Name of Lecture: …Meaning and Use of Mantra Practice: Sweeping breath, mantra meditation

Name of Speaker: …Swami Ritavan

Program Time: …12pm-13pm

Actual Time: …12pm-13pm
Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG

Name of Chairman: T.P. Sasikumar

Name of Reporter: Lela Pierce

Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: … 

Main Points of the Lecture: ....

Swami Ritavan gave a very poetic outline of the use and origin of mantra within the Himalayan tradition. He explained that in the beginning there was the word and the word was God - referring to the experience of God. He explained that silence is the mother of all words and out of that came AUM followed by all other words referring to God etc.. Swami Ritavan went on to explain how concentration on the subtle body leads one to “God” and how breath rhythm arises to thought rhythm and mantric vibration travels through the breath as so to elicit an internal experience of word as God – a mind in permeating word meaning. As word begins and ends, thought continues. He emphasized Swami Veda’s words “Don’t let body conditions be mind conditions”.

            Swami Ritavan explained and guided the audience through sweeping breath practice. During the practice the following points of attention were indicated:

* exhale crown to base of spine

* eventually breath 2:1

* inhaling and exhaling with awareness moving through the center of the body while internalizing OM

* extend awareness to the area between the feet (when lying in shavasana)

* extend awareness to space quality beyond feet (to wall of the room)

* eventually extend unified flow of prana into universe.

Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … None

Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...None