Meditation for Yoga Teachers

Series 1: Introduction to philosophy, Practice and Communication of Meditation

Date

Topics

17th Sept 2021

i. administering psychological tests (Google forms): i. Self-Perception Rating Scale ii. Current Health Status Questionnaire

ii. A brief introduction of Yoga and Meditation (Dhyana): Traditional and psycho-Physiological Understanding based on Ancient texts, living tradition, Yoga relaxation & meditation (theory & practice)

iii. Understanding the unified approach to Dhyana in Bhagwat Gita, Patanjala Yoga Sutra (P.Y.S.), Gheranda Samhita, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Shrimat Bhagwat, Hatha Pradipika, Shiva Samhita and Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati

iv. Philosophy, concept, basic tenets, eye closure techniques, breathing awareness techniques & practice of Subtler Yoga techniques, that prepares one for Dhyana, such as Kriya Yoga & Sagarbha Pranayama

18th Sept  2021

i. Qualities desirable in a Meditation Teacher: How to communicate Yoga Meditation (Dhyana) ; precautions and the points to be taken cognizance of while engaging students in meditative practices.

ii. In-depth understanding of Dhyana in Bhagwat Gita (B.G.) and Patanjala Yoga Sutra (P.Y.S.)

iii. Actual practice of Dhyana-oriented practices, having bases in B. G. and P.Y.S

iv. Actual practice sessions in Dhyana corresponding to meditational practices, inferable from PYS and Shiva Samhita, through simple yet effective techniques

v. Importance of practices of Ashtanga Yoga for one’s Dhyana practice: Theory & Practice

vi. In-depth Understanding of  Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi: Theory & Practice

vii. Interactive session

19th Sept   2021

i. subtler points relating continuity and specificity in the concepts of Samapatti, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi: Theory & practice

ii. Conceptual understanding of Dhyana in Shiva Samhita: Theory & practice with discussion

iii. Interactive Feedback Session in Meditation experience both as a practitioner, as well as, as a teacher in meditational practices

iv. Preparing oneself, as a Meditation Teacher for individual practice session & for practices/techniques to a group of individuals–traditional & psychological approaches in view of eminent masters of Meditation, with respect to Guru-Shishya Parampara

v. Understanding different types of Pratyahara, Dharanas, Dhyana in the context of traditional texts along with the related practice

vi. Interactive session

Series 2: Delving Deeper into Theory & Practice of Meditation, as a Teacher

Date

Topics

15th Oct 2021

i. thorough practice of Shiva Samhita Meditation: How to guide the students into subtler states of consciousness, safely, during an actual guided meditation session

ii. How to solve difficulties of meditators who may encounter any type of problems, during their own meditation practice and also while communicating meditation

iii. Understanding of selected popular meditation practices and the underlying common ground in these meditational practices; salient characteristics of a good meditation technique–Pratyahara of Vasishtha Samhita, Chakra Dharana along with Bija Mantras,

iv. Interactive feedback session in understanding the essential features to-be taken-into consideration, while communicating instructions & experience of a meditational technique to students

v. Interactive session

16th Oct 2021

i. Observing/experiencing the meditative effects in Kriyas, Asanas, Kapalabhati, Pranayama, Bandhas, Mudras, breathing awareness, body awareness, mind-awareness, Self-awareness etc.

ii. What is a meditative experience? It is nothing but a total freedom, experienced with the experience of a total awareness, culminating into a pranic ascendance towards an existential completeness, here and now. Omkar in the context of three states, three forms and three levels of awareness from the view point of meditation

iii. Meditation theory revisited in the context of  Pratyahara, Pratyaya and Transcendence. How different yogangas, including Cleansing Processes, Asanas, Pranayama Bandhas and Mudras can be meditative for their best results? Practices of Vasishyha Samhita, Lakshya traya, Shodas Adharas, Panchavidh Akasha Dharama

iv. Personal write up, regarding your own progress into Meditation (both as a practitioner and as a teacher) to be submitted for evaluation.

v. Interactive session

17th Oct  2021

 i. How to get rid of this anxiety disorder for a better meditation practice through Breathing Awareness, Mind Awareness and Self Awareness during the practice itself.–Using Pratipaksha bhavanam:in the context of these experiential phenomena. –Practice of a Pratyahara and one Dharana method using the same.

ii. The concept of Transcendence and Absolute Joy will be revisited in view of achieving success in subtler areas of meditation. Concept of Bahyakasha, Antarakasha and Cidakasha will be explained with its correlation with Prayoga, Samprayoga and Samprasada phenomena of yoga in the context of Transcendence– Pancha Tattva Dharana followed by Meditation

 iii. How to make your own meditation, Kriya Yoga, more & more creative and stimulating to avoid these practices from becoming repetitive and mechanical. Practical class will be guided creatively towards reaching Transcendence and Absolute Joy.

iv. Dharanas from Agni Purana, Charandas, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, Chakra Arousal techniques– How to transcend instructions and techniques? —Through repetition of certain instruction and through actually acting on the meaning of the instruction. How to transcend the technique?–through making it personalized

 v. Interactive session.

Series 3: Honing the skill of administering/communicating Meditation

Date

Topics

12th Nov 2021

i. Practice Teaching in Meditation demonstration for the trainees and their evaluation through a questionnaire to know the level of effectiveness achieved by the trainees. Pratyahara- PYS concept and importance: Positive Pratyahara-concept & practice, as against Negative Ptatyahara (i.e. Suppression and/or Repression).  Phylo-analysis: Just watch to make the things vanished. Sthanat Sthanat Samakrishya concept: Feel without reaction and comprehensively. Kriya Yoga / Sagarbha Pranayama, Pancha Kosha Dharana, Aindriya Dharana,: To be followed by Meditation. Some quick meditation techniques and discussion on these

ii. Practice of some more Dharana techniques that lead us, effectively, to the state of Meditation. How can we become a better meditation teacher? –Giving attitude, practice and Pratyahara along with regular meditation. Pancha Mahabhuta Dharana, Subtler Breathing Awareness techniques followed by Pancha Mahabhuta Dharana and Buddhist meditation in supine posture. Theory behind Triguna Dharana,Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Dharana and Meditation.

iii. Practice of Pranadharana & Nadanusandhana as expediting agents towards Meditation: How can we become a better meditation teacher? How to turn ourselves on when our mood states are not amenable to meditation?

iv. A balanced life (A good combination of Worldly Enjoyment and Spiritual Experiencing spell a Yogic Life Style– Tatah Paramavashyatendriyanam: Through Pratyahara, we gain a total mastery over sense faculties. We also get a mastery over Prana so as to direct it to any part of the body for managing any problems with that part, at any time, any place, at will. So also, ability in self healing and healing others may be achieved. Pancha Maha-Bhoota Dharana & Shabdadi Dharana and Pranava Dharana followed by Supine meditation.

v. Interactive session

13th Nov 2021

i. Basic principles remaining unchanged you may have some leeway in making modifications in the practice mode of practice of the Kriya Yoga techniques.—How to ingrain bhava aspect into the techniques keeping your benefits aloft while doing so. The benefits would lead the students towards a regular practice. Eye Closure Technique, Subtler Breathing Awareness,  Aindriya Dharana, Pancha bhoota pralaya Dhyana 

ii. How instructions of meditation are also Prakriti. Not to be enslave by instructions–you may choose the mode of instruction on the spot, as it should be appropriated as per the moment of initiating meditation, as instructor is more important than simply instructions.

iii. Revisit of Samkhya Darshana to explain how Samkhya doctrine is helpful in Meditation Practice in the context of Avidya concept relating drashta  & Drishya metaphysics, as reflected in P.Y.S. II:23. Discussion on different types of Dhyana: Nirguna Dhyana, Saguna Dhyana, Trigunatita Dhyana etc along with practical sessions.

iv. Questions will be invited about becoming a good meditator, as well as, a good meditation teacher following Group Discussion amongst different groups formed out of the students.

v. Interactive session

14th Nov 2021

i.  Watching your own progress in solving your own existential problems each day, each hour, each minute and each moment with a complete mindfulness; administering of psychological tests to see the changes, if any, in your own psychograph

ii. A questionnaire based on Osgood’s Semantic Differential will be administered to students to assess their progress in Meditation. Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi will be explained in Patanjali’s perspectives by citing analogy with day today examples.

iii. How to prepare oneself as an effective Meditation communicator both psycho-physiologically and technically?

iv. Enhancing one’s capability through basic tenets of Counseling-CCT, RET & Cognitive Behavioral

v. Interactive session