10 Minute Higher Self Meditation: Using Your Breath to Stop Your Mind

Wednesday, February 12th, 2014

Satsang with the Self
Video: 231
Date: January 29, 2014
Title: 10 Minute Higher Self Meditation: Using Your Breath to Stop Your Mind
Running Time: 25:54
Parts: 2

10 Minute Higher Self Meditation: Using Your Breath to Stop Your Mind

Learn how to use your breath to stop your mind. Stopping the mind’s activities is the central goal of yoga, Buddhism and most meditation methods. Learn 2 quick meditations that use your breath to stop your mind’s activities and thoughts.

The founder of Yoga is Patanjali. In his famous text on yoga, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he states “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha”. This Sanskrit statement says, “Yoga is the stoppage of the activities of the mind.” Patanjali then goes on to name the 5 activities that the mind creates: 1) correct knowing 2) incorrect knowing 3) imagination 4) deep sleep and 5) memory.

In Buddhism, the term Noble Silence refers to a state where the mind’s activities are stopped while the consciousness stays alert in the present moment. The most well-known teacher in Zen Buddhism, Dogen, write in his famous text Shobogenzo, “Sitting fixedly, think of not thinking. How do you think of not thinking? Nonthinking. This is the art of zazen.”

Stopping thoughts and all activities of the mind is the main goal of meditation. In this Satsang with the Self video you learn how to quickly and easily stop your mind’s activities by using your breath. Two different methods are taught. The first method uses breath control to energize the body and brain, thus stopping thoughts. This is a form of pranayama or kriya yoga. The second method uses relaxation and present-moment awareness to stop the mind. This is a form of Buddhist or Zen / Zazen meditation. Both methods are effective. Learn both and then use the one that feels best for you. The more you advance in meditation, the less effort is needed to stop your mind’s activities to be free from thought.

Blessings and Love.

Part 1