Deep meditation helps us to obtain greater clarity and insight, enter higher states of awareness, reduce stress and anxiety and deepen our spiritual connection.

Like all other things in the world, our brain also pulses and vibrates. The brain pulse is measured like sound in cycles per second or Hertz. The machine used to measure the pulse or vibration is called an ElectroEncephaloGraph (EEG). This machine measures brain activity with some accuracy. Brainwaves are of four types: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. In the meditation process, the brain passes through all the above states.

When you reach the deepest levels of meditation, you obtain greater clarity and insight, enter higher states of awareness, reduce stress and anxiety and deepen your spiritual connection.

There are two directions the mind can take once it relaxes its grip on conscious thought processes. One is to sink toward subconsciousness. This is the direction taken when one’s relaxation is passive. The other direction is to rise toward superconsciousness. Deep meditation is possible only in the intensely positive state of superconsciousness, or soul-awareness.

Swami Kriyananda wrote in the Art and Science of Raja Yoga, “The position of the eyes suggests the general portion of the brain in which the consciousness is centered. In particular, when the mind slips toward subconsciousness and the energy becomes centered in the lower brain, the eyes tend to look downward; when one is involved in the world, or otherwise active on the conscious level, the energy becomes centered more in the mid-brain, and the eyes tend more naturally to look straight ahead; and when one enters a state of superconsciousness, the eyes are drawn automatically to gaze upward.”

Gurumaa’s latest offering,’Yoga Nidra’ opens up new capacities of the mind. The mind is in the delta consciousness while experiencing the sleep of awareness. The sankalp or resolution made at this time actually comes true. Yoga Nidra is the ancient Tantric Yoga path that leads to inner freedom. It is a transformative personal practice. In Yoga Nidra, you leave the Waking state, go through the Dreaming state, and into the Deep Sleep state, yet remain fully awake.

My personal experience with Yog Nidra is that though I faithfully follow Gurumaa’s instructions and try to keep listening to her voice, there are times when there are gaps of consciousness and I experience that the tape has advanced further without my being aware of it. Many a time, while counting the breath backwards, I find to my surprise that suddenly Gurumaa is talking about the garden with shady trees and the lake with lotuses in it. One night, I came home very late and it was almost midnight when I went to bed. Before sleeping, I did Yog Nidra. I awakened at my usual time the next morning feeling totally refreshed and normal. There was no sign of the lack of sleep or fatigue.

I think Yog Nidra is doing wonders for me. It is entering points of consciousness of which I was not aware before. My aches and pains are reducing and my awareness and concentration are getting stronger. I thank my Guru for constantly endeavouring to find new ways of accelerating her devotees’ spiritual sadhana.

Jai Gurudev!

–Seema Mishra