Key Concepts of Meditation
In this article, we will cover all about systematic processes and surefire ways to cleanse and purify your subconscious mind without trying to automatically stop your thoughts or still your mind.
I am going to teach you this by shining light on Jana yoga. (Yoga of Wisdom & Knowledge) and 4 important key concepts derived from this little known but very powerful ancient philosophy.
Key Concepts of Meditation
- Samskaras. (Stored Subconscious Impressions)
- Witnessing. (Drashta Bhava. Sakshi)
- Vairagya. (Dis-identification, or non-attachment.)
- Viveka. (Right understanding, Pure knowledge, Intuitive wisdom)
This article is about developing higher levels of pure awareness, and intuitive wisdom, so you can systematically and predictably cleanse and purify your subconscious mind.
The Reason Why the Key Concepts are so Important.
Little, if any, practical processes and methods are taught by many meditation systems today to master the mind.
The way meditation is taught today goes something like this:
- Stop your thoughts, and still or empty your mind.
- Just be present and don’t seek happiness.
- All you have to do is repeat secret or magic million-dollar mantras.
- Just listen to special beeps and tones and your life will automatically change in a few minutes.
- Zen teachers hit their students with a stick if they have any thoughts.
Those are the simple reasons why so many people have challenges learning and teaching meditation.
The truth is, there are time tested methodologies to help you transform your meditation practice, and master your mind, and that’s what I’m going to share with you in this article.
If you would like to level up your knowledge about meditation and become a certified meditation teacher, my program called the Transformational Meditation Teacher Training Method may be for you. Book a call by clicking the button below to learn more.
How the Key Concepts of Meditation will help you
Acquiring an understanding of these key concepts will assist you to:
- Detach and sit more comfortably with whatever you are experienced in your meditation practice and life without being caught up in unpleasant feelings of identification.
- Develop a greater understanding of your mind, and emotions, through the capacity to observe the underlying mental processes.
- Purify and release the emotional charge of unhelpful past experiences trapped within your subconscious mind, so you can awaken the full power of your mind to focus on materialising your goals dreams and aspirations.
- Develop even a basic understanding of the following key concepts will assist your personal practice and your ability to teach meditation greatly.
- Maximise the psychological, physiological and Spiritual benefits of meditation. (you’re spiritually inclined)
- Provide you with tools you can utilise for the rest of your life as a catalyst for healing and transformation for yourself and your students.
Samskaras (Stored Subconscious Impressions)
What are Samskaras?
In broad terms, Samskaras represents memories, recollections, mental impressions, or psychological subconscious imprints. It is stored deep inside a person from past experiences of perceptions (see, hear, touch, taste, smell.)
It is the foundation for our nature and how we think, judge, perceive, feel and our motivational actions in the world.
Samskaras can negative or positive, and it is the framework for our subconscious sense of value, or self-worth. It is also the driving force behind our decisions, habitual tendencies, behaviour, and psychological predispositions, as well as our vulnerabilities, temperament, and character.
Samskaras form the basis for our Karma. ( Spiritual principle of cause and effect which states every action always has a consequential action.)
Why is it important to transform Samskaras?
In order for us to live a fulfilling successful life free from suffering it’s important to not only be aware of Samskaras, but to also develop strategies to clear, shift and purify the mind of unwanted impressions.
Furthermore, it is essential to condition and to reprogram the mind with positive qualities and narratives of positive outcomes for the future.
Otherwise, the mind will continually default back to old habits and unwanted behaviours.
How to transform Samskaras?
Now that we have covered samskaras and how they influence and impact all areas of our lives, we will now discuss practical tools to assist us to transform them.
Jnana yoga – Yoga of Wisdom and Intuitive knowledge.
Jnana Yoga is not theoretical, or intellectual knowledge.
Chapter 4 Verse 38. Pantanjali Yoga Sutras.
Pantanjali Yoga Sutras is the knowledge attained by realization from within through the practice of meditation.
This knowledge is far superior to theoretical knowledge of scriptures. Realized knowledge is the purest sublime form.
Bhagavad Gita 4.38.
In this world, there is nothing as purifying as divine knowledge. One who has attained purity of mind through the prolonged practice of Yoga receives such knowledge within the heart.
In the Upanishads, ‘jnana yoga aims at the realization of the oneness of the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate Self (Brahman).
First step: Mumukshutva means the desire for transcendence.
Mumukshutva is the intense longing or burning desire for liberation, freedom and self-realisation.
It is an important concept in jnana yoga and advaita vedanta, which advocate it as an essential requirement for finding moksha or liberation.
Mumukshutva begins with self-perception, self-awareness and knowing where you are in life and what you need to do in order to improve life.
Witnessing. (Drashta Bhava. Detached Awareness. )
Sakshi (Witness) is ’Pure Awareness’ that witnesses the world but does not get affected or involved.
Sakshi ‘eyewitness’ or the ‘Supreme Being’, is the Atman which is the unchangeable eternal Reality, Pure Consciousness and knowledge.
What is Witnessing?
To develop and maintain a grounded, calm mental state throughout our lives, we need to cultivate the ability to become witnesses.
The aim of witnessing is to observe (impartial spectator) without initially reacting or becoming affected by whatever is arising into your conscious awareness during your meditation practice and in daily life.
In practical terms, during our meditation practise, we connect with the power of the mind to observe while not being disturbed or distracted by automatic, unconscious habitual thinking patterns that may arise during our meditation practice.
We develop the ability not to be automatically influenced by feelings, emotions, and unhelpful thinking patterns. (Samskaras)
Witnessing allows us to look at things from our higher self; the unchanging, eternal self, which remains unaffected by whatever life throws at us. The ‘witness’ state guides us with wisdom and intuition, revealing aspects and ‘nuances’ we wouldn’t usually see.
Why is it so Important to develop the ability to Witness?
Witnessing is very important because it helps us develop a greater understanding of our mind’s underlying emotions, patterns, and mental processes, shedding light on how they influence our life.
It enables us to observe the origin of our feelings, thoughts, and habitual responses that are triggered by them.
Witnessing allows us to be more comfortable with whatever experience while we meditate without being caught up in feelings of identification and automatic responses to situations in our lives without wisdom.
Ultimately witnessing Leads to developing higher levels of pure awareness and connecting to individual consciousness and the universal consciousness which we will be covering in the later articles.
With that said. Next, we will cover the next key concept.
Vairagya
Vairagya is a Sanskrit term related to the internal state of mind that has the ability to become non-reactive, non-attachment, or dis-identify with spiritual discrimination or discernment to internal thinking processes and life experiences.
It is not about disregarding your thoughts and events in your life, it’s related to letting them arise while remaining present with an equanimous mind, or witnessing them Sakshi. (Higher states of consciousness)
Spritual References to Vairagya.
The concept of Vairāgya is illustrated in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, where it, along with practice abhyāsa ( Constant and regular practice), is presented as the key component to controlling the modifications (Samskaras) of the mind (YS 1.12 “abhyāsa-vairāgyabhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ”).
The term Vairāgya appears three times in the Bhagavad Gita (6.35, 13.8, 18.52) where it is advised as principal means for bringing control to a restless mind. It is also one of the central themes of Yoga-Vāsiṣṭha.
Why practice Vairagya?
Many of our thoughts activated by Samskaras stored deep in the subconscious mind create havoc in our lives, causing stress, overwhelm and anxiety.
Automatic unconscious reactions to events in our lives make us make unwise decisions.
The reason why you need to become Non-reactive?
Thoughts and events in our lives are impermanent and subject to change. This clinging dissipates the power of the mind and takes up a lot of the brains recourses and energy.
On a higher level, you are more than any thoughts or events in your life.
The trick to making it work?
The trick is to initially become non-reactive or dis-identify as the witness.
This gives your mind more time to wisely analyse what is arising so you can develop Viveka, (Wisdom) and make more informed decisions and actions, which is the discussion of the next topic.
Viveka. (Right understanding, or Intuitive wisdom)
Viveka goes hand in hand and builds upon witnessing and Vairagya as the subconscious mind is purified of Samskaras.
What is Viveka?
Viveka is the right understanding which arises out of the experience of wisdom, from the functioning of buddhi. (The higher factuality of the mind related to intelligence, reasoning, comprehension, and understanding with wisdom)
This develops the ability to distinguish between Illusion and true knowledge and the impermanent nature of many things the mind grasps onto unwillingly.
Ultimately, it is not intellectual discrimination, but intuitive knowledge from experience and wisdom from higher states of consciousness.
Why Viveka is so Important.
Viveka skillfully solves problems and overcomes obstacles by enhancing clarity to make wiser, more informed life choices so you can achieve your goals, dreams, and aspirations more easily.
Insights in understanding how to live our lives according to our dharma ( Life Purpose) arise into our conscious awareness.
Outcome: Purification & transformation of the mind.
Viveka activates the mind’s natural ability to release stress and limiting beliefs. Hidden fears and complexes, old conditioning and habits are slowly but surely be expelled.
Once you start to purify the mind, it becomes clear and very powerful, and naturally, develop your true sense of purpose and direction in life.
Purification and transformation of the mind.
- You have more focus, energy and willpower to achieve your dreams and goals so you can take control of your lives and become the creators of your destiny.
- On top of that. Understanding and practising these key concepts will help you to enjoy the process of meditation and help you meditate with more peace and ease, creating a solid foundation for change and transformation in your life.
Key Points
- Samskaras. Important to be aware of Samskaras and how they influence lives.
- Witnessing. Important to be the witness from higher states of consciousness.
- Vairagya. (Dis-identification, or non-attachment.)
- Viveka. (Pure knowledge, Intuitive wisdom, Right understanding)
- Mumukshutva. Motivation for transcendence and transformation.
I hope you enjoyed learning about the Key Concepts of Meditation. In my program The Transformational Meditation Teacher Training Method, I do a deep dive on topics about all the aspects of yoga, meditation, and more.
If you want to advance your meditation knowledge and skills, and would be interested in becoming a yoga and meditation teacher, then I invite you to book a complimentary call with me below.
During the 30-minute call, I will help you get crystal clear clarity on how to:
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