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24/3/2020 Converging Yoga Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra

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Integrating and Converging Four


Complementary Practices
by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
SwamiJ.com

By practicing each of the practices of


Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra,
these four converge into a unified force of
clarity, will, focus, and surrender.

Contents of this web page:


Meditation
Contemplation
Prayer
Mantra
Converging the practices

Choose the better of two approaches: Some spiritual traditions or individual teachers
may deal with only one or two of the four types of practices. Others, such as the path of Yoga
meditation, take a more holistic approach and suggest that one integrate and balance all four
of the practices.

Two Approaches to these Four Practices

Practice one OR the other: Practice one AND the other:


Meditation Meditation
OR Contemplation AND Contemplation
OR Prayer AND Prayer
OR Mantra AND Mantra

Do all of the practices: Yoga meditation of the Himalayas suggests training all of the levels
of our being (senses, body, breath, mind), and utilizes a variety of attitude, physical and
breathing practices as a foundation. It also teaches one that there is great benefit from doing
not only one, but all of the practices of Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra.

Follow your predisposition: However, these are not "one size fits all" recommendations,
but recognize the predisposition, culture, and religion of individual aspirants. These personal
traits are the guidelines by which one chooses the objects of focus for Meditation, the nature
of the Contemplations, the emphasis of Prayer, and the specific Mantras.

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Seek the true meaning of Yoga: Yoga means "union," to re-integrate all of the aspects of
our being, that were never really divided in the first place. Thus, it is quite beneficial to work
with all levels of our being, and to utilize the full range of practices, adapted to individual
needs. To deal with all levels, through such a full range of practices is the true meaning of
Yoga.

The four work as a team: As these practices of Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and
Mantra progress to their subtler stages, they become increasingly powerful as a team,
moving one to the height of spiritual awakening.

See also the article:


Bindu: Pinnacle of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra

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Meditation

Meditation evolves: Meditation evolves in stages, regardless of what object of focus is


used, such as breath, a visualized image, an internal point of focus, or a religious
symbol. There are several categories or stages in Yoga meditation.

Gross objects: Yoga meditation may start with concentration on identifiable objects or
words,
Subtle objects: Then shift to their non-objective form, such as the light or sound
which constructs the object,
Bliss: Then lead to the subtler, joy-producing essence or meaning of the object, or
I-ness: Move still deeper into being-ness or existence itself.

Meditation moves inward: Yoga meditation is systematic, moving inward from gross, to
subtle, to subtler, and to subtle-most. Attention moves progressively inward, from the most
external to the very core of our being. As attention follows the object inward, the awareness
of the grosser aspects of the object fall away, as if being shed, while the deeper essence
reveals itself.

Mental stance is following: The mental stance of Meditation is one of following the object
of meditation, like a bird following a flying insect with unwavering concentration. It is as if the
object arose from a deep place, and that by focusing on that object, our attention can follow
it back to the source from which it arose.

[Words used interchangeably: It is important to note that many traditions and


authors use the words "Meditation" and "Contemplation" interchangeably. If we are
aware of this, then we can easily see the context of the way the words are being used
in different ways. With that clarity, we do not become confused by the terminology.
Here, we are using the two words from the approach of Yoga and Vedanta.]

See also the index of Meditation articles:


Meditation Index

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Contemplation

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Contemplation evolves: Contemplation also evolves through stages, whether it is a


reflection on a universal principle such as, "Truth is in Oneness," an inner question such as,
"Who am I?" or on an inspiring verse from the sacred texts of one's religion. In the
Himalayan tradition, one of the focuses of Contemplation is on the Mahavakyas, or Great
Contemplations.

Thought: Contemplation may start with a verbal thought process,


Reflection: Deepen to quiet reflection,
Intuition: Later bring intuitive wisdom, and
Knowing: Then lead to a formless knowing.

Contemplation moves inward: Contemplation moves from gross, to subtle, to subtler, and
to subtle-most. As attention moves progressively inward, the more external, gross, verbal
way of thinking recedes, leading us to the very core of our intuitive being.

Mental stance is of inviting: The mental stance of Contemplation is like when you have lost
some personal object, such as a key or a pair of glasses. You look and think, look and think,
but do not find. Finally, you come to stillness, while your eyes quit roaming, and your mind
quits thinking. There is a mental stance of openness, of invitation for the memory to simply
arise, as if you were inviting it by saying, "Come....". It is the stance of stillness after the
invitation that is Contemplation.

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Prayer

Prayer evolves: Prayer also evolves through stages, although the specific words and focus
of the Prayers might be different for people of different cultures and religions.

Repetition: Prayer may start by being repetitive and standardized in a traditional way,
Relationship: Then shift more to a verbal and spontaneous inner relationship,
Feeling: Then develop to a deeper, non-verbal feeling of love and devotion, and
Communion: Then transform into a still deeper communion.

Prayer moves inward: Prayer moves from gross, to subtle, to subtler, and to subtle-most.
Prayer moves progressively inward, from the most external to the very core of our being, as
Prayers such as for strength, or help with going inward, or for spiritual awakening, gradually
come to fruition.

Mental stance is of anticipation: The mental stance of Prayer is one of anticipation. There
is a "Me" and an "Other," and there is a draw, a longing for them to come into presence
together. There is a calling forward, an appeal between the heart and the beloved.

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See also the articles:
Prayer and Contemplation
Prayer for Strength and Wisdom

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Mantra

Mantra evolves: Mantra also evolves through stages, whether the Mantra is of a particular
religious significance, such as a short phrase, is of a spiritual language such as Sanskrit, or is
a seed syllable not of any particular religion or language. Mantra usage deepens with
practice:

Spoken: At first it may be spoken externally or internally,


Heard: Later heard or attended to internally,
Feeling: Still later experienced as a syllable-less feeling, or
Pervasive awareness: Finally experienced as a pervasive awareness that leads to its
source.

Manta moves inward: Mantra moves from gross, to subtle, to subtler, and to subtle-most.
Mantra moves progressively inward, from the most external to the very core of our being.

Mental stance is of following: The higher mental stance of Mantra is one of following, as if
by aligning attention to the Mantra, it will lead one into the Silence from which it arose. The
stance is somewhat like listening to the sound of faint, distant music in a forest, where you
become physically still, as you strain your attention to identify the source of the sound.

See also the index of Mantra articles:


Mantras Index

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Converging

Integrate the four: As each of the practices deepen in their own special ways, Meditation,
Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra integrate with one another in a dance of the heart and an
orchestra of their individuality and synergy.

Meditation objects are experienced more in their essence rather than being seen or
thought of in gross, material ways.
Contemplation brings intuition that is non-verbal, non-visual, and non-auditory. It is
pure knowing that begins to come.

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Prayer moves from repeating standardized, oral Prayers, past verbal dialogue with the
Divine, to silent communion.
Mantra transitions from speaking syllables, to listening, to feeling, to constant
awareness, to soundless sound.

The four begin to merge: The practices of Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra
begin to merge into one another. What at first seemed like very different practices are now
seeming to be only most subtly differentiated.

Two forces work together: The two stances of experience coming forward (the coming
forward of intuition in Contemplation, and of divinity in Prayer), and of attention following
inward (the following inward of Meditation and Mantra) combine in their intensity. Together,
the practices form two synergistic forces: 1) a powerful magnetism that pulls one further
inward towards the Absolute Reality, as 2) the Absolute Reality seems to come forward at the
same time.

The four converge into one: Finally, as Meditation, Contemplation, Prayer, and Mantra each
reach their subtler stages, they converge into one laser like force-field of concentrated
awareness, which then pierces the final barrier into the Realization of the Self, the Absolute
Reality.

Samahitam: The state of deep, inner Silence from which the higher knowledge (Paravidya)
begins to come, is called Samahitam. It is the final launching pad, or jumping off place for
the direct experience of the Absolute Reality.

Home Top

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This site is devoted to presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of the Tradition of the
Himalayan masters in simple, understandable and beneficial ways, while not compromising
quality or depth. The goal of our sadhana or practices is the highest Joy that comes from the
Realization in direct experience of the center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or
Purusha, which is one and the same with the Absolute Reality. This Self-Realization comes
through Yoga meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta,
and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which complement one
another like fingers on a hand. We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma,
and Bhakti Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha, and Tantra
Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer finally converge into a unified force
directed towards the final stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the
Absolute.

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