Yogi Shanti Desai's Publications

Meditation Practice Manual - Original Edition

Meditation Practice Manual

Meditation Practice Manual - Original Edition

$10.00

This, the third of Yogi Shanti Desai's books, present teachings that come from his personal practice and experience as well as from ancient scriptures, and reflect a harmony of thought, word and deed, which is so rare in the world and yet so evident in the life of Yogi Desai.
152pp

Only a few few copies of the classic first edition are still available through this site only for only $10.00

See the 2008 Edition

From the book...

Excerpt

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

Meditation is always rewarding. No effort in meditation is ever wasted. Even surface meditation brings fulfilling rewards.

Meditation produces instant relaxation, removing stress and tensions, It brings peace and harmony in life. One taps the hidden sources of energy and becomes creative in physical and mental enterprises. This gives him success in sports, business, or human relations. One becomes peaceful and composed and can work efficiently without rushing. One attains clarity of mind and develops intuition, which help solve many problems. Most problems are created by confusion of mind and are imaginary. With meditation, one's vision expands and one can sort out life and its values. This clarity also helps in removing deep-rooted problems, complexes, tensions and wrong habits, and works out Karmas.

Meditation purifies body and mind. It removes physical ailments and heals the body. It removes emotional problems and heals psychosomatic diseases. It purifies the spirit. Purity of spirit means freedom from attachment to body, mind, world and lower self. One becomes stable of mind (Sthitapragnya). One remains peaceful under all circumstances. One attains the knowledge of Self (the highest knowledge), which removes ignorance, the cause of all suffering. Our conscious life is like the surface of the ocean, with waves of restless thoughts. Meditation takes us to the ocean floor where there are no waves.

In meditation one dives deep within Atman and comes out with valuable wisdom. After experiencing the inner light, one's false attachment to the mundane life disappears, as the glow worm's light disappears on a moonlit night and the moon's light disappears in the presence of the sun. One recognizes himself to be a reflection of God (Atman), deriving all his energy from this source.

Table of Contents

1. Meditation And Its Purpose Page..... 1

2. Concentration And Meditation..... 5

3. Stages Of Meditation..... 7

4. Experiences In Meditation..... 9

5. Benefits Of Meditation..... 10

6. Aids To Meditation..... 11

Control Of Sense Organs..... 11

Simplicity (Arjav)..... 12

Non-Attachment (Vairagya)..... 13

Silence (Mauna) And Speech..... 13

Moderation..... 15

Diet..... 16

Sleeping..... 17

Activities..... 17

Buddha's Eight-Fold Path..... 17

Satsang..... 18

Avoidance Of Procrastination..... 19

Charity (Dana)..... 19

Proper Environments..... 21

Friends..... 22

Job..... 22

Lifestyle..... 23

Regularity..... 23

7. Obstacles To Meditation..... 24

8. Preparation For Meditation..... 26

Meditation Room..... 26
Meditation Time..... 27
Sitting Position..... 27
Breathing and Prayers..... 28

9. Ending Meditation..... 31

10. Bhakti Yoga Meditation..... 32

Preparation..... 32
Prayers And Affirmations..... 34
     Purpose Of Prayer..... 34
     Sakama And Nishkama Prayers..... 35
     Guidelines For Prayer..... 37
     Prayers And Affirmations For Healing..... 39
     - For Material Success and Prosperity..... 42
     Prayers for Guidance..... 44
Mantra Yoga Meditation..... 45
     Meaning and Purpose..... 45
     Various Mantras..... 46
     Vibrational Mantras..... 48
     Affirmation Mantras..... 51
     Japa Mantras..... 52
     Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay..... 53
Devotional Service (Puja)..... 61
     Characteristics Of A Sthita Pragnya..... 62
Meditation On Love..... 63

11. Raja Yoga Meditation..... 64: Preparation..... 64
Tratak..... 65
Pratyahara..... 65
     Rupa (Sight)..... 66
     Shabda (Sound)..... 67
     Sparsha (Touch)..... 68
     Rasa (Taste)..... 68
     Gandha (Smell)..... 68
So Hum..... 68
Recharging Breathing..... 71
Mudra Meditation..... 71
Kundalini Yoga..... 71
     Chakra..... 72
     Shushumna..... 73
     Kriya..... 73

12. Gnana Yoga Meditations..... 74: Preparation..... 74
Negation And Affirmation..... 76
Self-Analysis..... 79
Dream Meditation..... 80
Death Meditation..... 81

13. Sharanagati (Surrender) Meditations..... 82: Preparation..... 82
Surrender With Yoga Positions..... 83
Surrender To Prana..... 85
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay..... 86

14. Active Meditations..... 87: Explanation..... 87
Karma Yoga (Action And Inaction)..... 87
Goal and Direction..... 89
Gnana Yoga (The Witness Technique)..... 90
Bhakti and Sharanagati..... 91

15. Meditation and Death..... 92: What Is Death?..... 92
Why Do We Fear Death?..... 93
How Is The Fear Of Death Expressed?..... 95
How Do We Try to Escape Death?..... 96
What is the Process of Death?..... 97
How Can We Overcome The Fear Of Death?..... 99
Meditation On Death..... 102

16. Meditation, Ego And The Self..... 104: How Is The Ego And Selfishness Expressed?..... 106
Know Thyself .....111

17. Meditation And Faith..... 115

18. Meditation And Love..... 118

19. Meditation And Non-Attachment..... 122: Paradox of Desire..... 129

20. The Spiritual Path..... 132

21. Initiation..... 136

22. Preparation For Initiation..... 141