Sutra 1.36
विशोका वा ज्योतिष्मती॥३६॥
viśokā vā jyotiṣmatin
Translation:
- Or a cognition that is painless and luminous.- CT
- Or by concentrating on the supreme, ever-blissful Light within. -SS
- Or [stediness of mind is gained when] the mind is pain free and luminous. -EFB
Vocabulary:
Key Concepts:
The list that we are discussing now is the means for cultivating a peaceful mind.
- one-pointedness, fixing the mind on one object {OM being the highest object} 1.32
- appropriate attitudes of friendliness, compassion, delight, and dispassion 1.33
- working with the breath 1.34
- one-pointedness on a supersensuous experience 1.35
- one-pointedness on a luminous and blissful cognition 1.36
This is an interesting sutra. It is not totally clear what Patanjali is actually describing. Later in Indian philosophy, in the form of Śaivism, a stream of Tantra, Ultimate Reality, the Divine, is described as Luminous and Blissful. This makes me wonder if this sutra is not again pointing to concentration on the Divine. Or maybe it is suggesting that by concentrating on that which has the same qualities as the divine, in grosser forms, the yogin will have a supersensuous experience of the Divine. At the very least it rids the mind of tamas and rajas guna, cultivating a sattvic mind, a peaceful mind.
Practice
1. Sankalpa
2. Prayer Ritual
3. Asana:
Practice 10X Rounds
4. Mantra:
- Use your mantra.
- Say your mantra to yourself 5 times out loud.
- Say your mantra in a whisper 5 times.
- Say your mantra silently in your mind 5 times.
*When you catch your mind engaged in an activity that you find harmful, use your mantra to reset your mind.
5. Pranayama:
Dirga Pranayam
Dirga Pranayam is the full Yogic Breath.
- Start ujjayi, create a nice long breath, balancing the inhalation and exhalation.
- Visualize in the space between the bottom of your ribs and your navel as the central point of your being.
- As you inhale feel the energetic body expanding out, spherically, in all directions. (3-Dimensionally)
- Pause-Kumbhaka- spontaneously
- Let the exhale come naturally, feel the energetic body contracting back into the body at the central point of your being.
- Kumbhaka -spontaneous pause.
- Reapeat for 5 minutes noticing the feeling of continual expanding and contracting of your being in a rhythmic way.
6. Meditation:
- Draw your attention into yourself. Removing your awareness of the objects of your senses.
- Focus your minds eye on your object of meditation or on OM.
- Practice for 10 minutes.
- When you feel your mind wander be so gentle in bringing it back. *Remember we are like infants in this journey. Treat yourself as you would your own child.
- End by touching your heart and repeating your name 3 times.
7. Reflection
Practice when you have a few minutes or practice in the place of the regular meditation if you are short on time.
Heart-centered Meditation
- Take a comfortable seat.
- Settle into your body.
- Turn your attention inward.
- Notice all the inner sensations in your body.
- Slowly draw attention to the center of your chest. Touch your chest if you are having a hard time tapping in.
- Once your attention has settled in your heart space, start to visualize a golden light starting to glow there.
- Allow this golden light to start to fill the space of your heart and chest.
- Let this brilliant light continue to grow, visualize it turning green as moves into your arms, down into your belly, and up into your head.
- Practice for 5 or 10 minutes.
- Dissolve the practice, sit for a few moments soaking up the residue of your practice.
- What was your experience with the heart centered meditation?
- Did you find it easy to tap into your heart?
- Did you feel more peaceful, mentally, after this meditation?
