13. Keeping the mind free of thought
This weeks meditation exercise takes the form of three questions asked of Sri Chinmoy regarding attitudes towards keeping the mind free of thought. His answers are very helpful.
12. Breath control and purification
This week we offer a simple yet very effective exercise in breath control. Please note that this exercise should be done according to ones capacity — do not do anything that is beyond your capacity or it may upset and disturb you. If you are not able to breath as slowly or as deeply as you would like, no harm. Just breath as slowly and as deeply as you can and your capacity will increase naturally over time.
The following are the words of Sri Chinmoy:
11. The power of the soul
In this weeks meditation exercise, Sri Chinmoy asks us to bring forward the power of the soul — that spark of divinity which resides in all of us.
10. Stilling the mind
This week Sri Chinmoy offers advice on how to deal with the minds constant and often troublesome thoughts — a problem that besets most if not all seekers in their quest for enlightenment. Taming the 'monkey-mind', as Sri Chinmoy calls it, requires a combination of adamantine determination, resilience and calm patience. Sri Chinmoy's words:
09. Concentrate on a flower
For this exercise, you will need a flower. Either hold a flower in your hand or have a flower in a vase in front of you. When Sri Chinmoy offered this concentration exercise, he had given each person present a flower...
08. Focus on a picture
This week we offer another simple yet very effective concentration exercise that was recommended by Sri Chinmoy. This is an exercise in identification with a teacher or spiritual Master who inspires you or, if you are fortunate enough to have a spiritual Master, guides your life. If you do not wish to focus a particular individual, no harm — Sri Chinmoy offers other options:
Seven Secrets of Meditation
This winters Festival of Meditation offers a final inspirational talk entitled Seven Secrets of Meditation — seven key concepts to inspire people who are interested in bringing a culture of personal and progressive spirituality into their lifestyle. Seven Secrets of Meditation will also help meditation practitioners of all levels to continue their practice in the long term.
Whether or not you have attended our beginners and continuation meditation courses during the Festival of Meditation or at other times, all are warmly invited to attend Seven Secrets of Meditation — a talk and meditation that will mark the conclusion of the Festival of Meditation!
07. The power of concentration
Sri Chinmoy suggests the following exercise to develop power in your concentration and to acquire power from your meditation:
06. Developing extraordinary concentration
This week we continue with the theme of concentration. Sri Chinmoy offers a simple and effective exercise to develop extraordinary concentration:
05. Concentration on a black dot 3
This week we offer a third and final black dot concentration exercise – a variation on last weeks exercise from the writings of Sri Chinmoy: