Practice Report - Alfredo D - Saturday 11/24/2012
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 5 years before Dec 11, 2017
Alfredo 5 years ago
ॐ नमः शिवाय
AM Practice
Woke up at 5:00 AM (Brahma-Muhurta). Practice was good overall and lasted approximately 105 minutes.
Svadhyaya: Continued reading from “The Life of the Buddha” by Nanamoli.
Puja and Dedication: 10-minute mantra session and Puja doing Tratak (eye concentration) on effigy of Lord Shiva using a Maalaa. Puja on Ishtadevata Mahayogin Lord Shiva, using Arati lamp and incense.
Breath Infusion: 60 minutes of Bhastrika prânâyâma while doing several asanas. Infusion emphasis was on the lower trunk and the feet. Kundalini moved up Sushumna nadi upon command.
Meditation: Consisted of 35 minutes with concentration on Naad sound after bringing the concentration slowly to the back of the head. Naad was strong coming from the left ear. Meditation ended up on plain concentration on the back of the head. At this point, it has become obvious to me that 30 minutes is not enough, and that experiences start occurring only after that period of time.
Spiritual State of Mind and Sadhana Planning:
1. Doing as much Bhastrika prânâyâma as possible.
2. Increasing meditation quality and time.
3. Controlling thoughts by using Pratipaksha Bhavana (rapidly changing bad thoughts for the thought of God using Brahman-Abhyasa, often using a mantra as the tool), knowing that the mind can only entertain one thought at a time.
4. Started the practice of not eating anything solid after 6 PM.
Dream recall: Dream recall was challenged because of large amount of food intake. Bits and pieces of 2 dreams were recalled.
Carlos Palacios 5 years ago
Hola Alfredo!
I've been reading your posts and I've seen that you have included Tratak meditation. I used to practice this in a dark room before going to bed but with a lighted candle. I would try to stare at it without blinking too much for 10-15 minutes. I noticed that in my dreams I had more control of the astral sense of "sight". The sight in my dreams was keen and sharp, and I was able to recall them more accurately. Furthermore, I was able to direct my dream sight to what I wanted to see or focus on, as opposed to being dependent on the projector, which randomly projects scenes and pictures and automatically carries you through your dream.
Another indication of the results of Tratak was a dream I had in which I was sitting on a rocky surface at night, like the Grand Canyon. My body was made of a purplish neon light and there was an entity sitting next to me. I could not see the entity but I think that it was female. Anyway, she/it told me: "This is how you come in contact with me: choose any point in space and visualize a blue circle". I stared at the night sky and visualized the blue circle. The circle appeared and I woke up. Michael explained that this dream had to do with Tratak meditation, but to be honest, I forgot his explanation because it's been a while since that occurrence
Anyway, I hope this helps. Give the lighted candle a shot before going to bed for a good 10-15 minutes in a dark room and I'm sure you'll see results.
What is the benefit of doing Tratak on the picture of statue of a deity?
Carlos
Alfredo 5 years ago
Que hubole Carlos!
Thank you very much for the helpful information.
In my case, the Tratak injunction comes from Swami Jyotirmayananda Guruji, who initiated me in year 2002 into mantra yoga after declaring Lord Shiva as my Ishtadevata, and given me a mantra. He instructed that the first maalaa count of 108 be done doing Tratak on the effigy of the deity. I know there are doubts about the present power of mantra yoga, but I have grown accustomed to like and enjoy this practice very much.
Alfredo 5 years ago
PM Practice
Breath Infusion: Consisted of a 30-minute Bhastrika prânâyâma practice in different asanas. Practice was good and strong.
Meditation: Consisted of 30 minutes with strict concentration on Naad sound. Naad sound was blaring from both ears, which has become a common occurrence during the afternoon practice. Tuned to its vortex of axis that came from the left ear (where the highest pitch is usually detected).
This Naad sound was present today all the time, and very high, not like tinnitus, but like a background vibration, from both ears. It stays in the background like a high-pitched sound: uuuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! like that. It is a reminder of the practice. It is like a mantra.
Swami Hariharananda Guruji instructed and invited all Kriyavans to listen to Naad (Divine sound he called it) all the time.
