The Real Meaning of Yoga

Harmony in Body, Mind & Soul

The aim of the different yoga processes is to ultimately help the individual achieve complete harmony in body, mind and soul. The different systems of yoga have techniques and practices ranging from physical postures (asanas), to the deepest stages of meditation, all aimed towards helping a person achieve optimum physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

The process of yoga can be seen as a ladder, with the starting rung of the ladder being Hatha yoga asanas and the top of the ladder being Bhakti yoga. An individual can simultaneously apply all or part of these processes in their life in an holistic, integrated fashion.

Hatha Yoga: A preliminary system of physical and breathing exercises, beginning with postures or asanas that aim to bring about harmony between the physical body and the breath. Asanas and Pranayama (breath) clear the subtle energy channels enabling the practitioner to increasingly experience the life force within their body. It is the most well-known of all the yoga systems in the west.

Jnana Yoga: The cultivation of transcendental knowledge. The aim of Jnana Yoga is to bring about realization of one’s spiritual essence, and therefore harmony (through understanding) between the individual atma (soul) and his mind, body and the world. It is also meant to help the atma realize that he is part and parcel of the Supreme Atma and therefore needs to achieve harmony with the Supreme Atma.

Karma Yoga: Yoga in action - work done in a spirit of selfless loving service. It is the path of real happiness and freedom. Karma yoga means serving the Whole rather than just living for oneself. Living a life of Karma yoga means to see oneself as a servant, not master; as a caretaker of others and the environment, not an exploiter. It is meant to purify one’s heart so that one’s natural spiritual love for the Supreme Atma will blossom.

Bhakti Yoga: The apex of yoga and the ultimate goal of life is to achieve pure Bhakti, or Spiritual Love. Such love for the Supreme Soul results in a state of harmony, bliss, knowledge and eternality.

The Goal Of Meditation

Meditation

People today are turning to meditation for many reasons: to find relief from the stress and anxiety of their daily lives; to find some peace after some traumatic event they may have experienced; looking for a deeper understanding of the self and the purpose of life; to reconnect with their inner spiritual nature and source.

Actual meditation means to take our focus away from the material dimension and place it on the spiritual dimension. Being spiritual in essence, this spiritual connection is what most of us are missing in our lives. The easiest way to experience our spiritual connection in this day and age is to engage in Mantra meditation.

Mantra Meditation: ‘Man’ means mind and ‘tra’ to take away from. By focusing the mind on a Mantra or Transcendental sound, we can take our focus away from the material dimension and connect to the spiritual dimension.

True Mantras are not material sound, they are authorized by scripture and invested with all the potency of the spiritual energy. Mantras are made up of the names, qualities and activities of the Supreme Being.

There are no hard and fast rules for hearing and repeating these mantras. Mantra meditation can be practiced quietly alone, with a group of friends or family, or in a large congregation. It can be practiced any where at any time, while walking along the beach or through a nice park, driving in the car, waiting in the bus line, while at home, school or work.

It is non-sectarian, people of all denominations can get together and sing the names of the Supreme that they are comfortable with according to their faith or culture. It is a time old practice and is available to young and old alike. It is the recommended process for self-realisation in this day and age.

Kirtan

Kirtan, the singing or chanting of sacred mantras, or Transcendental Sound, is an easy yet sublime method of yoga meditation that has been practiced since time immemorial. It is the recommended process for self-realization in the modern age and has the gradual effect of cleansing your heart and mind, helping you to awaken and cultivate your inherent wisdom and spiritual love.

Kirtan is for Everyone

Kirtan is enjoyed by people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Kirtan transcends all languages, nationalities, and religious faiths. Anyone can practice kirtan. You can be five or 95; physically fit or unfit. You may be a practitioner of yoga asanas, or you may be disabled and in a wheel chair. It doesn’t matter if you are a scholar or illiterate; single or married; man or woman. Kirtan is as universal as a beautiful sunrise.

Benefits of Kirtan

Regularly immersing your heart and mind in kirtan will illuminate your path in life, and shed light on your relationships with others, your work, your environment, how to deal with failures and setbacks, and on every aspect of your life.

Not only does kirtan help relieve stress, worries, and anxiety, it awakens and cultivates the innate wisdom, happiness, and spiritual love lying dormant within you. By gradually cleansing your heart and mind, you can discover and experience your real identity, self-worth, and purpose in life.

How is Kirtan practiced?

Kirtan is sometimes called music meditation as it incorporates playing musical instruments, singing, chanting, and dancing. However, it can be practiced with or without instruments, and in any musical style. You can practice alone or in a small or large group. You can chant loudly or softly, you can dance, or remain seated. Kirtan is generally practiced in call and response style, where one person will lead the kirtan by chanting a mantra, and others respond in unison, repeating the mantra.

What is Transcendental Sound?

Transcendental Sound is not something that can be made up, nor is it comprised of mundane words specific to a particular religion or region of the world. A sacred mantra, or Transcendental Sound, is comprised of various names or descriptions of the Supreme Soul. It originates in the spiritual realm and descends to the material platform without losing any potency, having been handed down orally for countless centuries via a chain of bonafide spiritual masters.

Kirtan is a deep reservoir of all-satisfying waters that allows you to experience inner peace and spiritual happiness. The more you drink from this reservoir, the more your heart will be filled with spiritual love and comfort.