Lesson 22 - Brainwave Meditation
An Introductory Course, Designed and Written by Guru Rattana, Ph.D.
Did you ever wonder why someone who "has everything" could be depressed and unhappy and why someone who has very little can be so happy? Of course, we can answer that material wealth, beauty, situation, good environments aren't everything. (Sure are nice though :+)) But that explanation ends up seeming like a rationalization and not an explanation. Consider the idea that the answer could reside in our brainwaves. Certain brain frequencies promote a feeling of well being and certain frequencies promote a feeling of depression. The state of our brainwaves also influences our tendency to be overly reactive or detached.
When our brainwaves are stable and we are in our neutral mind, we do not react at the slightest annoyance. When we do not react, we are mentally available to respond appropriately to situations as they arise.
We practice Kundalini Yoga and Meditation to change our brainwaves so that we can be mentally and emotionally balanced. The meditation below, taken from my book The Power of Neutral, will specifically change your brainwaves. With consistent practice, you will notice that you do not unconsciously react, things in life do not bother you so much and you will feel more stable and neutral in your life situations.
Brainwave Meditation
Mudra - Hand Position
Sit in easy pose or posture with a straight spine. Bring arms comfortably to the sides of the body with the elbows bent. Hands in fists with the thumb over the last three fingers, facing forward. Forefinger or Jupiter finger up straight. Hold the Jupiter finger very straight, tight and stable, without tensing the rest of the arms and body. The forearms should be perpendicular to the ground. During the meditation check the position and move the elbows forward as needed to maintain the position.
Eye Position
Eyes slightly open, looking at the tip of the nose.
Mantra
Har Hare (ray) Hari Wha He Guru
Chant in a monotone, enunciating clearly and moving the mouth in a very pronounced way. (exaggerate the lip movements) Pump the navel point with each part of the mantra. (Pull the navel point toward the spine.) Once I have perfected the above I like to add a slight root lock with the pumping of the navel center, which further stimulates the fire in my spine.
Har Hare Hari are the three aspects of God - Generate, Organize and Deliver
Wha He Guru means ecstasy and imprints the mind with a feeling of cosmic well being.
Timing
Continue for 31 minutes. This can be done for 11, 15 and 22 minutes, but for the full effect do it for 31 minutes for at least 40 days.
Ending
Hold the position and listen mentally to the mantra for 2 minutes.
Inhale deeply, hold the breath, tense the whole body as tight as you can, exhale.
Repeat 2 more times or a total of 3 times.
Relax on your back or meditate afterwards. Do not jump up immediately.
Benefits
This meditation will bring your brainwaves to the frequency of the neutral mind. In the neutral mind we are tolerant and we don't take things personally. This meditation is highly recommended for teenagers whose raging hormones cause their brainwaves to go out of control. (Pay them to do it. It is worth it!) It will help everyone keep their cool.
This meditation also opens up the heart chakra and activates the navel center. This mantra has also been given as a prosperity mantra. Like other Kundalini Yoga meditations, there are many benefits that are revealed as you practice.
When I first began, I thought I would just do 11 minutes, but I got so into it that I wanted to do it for the full 31 minutes. I experienced that it works in all the ways mentioned above and discovered more every day. I encourage you to practice this meditation and explore what it can do for you. It is good for beginners and seasoned meditators alike. One of the great things about basic Kundalini Yoga meditations is that no previous experience is required. Just tune in with ONG NA MO GURU DEV NA MO and go for it.
Positive results are guaranteed. If you have never done a 40 day meditation, by all means give yourself this wonderful gift.
Additional Information
1) Pumping the Navel
Pull the navel point toward the spine and release with each part of the mantra.
Har (pump) Hari (pump) Hare (pump) Wha (pump) He (pump) Guru (pump)
I use meditations like this to play with the energy in my spine. It feels good and keeps me conscious and present.
2) Timing
It is best to make this mediation part of your morning Sadhana to set your vibration for the day. If you are in a time crunch, shorten the time to 11, 15, or 22 minutes, but do not miss a day. Consistency is necessary to maintain the vibration.
I practiced this meditation for 1000 days and I absolutely recommend it. I started with 40 days but I couldn't stop. I could feel this awesome energy building up and wanted to experience it. I felt surrounded with a solid protection of dense light which also filled my inner space. Sometimes I would continue a few minutes longer just to indulge in the experience.
3) Feeling that the Space is Me
This is something which will come to you with practice. For instance you may feel an energy around and inside you like you have shifted dimensions but are still there. Instead of thinking this is God, the Zone or whatever, think of this as your soul, you essence, your expanded pure light being. In this way you will begin to train yourself to find your identity in your expanded being and your internal identity. This is what we want - to let go of the idea that we are a limited ego.
4) The Ending
The 2 minutes of listening for the mantra before the 3 squeezes is in an approximate amount of time. Just relax and listen inside for the mantra for a time and then do the squeezes. You do not have to time this part.
I find that I need to deeply relax and let go after the 31 minutes for about 10 minutes. After that time I am very different, simultaneously more alive and more at peace. Definitely do not jump up immediately afterwards. If there is a time crunch then do the meditation for less time and keep time to relax.
Enjoy! Sat Nam!