"Meditation Techniques - Day 07/15" Talk by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Mangaluru.

Hari Om! Swami Aparajitananda elaborates on TOPIC OF PREPARATIONS (for the subtle meditation), which necessarily mean perfection and co-operation at grosser levels/layers of personality, viz. pañcha koshas. It is clarified that Bliss is the indicator of level of all other koshas; and body is to be utilised to reach highest level and then transcend body itself. Aspects of ANNAMAYA KOSHA (Body), viz. food, exercise and sleep are discussed in detail, type-, quality- and quantity-wise in this context with respect to trigunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) and the effects (quietude, duhkha/disease and dullness). • It is observed that fruits keep mind alert to evolve and utilise subtle energy for meditation. It makes mind obey self. • It is warned that meditation journey is 'alone to Alone, all alone'. It has no place for competition or comparison. • Process of food taking is analysed in minute detail to indicate how mind can cheat. Concepts of āhāra-shuddhi, artha-shuddhi, yukta āhāra and prāna shakti are explained. Swamiji notices that Zen style of 'being in present' plus Vedantic Devotion can help to experience the presence of Lord (Consciousness). (Meditation Techniques - Talk 7 of 15)