep the body absolutely still, allowing the mind to become still as well.

The Results of Meditation

The results of meditation are like a flowering tree. At first, one may only see leaves and think that the tree is useless. But with nurturing and time, the tree will bloom, revealing its true beauty and fragrance. Similarly, with meditation, one may initially think that nothing is happening, but slowly, the real thing is building up, and one day it will flower.

The Science Behind Meditation

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