Persistent and intense concentration captivates the mind and over time will make it our willing helper, rather than the inner critic it can become without mindful control. The goal of effortless freedom is gradually earned by consistent, joyful discipline. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
We all want freedom from thoughts of worry fear, or anxiety. We want freedom from uncontrolled anger or that self-critic that may rear its ugly head, telling us that we are not good enough. Our thoughts can get out of control, taking us to places that we don't want to go. We can control of our thoughts, not let our thoughts control us. Our joyful discipline is doing what we know we should do, following that inner voice that guides us to our good. We know what is the right thing to do because it benefits us and all of life. We can hear that still small voice when our thoughts are controlled by having a time of silence each day. That time of silence allows the our inner wisdom, our inner knowing to permeate our mind and our consciousness. Our mind becomes our friend. We see and experience the benefits of this joyful discipline throughout our day. This is real freedom.
Meditation begins when the effort required to concentrate gives way to a steady flow of attention. The approach to meditation requires some initial expenditure of energy like an airplane on the runway that builds speed and energy to the point of lift off. Meditation is above the clouds of thought. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
As we sit in the silence or practice a concentration technique, we maintain watchful alertness for the transition from concentration to the state of meditation. The switch is marked when effort drops away and is naturally replaced by a peaceful flow of inner awareness many describe as bliss. Fullness pervades the mental field and there is no feeling of lack or need. In this state we are refreshed and recharged on all levels. When we drop back out of meditation and notice the interruption of thought, sound or sensations, we can pick up our concentration technique again. Even on days when we do not achieve anything near meditation, no effort is ever wasted and there are always the benefits of an improved ability to focus and ignore thoughts in the mental field that are not useful.
Meditation practice establishes inner balance, restores harmony to the nervous system, clarifies the mind, increases will power, and inspires constructive emotions. ~Lahiri Mahasaya
Lahiri Mahasaya (1828-1895) was a very esteemed meditation and spiritual practice teacher from India, who taught many hundreds of students, male and female, young and old and from all socioeconomic levels. His influence is still felt today all over the world. Many millions of people have experienced these benefits of meditation. When we have a regular meditation practice we begin to see these benefits for ourselves. This is why this system is called "scientific". We are taking these practices into the laboratory of our lives and observing how they work. As we refine our practice we become more conscious of our thoughts, words and actions and we can choose what supports our life. We can live a life that is fulfilled, healthy and productive, no matter what outer circumstances may be. Be observant.
The seeds planted in this moment are the flowers of our future. Be mindful of your thoughts and emotions. They are the seeds that blossom an bear fruit according to their nature. If we yearn for peace, we must cultivate it first in our own consciousness. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A steady meditation practice makes us aware of the stream of thoughts within our minds. We can choose to energize those that are useful and let those that accentuate disappointment and anger fall away. We cannot control external events but our meditation practice gives us the tools to control how we react to them. Choose peacefulness and harmony today and we will encounter them as we move forward.
Live well. Live fully. Never compromise your Self. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
We have an inner voice, what some call our conscience or in spiritual teachings, it is called the Self. This is the innermost part of ourselves that knows what the right thing to do is. Often, we think that we know what is right, and we really don't want to listen to that Self. Often we ignore or don't even hear what it is trying to tell us. When we do listen to that Self, even if it seems that it might be difficult to follow, in the long run it is always the best way and the easiest way. We are flowing with the stream, rather than against it. When our mind is calm and quiet we can hear the Self. We will know the right thing to do — the right thing to say. We live our best life, we live our life fully when we listen to that still, small voice. We benefit and all of life benefits when we listen and don't compromise.
To change habitual patterns, direct your energy toward a new focus. Deny the old pattern by affirming a new one. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A steady daily meditation practice gives us the ability to reach a single point of focus and to control the thought patterns in our minds. We also learn how to be an attentive witness to the conversations taking place in our minds. When we spot the rising of a pattern that is not useful, we can alter the focus and replace that pattern with more useful thoughts and affirmations. This is the definition of that freedom which meditation grants us.
Life has to be lived; why not live it in the highest way? Look for the good in everything. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
We can choose to live our lives in an unhappy way, focusing on the difficulties that we experience or we can focus on the positive things in our lives. Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative over the positive. Science has shown that we can change our focus to the positive. When we bring skillful, conscious attention to the positive aspects of our life, we change the neural networks in our brain so the conscious experience of happiness in our life becomes more and more automatic. Our practice of meditation supports us in being more self-aware, calmer and peaceful. When we are in that place, we can more easily focus on the positive, even in times of stress. This is living life in the highest way.
Each day should include some physical work that is useful. Physical work strengthens the body and calms the mind through concentration on the task. It connects us to the earth and the holy present moment. Every day nourish the body, the mind, and the soul.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Our daily meditation practice gives us the skill to bring the mind to a single point of focus. Long after our time of meditation, physical work allows us to bring this focus to bear on useful work in the world, and it can extend the harmonious joy of meditation into our daily life. As we continue our practice of meditation, we can extend it into work, into walking, into interacting with others and into all aspects of our life. Think of meditation as the highest preparation for life, and of life as the blossoming of meditation.
The antidote for regret is to move our awareness into the present moment. Consider what you can do now that makes a difference. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Most of us have had times in our life where we have done something or said something that we regret. We wonder what we can do to take it back or change it, when often there is nothing we can do. We can't change the past, but we can affect the future. The only way to do that is to live in the present moment. Our meditation practice supports us in developing that part of ourselves that observes ourselves — the witness consciousness part of ourselves in the present moment. When we are meditating we are observing ourselves meditating, noticing when we have been distracted by thoughts and gently bringing ourselves back to our point of focus. When we are not sitting on the cushion we learn to observe ourselves and do or say the right thing in that moment. This is the antidote to regret.
Use the lamp of awareness to observe different states of consciousness. By becoming aware of our changing mental conditions, we can rise above the normally distracted state of mind by directing our attention toward higher consciousness.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A steady practice of meditation gives us full awareness of the thoughts taking place in our mental field. Once we have this ability to be aware, we can change the distracted patterns in our mind. We can use techniques like concentrated awareness of the breath to reach a state of single pointed focus. This can help us easily accomplish tasks after meditation out in the busy world, and moreover we can cultivate a higher level of compassionate consciousness when dealing with others in difficult situations.
The wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is unified, and every act is done with complete awareness. ~Bhagavad Gita 4:18
Our lives are so busy and so full of input. When we first begin to meditate, it may feel like we are wasting time. We are so used to always doing, that it feels difficult to just sit in the silence. Once we have been meditating for a while, we realize the benefits that we are reaping from this time of quiet. There is definitely action happening during this time of perceived inaction. Conversely, our meditation practice supports us when we are active in the world. We are more aware — more conscious of what we are thinking, doing or saying. This enables us to choose theaction that supports us and those around us in the highest way.
To create dynamic will power, determine to do some of the things in life that you thought you could not do. Attempt simple tasks first. As your confidence strengthens and your will becomes more dynamic, you can aim for more difficult accomplishments. Be certain that you have made a good selection, then refuse to submit to failure. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
Our daily meditation practice gives us the focus to bend our will for positive purposes. As we become aware of our ability to control the contents of our mind during meditation, we can harness our latent ability to manifest our useful desires. Over time our deepening meditation unleashes our astonishing ability to accomplish many things we would not have attempted before meditation and the world around us becomes increasingly supportive. Begin or deepen your meditation practice today.
Be truthful. Speak words that bring love. Encourage others. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The words that we speak are powerful. We can bring joy, peace and love to ourselves and others with the words we speak, or difficulty and suffering. As we often say, everything is energy. Science has proven that. The words we speak bring energy. We want to bring positive energy to ourselves and to others. Love and compassion comes through us, with our words. Speaking the truth, with compassion, brings the power of truth out into the world. Taking a few moments of silence before we speak will let us know if the truth we speak is compassionate or harmful. This includes what we say to ourselves. Our regular meditation practice teaches us to observe ourselves and enables us to pause before we speak. Compassionate, loving speech is our goal.
The successful practice of meditation requires balance and focus—qualities that are essential to a happy, successful life. Cultivate balance today. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Meditation requires balance but a balanced lifestyle of moderation in all things returns the favor, supports our practice of meditation and can bring an end to suffering. Meditation requires focus and in return the techniques of focused attention enable us to reach deeper states of meditation. When we meditate regularly with focused attention, we enable a virtuous cycle of improved meditation and balanced, graceful life experiences.
By focusing on friendliness and other such qualities, the power to transmit them is obtained. ~Yoga Sutras of Patanjail 3:24
Often you have heard us teach that at the end of our meditation practice, it is a good time to focus on the peaceful energy that we have experienced while we were sitting and to send that peaceful energy out to our family, friends, our community and the world. This practice has been taught and experienced for hundreds of years. It works. Focusing our thoughts and behaviors on friendliness and compassion is powerful. We become the center of a ripple that moves out into the world — for those we love and for those whom we may have difficulty with. Just imagine all of us as the center of these ripples. This strength permeates our entire being and we benefit because we are also focusing on this for ourselves. The power of focusing on friendliness and compassion transforms us and transforms the world.
A mantra -- a word, a word-phrase, or a sound -- may be used to focus attention. For most meditators, during the early stages of practice before meditation flows spontaneously, listening to a mantra is more helpful than "waiting and observing" because it supports concentration. Roy Eugene Davis
Mantra technique begins with intentional silent vocalization of the mantra, for example "hong-saw":"hong on the in-breath and "saw" on the out-breath. After this has gone on for a while, we can notice that the mantra will continue to be chanted in our mind without conscious effort. As this continues, we can be watchful for the transition from concentration into the state of meditation itself, when boundaries drop away and we simply fall into a state of blissful peace. At this point, technique is no longer necessary. If we drop back out of meditation, we can always pick up the technique again.
To meditate a short time with depth is better than to meditate for long hours with the mind running wild. In the beginning, therefore, don’t force yourself to sit for a long time. Strive for shorter, but deeper, meditations. Then gradually, as you become accustomed to going deep, lengthen the time you sit in meditation. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
In the quiet of the mind, beyond thought, is where we find the peace and calmness that is at the core of our being. Returning again and again during our time of meditation will allow us to re-claim the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits that we are seeking. The great meditation masters have guided us to meditate for twenty to thirty minutes a day to achieve those benefits. At first we may have difficulty sitting for that length of time. When we start out, meditating for a shorter period of time and working our way up to twenty or thirty minutes will support us in making meditation a joyful, everyday habit.
Inspiration energizes the mind and body, enables us to perceive possibilities, improves powers of intellectual discernment, unveils intuition that provides insight, and causes us to want to be skillful and accomplished. ~Roy Eugene Davis
Beyond its many health benefits, a regular mediation practice opens us to inspiration. We become attuned to our innate ability to access wisdom on many levels. Enhanced access to inspiration alone justifies the energy needed to meditate regularly every day for at least twenty minutes. Begin or deepen your meditation practice today.
In the still mind the Self reveals itself. From the depth of meditation, a person draws the joy and peace of complete fulfillment. Bhagavad Gita 6:20 Why would we want to meditate? Why make the effort to sit quietly each day? Most of us would welcome peace and joy in life especially when we experience life challenges. The practice of meditation quiets down the myriad thoughts that are always racing around our mind. Our mind becomes like a still, calm lake that then can reflect the inner knowing, the inner peace that is at our core, always. We become more able to control our thoughts, rather than letting them control us. We are more able to discern the right thing to do. We are more able to "keep our cool". We are more able to see the beauty in life. That is the joy.
Strong mental chains are forged from desire and habit. Each time action is taken to fulfill desire, another link is added. Use discernment and self-discipline and break the chain
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Every one of us comes into this world with a unique gift to offer others, but we also seem to have a deeply ingrained habit or obstacle that may get in the way of fully offering that gift. Meditation allows us to develop the witness consciousness that makes us aware of this core obstacle, and as we continue to deepen our daily practice, we gain the strength and insight to embrace the joyous self-discipline that frees us from it. The wonderful promise is that meditation can eventually burn away all traces of such obstacles and grant us complete freedom.
