Meditation and Breathing

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Jay Deva Kumar, M.A. Copyright©2005 Living Your Light™ www.livingyourlight.net

MEDITATION AND YOUR BREATH : 

MEDITATION AND YOUR BREATH Aligning to Higher Consciousness

CONSCIOUSNESS : 

CONSCIOUSNESS All speech, action, and behavior are fluctuations of consciousness. All life emerges from, and is sustained in, consciousness. The whole Universe is the expression of consciousness. The reality of the Universe is one unbounded ocean of consciousness in motion. - Maharishi Yogi

The Four Stages of Consciousness : 

The Four Stages of Consciousness 1. Waking State - Conscious Mind 2. Dreaming State - Unconscious Mind 3. Deep Sleep State - Subconscious Mind 4. Unified State - Superconscious Mind

The Unified State : 

The Unified State Physical Body Emotional Body Mental Body Spiritual Body When these four bodies exist in harmony and alignment, this is when we are in “health/wholeness” as an Integrated Being.

Conscious Breathing : 

Conscious Breathing • Physiological effects of “conscious breathing” – recent scientific studies now validate what the ancient yogis proclaimed millennia ago—that the breath, which is called pr›˚a in Sanskrit is the key for the body and mind to heal itself. • Medical scans of the brain have shown that conscious breathing and meditation allow new neural pathways to be created between the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing the brain to function as an integrated whole. • Our breath is the manner in which we achieve deeper states of consciousness. In fact the first aspect of “yoga” or “union” we try to achieve is the mastery of uniting the breath with the body. • The quality and the state of your breath dictate the quality and the state of your life. If your breath is shallow, disconnected, fast, and unconscious, so too is the quality of your life. When we begin to breathe with mindfulness and intention, using deep rich focused breath, so too do we become centered and grounded, and our life becomes full and rich.

Breath and Spirit : 

Breath and Spirit In many cultures (both ancient and modern) there is a very intimate connection between the word “breath” and “spirit, soul, consciousness” that one finds in many languages. The English word “spirit” derives from the Latin verb spir›re – to breath. In English the words “re-SPIRATE,” “in-SPIRE” and “ex-PIRE” all convey this original semantic connection of the “breath” and “spirit” being one and the same. Our BREATH is literally our SPIRIT! Our breath is the conduit that not only binds the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies together, it is also the direct conduit that connects our physical body to our divine Spirit fitman and to the universal consciousness Brahman.

Connecting the Breath with Spirit : 

Connecting the Breath with Spirit A few inches below the front of the navel there is an energy spot that is actually the center of gravity of the body. Spiritual texts from many ancient parts of the world (India, China, Japan) consider this place to be where our Spirit actually connects into the physical body. It is where our life’s essence, our Prana, Chi, or Ki emanates and anchors into the body.

Breath and the Nervous System : 

Breath and the Nervous System There are two branches of the nervous system (NS) that regulate the functions of the body. They are the parasympathetic and sympathetic NS. The parasympathetic NS regulates the normal day-to-day functions such as digestion, blood pressure, healing, immunity, and tissue regeneration. It is also known as the “rest and digest” mode of the NS. The sympathetic NS regulates the emergency response of the body. It tells the adrenals to produce adrenaline; it also increases the heart rate, constricts the vital organs and prepares the body for attack. This is also called the “fight or flight” mode of the NS. Prolonged time in fight or flight inhibits the rest and digest functions from happening, thus preparing the way for illness. Conscious Breathing enables us to shift our bodies from the sympathetic NS “fight or flight” mode to the parasympathetic NS “rest and digest” mode.

YOU ARE YOUR BREATH : 

YOU ARE YOUR BREATH “To breathe and to know that you are alive is wonderful. Because you are alive, everything is possible! Every breath, every moment is an opportunity to breath life into your Divine Being.” - Jay Kumar • THE BREATH IS YOUR “SAFETY NET” SURRENDER TO BREATH = SURRENDER TO SPIRIT THE BREATH IS THE SACRED CONNECTION TO YOUR TRUTH, YOUR SPIRIT, AND YOUR LIGHT.

MEDITATION : 

MEDITATION Forget about enlightenment. Sit down wherever you are and listen to the wind that is singing in your veins.  Feel the love,  the longing and the fear in your bones. Open your heart to who you are, right now, not who you would like to be. Not the saint you’re striving to become. But the being right here before you, inside you, around you. All of you is holy. You’re already more and less than whatever you can know.Breathe out, look in, let go. --John Welwood

Why Meditate? : 

Why Meditate? Meditation allows us to engage in the dialogue with the “sacred language of Consciousness.” Meditation permits us to experience a daily dialogue with the body, mind, and Spirit. The answers to all of life’s questions is not to be in the KNOW, but to be in the NOW! Meditation teaches us to be fully in the INFINITE NOW.

MEDITATING VS. PRAYING : 

MEDITATING VS. PRAYING • Praying is the act of actually talking to Spirit/God/Universe. Meditation is the act of listening • When we pray we ask Universe for something in our life to change. When we meditate we accept the Truth of what is. • Prayer is hoping that things might turn out how you wish. Meditation is knowing that everything is truly perfect just as Spirit and Universe have intended.

Calming the Monkey Mind : 

Calming the Monkey Mind • The ancient texts of India talk about the way for us to “cease the incessant turnings of thoughts in the mind.” • Meditation, Yoga, and Conscious Breathing enable us to quiet the “monkey mind” of the Ego so we can hear the true voice of Spirit. • In meditation we stop identifying with Ego, and identify with Spirit. We begin to remember WHO WE TRULY ARE!

Meditation in Action : 

Meditation in Action Studies now show that group meditation can actually have a profound effect on our environment and society. DC crime rate dropped 25% in one summer by the power of group meditation. We can actually measure the amount of people required to meditate to affect a population.

Meditation Formula : 

Meditation Formula In any given population, it only takes 1% of the square root of any population for a noticed effect to be witnessed. (.01) √x = number of people meditating .01√65,000 = 25

It would take only 25 people collectively meditating to influence the entire population of Bermuda!! : 

It would take only 25 people collectively meditating to influence the entire population of Bermuda!! What are we waiting for? Let’s do it!

Finding the Truth Within : 

Finding the Truth Within "At the center of your being you have the answer. You know who you are and you know what you want. There is no need to run outside for better seeing nor to peer from a window. Rather abide at the center of your being, for the more you leave it, the less you learn." - Lau Tzu

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MAY YOU ALWAYS BE LIVING YOUR LIGHT NAMASTE