Perennial Mental Balance
through Tantra Dhyana
By Dr. R. S. Bhogal
9th to 14th September 2024
(Check-in: 8th September
Check-out: 15th September )
What is Dhyana (Yoga Meditation)?
“Dhyana (Yoga Meditation) is the very process of restoring our psychophysiological faculties to Total Health, through achieving an ideal interaction of Citta (mind, intellect & ego) and Prana (bio-force responsible for functional domain of our body), culminating into Continual Health, Creativity and Intuition.”
How Does Yoga Meditation Help?
As per Patanjala Yoga Sutra (P. Y. S.), Yoga spells the freedom from the slavery of functions of mind-intellect-ego complex, culminating into the state of Seer (P. Y. S.: II: 2, 3). This state, where awareness is maximum and tensions are minimal, paves way to Neutral State of Attention, the state, when brought forth consciously, leads to equanimity (Samatvam) which is forerunner to Creativity (B. G. II: 48 & 50). There happen possibilities of emergence of intuitive powers, many of which have been mentioned in Vibhuti Pada of P. Y. S. As per Patanjala Yoga Sutra (I: 45) the Neutral State of attention, indicated by Abstract Awareness of the subtler object-sense contact, is the very bed rock of Dharana and Dhyana.
Relevance of Vijnana Bhairava Tantra in Achieving Perennial Mental Balance
Vijnana Bhairava, belond to the school of Yogaja Marga or the path of integration unlike the school of Vivekaja Marga i.e. the path of discrimination, adopted by Shankaracharya’s Vedantic view and that of Prakriti-Purusha dichotomy of Patanjala Yoga Sutra (Singh, 1979). The difference between these two schools lies only in the beginning of enquiry into the reality. In the ultimate analysis, however, both the schools convey the common message of perceiving unity in all existential phenomena. Bhairava, being an acrostic word, is constituted of the letters bha, ra and va whereby Bha indicates maintenance of the universe; ra indicates ravana or withdrawal of the universe and va indicates vamana or manifestation of the universe. The Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra teaches that meditation techniques are not fixed methods but processes, with Dharana (yogic concentration) being a critical component leading to Dhyana (meditation). Unlike the Dharana described in Patanjala Yoga Sutra, Dharana in the Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra naturally progresses to Dhyana on its own accord. Practices such as Prana Sadhana, Japa Sadhana, Bhavana Yoga, and Shoonya (void) experiences, along with heightened awareness, are the means to achieve the state of Bhairava, conveying the completeness in one’s existential being.
Modern approach to Mental Health revolves around fulfilling the need for achievement, the need for power and the need for affiliation. These needs, being object oriented, are known to be only minimally and evanescently helpful in achieving and preserving Mental Balance. The foremost human need is the realization of the Self through realizing a total unity of human and universal consciousness, based on non-relational, objectless and self-existent awareness. Freedom from the pseudo-I consciousness and emergence of the universal-I consciousness, therefore, is the only route to perennial Mental Balance.
Prana Shakti, the primal bio-energy, is the intervening entity between the body and the mind. By maneuvering the prana one can influence one’s mind and vice versa. Prana can be influenced directly either through breathing techniques or through attention oriented meditational processes. Practical approach to these practices, during the workshop, will help participants to have a here-and-now experience and benefits of the classical techniques of Dharana and Dhyana towards Perennial Mental Balance.
Workshop Features
- Classical Meditation (Dhyana): Understanding meditation from scriptural and psycho-physiological perspectives.
- Concepts of Pratyahara, Samapatti, Dharana, and Dhyana: Insights from Patanjala Yoga Sutras (P. Y. S.) and Shiva Samhita.
- Shiva Samhita Meditation: Concepts and practices, with interactive discussions.
- Kriya Yoga Techniques: Practices to prepare for Dharana.
- Ancient Dharana Techniques from the Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra: Methods leading to deeper states of Dhyana and a felt sense of healing during the guided meditation sessions.
- Practical Applications: Using these practices for better sleep, digestion, mood states, relaxation, interpersonal relationships, self-adjustment, inward fulfilment, and fostering a spirit of sharing and caring.
- Quick-fire dharana techniques from Vijnana Bhairava Tantra for achieving Mental Balance instantly.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the concept & practice of Dharana & Dhyana as per Bhagwat Gita, Patanjala Yoga Sutra, Shiva Samhita & Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.
- Dharana Practices from Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Basic tenets and down-to-earth stages of the practical journey towards Dhyana, from Buddhist tradition and Upanishads & from living traditions.
- Practical Meditative Techniques for preventing and help overcoming Stress related Disorders, as well as, health related issues such as common ailments, headache and cold. Meditational practices for psychic & psychosomatic disorders such as anxiety, depression, body-ache, insomnia and migraine will also be a part of the program.
- Instant benefits in case of disturbed mind, hurt feelings, depressive mood states, disinterestedness, occurrence of frequent mental tensions etc.
- Helps maintain a calm and composed disposition irrespective of unfavorable happenings around.
Nature of the Workshop
- Cleansing Samskars (the enduring impressions embedded at the unconscious levels) i.e. Yogic Detox
- Many a samskar are embedded in the sensory motor levels for which ancient sages have discovered Pratyahara & Dharana techniques for cleansing these. Practical forms of different Shuddhi Kriyas, Pratyahara, Kriya Yoga and Dharana, equipped to carry out the yogic detox, leading to the state of Dhyana will be included during this phase.
Achieving Holistic Health for perennial Mental Balance
Primarily equanimity (samatvam) and creativity (karmasu kaushalam) make our life meaningful. Many a Dharana technique requires us to feel non-muscular impulses within the body, through Mantras, Bija Mantras, Bandhas & Mudras, as well as, through the experiential breathing awareness techniques.
Practical meditative processes included in the workshop are helpful:
i. to counter weakness after a prolonged illness
ii. to get rid of physical exertion and headaches instantly
iii. to help in digestive disorders
iv. to help relieve non-clinical anxiety, depression quickly
v. to help pain management effectively
vi. to help maintain our psycho-physiological health, in all situations, most efficiently.
Higher states of consciousness will be reached through Samyama practices
Chakra Bhedana, Shabda Sanchalan, Amrit Pan and other subtler Kriya Yoga techniques and a few dharana processes, from Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and other sources will be shared, leading us to continual intuitive abilities, useful for solving our existential problems. Subtler subjective impulses, independent of the breathing, as well as, independent of exteroception, interoception and vestibular domains, culminating into a deep sense of inward and ecstatic experience of fulfillment, will be experienced by the participants during this final phase of the workshop. Discovering one’s own self-sustaining prowess, during the workshop, will make us to have an access to continual intuition towards solving one’s life related problems leading to perennial Mental Balance.
| Dates: 9th to 14th September 2024 | |
| 07:00 am to 08:00 am | Meditation Session |
| 08:00 am to 08:30 pm | Breakfast |
| 09:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Lecture |
| 10:15 pm to 12:00 pm | Meditaton Session |
| 12:00 pm to 01:00 pm | Lunch |
| 03:30 pm to 04:00 pm | Asana Practice |
| 04:00 pm to 07:15 pm | Meditaton Session |
Workshop Facilitator
Dr. R. S. Bhogal is Joint Dir. Research at Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala, with more than thirty years of research and teaching experience, particularly pertaining to Meditation. He holds the first ever PhD in Psychology that discovers fundamental psycho-physiological bases of Shiva Samhita Meditation. Formerly, Principal of Yoga College of Kaivalyadhama (Lonavala), he is Editor-in-Chief of Yoga Mimamsa (a biennial scientific Journal) of Kaivalyadhama, and is author of seven books, including
i) Psycho-physiology of Traditional Yoga (in Korean)
ii) Yoga and Modern Psychology (in English and German)
iii) Yoga and Mental Health and Beyond (in Hindi, Gujarati, English, Bulgarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, German, Korean & Taiwanese)
iv) Yoga-Psychology & Beyond (English).
Dr. R. S. Bhogal is credited with a large number of scientific papers and is a recipient of many National & International awards and accolades. Recently he has been awarded with prestigious Yoga Ratna award (2022). Widely travelled for spreading the message of classical meditation in many cities across Asia, America and Europe, Dr. R. S. Bhogal is ever ardently enthusiastic in discovering simpler methods of meditation for the modern life & living.
Registration
Regarding Registration and Booking –
Once the booking is done, please share the booking reference code at
onsiteworkshops@kdham.com to confirm your participation in the workshop.
Note: The fresh dates will be announced soon.
Workshop Fees
Rs. 12,000 per person
(Accommodation charges extra)
Please Note:
- On registering to the workshop, you will receive the room payment link as per your choice of room and the payment link for the Workshop.
- On confirmation to room payment and workshop payment your seat to the workshop will be reserved.
Query for this workshop? Please email us – onsiteworkshops@kdham.com
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Accommodation and meals
- Cancellation application before 7 days – refund of 75% of the amount paid.
- Cancellation application less than 7 days – no refund.
- Please email cancellation requests to booking@kdham.com. Verbal cancellation requests are not accepted.