The main objective of meditation is to concentrate and gradually relax the mind until the consciousness is released. As you progress, you will notice that you can meditate anytime and anywhere, thereby achieving inner peace no matter what happens around you.
Meditation, especially at the beginning, is an exercise in patience, perseverance; For this reason, it is convenient to practice in a group and, preferably, with someone who corrects the posture and sets the guidelines to follow. At Ananda Mandira we work both ways, in a group and in private.
Once you have learned the technique, become accustomed to the posture, and set the routine, you can try solo meditation.
In any case, group practice reinforces the routine and avoids discouragement. Conversely, meditating alone can lead to more authentic practice, even though it may be more difficult to persevere. It may be a good idea to combine the two methods: practice alone regularly, and go to group retreats or, in isolation, to a Meditation and Yoga Center like this one.
Meditating is, Observing without judging.
Meditation is "contemplation." In this sense, great or complicated knowledge would not be required to learn in order to meditate, and the role of the Teacher could come to be considered that of a mere instructor who provides us with a specific technique.
Why meditate? The practice of meditation arises to try to find an answer to the great questions that are posed to us in relation to our deepest nature: who or what am I? Where do I come from and where do I go? Why do I exist? Is it my mission here?
In addition to seeking logical answers in science and philosophy, or faith in religion, meditation is intended to transcend the ordinary state of consciousness and go beyond, in some way, ordinary reality, awakening to another vision of the things that we fills, and gives meaning to our existence.
Paradoxically, meditation must be practiced without a specific goal, without expecting a certain achievement, not even the highest.
Meditation is the continuity of a stream of similar ideas, undisturbed by any other. While in concentration there is disturbance with other ideas, this is not the case with meditation, since there is only a flow on the same idea. Prolonged and deep concentration leads to the state of meditative absorption (samadhi), in which the object is held in the mind and fills the entire space of consciousness. All the ideas that appear revolve around the object of concentration and are accompanied by an emotional disposition that can be described as "serenity", "peace" or "calm". There is no loss of lucidity, but rather, the sense of alertness seems to intensify.
We offer: One hour of meditation in the center that may include: Gentle yoga exercises to start the class, awareness of posture and breathing. Pranayamas (breathing exercises), focusing the mind on an object or a chakra (Sarguna meditation), focusing the mind in a state of love, unity, (Nirguna meditation) repetition of mantra, relaxation with sounds.
We recommend combining meditation with Yoga Nidra.
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