For the second time, millions of people came together in meditation on 21 December 2025, in response to the UN’s call to pause, reflect and reconnect with our inner selves. The sādhakas of the AHYMSIN group of Quatre Bornes, Mauritius also got together on that day for a meditation session as part of the celebrations of World Meditation Day.

We feel deeply blessed that what was once a sacred ancient tradition, revealed only to a select few, has today become a global observance, embraced by the whole planet as a path to inner peace, self-awareness, and holistic well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, the ancient wisdom offers us a simple reminder: peace begins within.

The session was held under the guidance of our spiritual teacher Behenji Sarojini. In her discourse, at the end of the guided meditation, Behenji Sarojini talked about the meditation process as taught by Swami Rama of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. She emphasized on the fact that meditation is not an escape from life. It is a systematic training of the mind which unfolds through a progressive preparation of the body, breath, and mind in defined stages.

The first step for the preparation of a meditative state begins with the practice of Joints and Glands exercises that gently stretch and limber the body. This releases tensions and energy blockages.

The second step is Hatha Yoga Asanas – the physical postures. Here all asanas are performed meditatively with mindful breathing, relaxation of effort and awareness of body sensations. This preparation trains the mind to pay attention and to turn inward.
The third step is a deep relaxation. This calms the nervous system, releases physical tensions and slows the breath.  From a scientific view of the autonomic nervous system, deep relaxation balances our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Modern life tends to keep the sympathetic system which is responsible for the body’s “fight or flight” response chronically active, even when no real danger is present, resulting in increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, heightened alertness, and stress hormone release.

From the perspective of ancient yogic traditions, the state of the nervous system is understood through the flow of prāṇa (vital life force) moving through subtle channels called nāḍīs. When the body and mind are under stress, prāṇa becomes irregular and outward-moving It flows unevenly through the nāḍīs, particularly activating the piṅgalā nāḍi – the right nostril (which continues through the right channel of the spinal cord).

On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system, operating through the vagus nerve, restores the body to a calm and composed state with slowed heart rate, deeper breathing, muscle relaxation, healing and emotional calm. Attention is withdrawn, allowing prānā in the idā nāḍi – the left nostril which continues through the left channel of the spinal cord to settle and move smoothly and rhythmically. This makes the body deeply relaxed and the mind naturally calms down. This balanced flow of prāṇā corresponds to parasympathetic dominance.

The fourth step is prānāyāma – yogic breathing. Practices like nādī  śodhanam (alternate nostril breathing)—balances the flow of prāṇa between iḍā and piṅgalā, purifies the nāḍīs, and steadies the mind. With regular practice, prāṇā begins to flow into suśumṇā nāḍī, the central channel of the spinal cord, creating a stable foundation for meditation. The mind becomes one-pointed, attention is drawn inward.

Once the foundation has been laid, meditation arises spontaneously and effortlessly, and the mind rests in stillness and in inner peace. Thus, the Himalayan Yoga Tradition approaches meditation as a gradual inner journey—from body to breath, from breath to mind, and from mind to silence—revealing our natural state of inner peace.

At the conclusion of the session, the sādhakas expressed a felt sense of pervasive inner peace and well-being emerging from the moment of inner stillness. The session closed with silent thanks and deep reverence to the masters who have transmitted the timeless science of meditation.

Meditation transcends religions, cultures and belief systems. It belongs to the inner science of the mind. Its principles are universal and accessible to all who seek self-knowledge, inner peace and collective harmony.

Editor’s Note:

Maya Devi Soonaranne is an initiate in the Himalayan Tradition and an active member in AHYMSIN Mauritius.