• Table of Contents
  • Three Principles of Communication by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Discipline by Swami Rama
  • Is an Ashram for Me? by Swami Ritavan Bharati
  • Christmas & Children at SRSG by Namita Sinha
  • 2018 Mauni Amavasya Silence Retreats
  • Teacher Training at SRSG
  • October Initiates’ Retreat
  • Travelling with Swamiji by Tejaswini
  • Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is…
  • Two Events with Swami Radha by Randall Krause (Mokshadeva)
  • Human to Human, Heart to Heart by Daniel Hertz
  • Teaching Joints & Glands by Alice Coelho
  • Caught by Joanne Sullivan (Divya)
  • 2017 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is…

Sometimes students have written to or asked Swami Veda Bharati, Swami Ritavan Bharati, and other senior teachers in our tradition questions about practice.  This is one such “Question and Answer,” or Q&A.

Question:

I want to know the procedure to increase the energy level of mind field or soul.

Answer:

Four have answered this question: Michael Smith, Stephen Parker (Stoma), Peter Fabian, and Lalita Arya (Ammaji).

From Michael Smith

First and foremost: Regular Integrated Yoga Practice: Asana, Relaxation, Pranayama, Meditation and a sattvic lifestyle. After these are established, then the Subtle-body Exercises and Special Mantras, such as Gayatri.

From Stephen Parker (Stoma)

Here’s one suggestion:

The best way to increase the energy of the mindfield is to practice mindful awareness all the time, not just when you are sitting on your meditation seat. This is awareness which is intentional, near-present focused, non-judgmental, open, and accepting of whatever comes. This awareness is what makes everything in yoga work. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is yoga period...

When you keep this kind of awareness, starting with the awareness of the sensation of breath in your nostrils, you automatically practice what the yogi’s call indriya-gupti, protecting the senses, turning them more inwards so that the mindfield’s energy is not wasted in random wandering in the world, random thoughts, emotions and speech.

It helps you to observe thoughts and feeling as they arise and then decide how to act on them rather than simply acting them out which is what most people do most of the time. Eventually the practice grows so that instead of just feeling your breath you actually feel your body from inside, which, again, very few people do.

The awareness can even be taken into other states, dreaming and deep sleep, although those are more advanced versions. There is no limit really to how far you can take this simple practice. It’s right under your nose!

From Peter Fabian

Life style changes that you are doing--go do them.
Eat better. Move better. Rest and recover well. Breathe better.

And work on being nicer.

From Lalita Arya (Ammaji)

Ref the mindfield energy question - Michael is spot on - the Gayatri mantra is a great and easy energy giver, not difficult to practice. Vocal repetition for a start to get the sounds/vibrations right and then slowly merge into inner focus. Stoma is always helpful, and the mindfulness practice is important.

As far as the 'soul' is concerned we do not increase or decrease the properties of the soul as it has its own being. Of course all the hands-on practices recommended will help the emergence of what soul IS.

Editor’s Notes:

If you have a question about spiritual practice, you can use this link to ask it:  http://ahymsin.org/main/adhyatma-samiti-spiritual-committee.html

To read “Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is…” columns, please use this link: http://ahymsin.org/main/practice/dear-yoga-mentor-my-question-is.html