Food for Thought

March 26, 2009 — turiyamoore

The food we eat has a direct effect on our way of thinking and meditating. A primarily (if not strict) vegetarian diet is recommended by yogis because they understand food’s influence on consciousness.

This is why most yogis eat more fruits and vegetables than flesh foods. They say that the fear that animals experience when they are in the process of dying is passed on to those who consume them.

greenmachine

Take your own private study. See if the people you know who tend to be habitually negative or prone to anger, also eat a diet that emphasizes beef or pork. Also compare them with those friends who eat a primarily vegetarian diet. Do you see any difference between the two groups? If you really know these people, what do they focus on in life? Diet is not the only factor, but it does make a difference.

I’m not saying people who eat meat are bad. But the food we eat does have an effect on us. I was raised on spam, bologna, Korean barbeque, and I loved carnitas and fish. When I became vegetarian it was for ethical reasons, but the year I dropped eating red meat, I actually experienced a subtle spiritual awakening that was key to bringing me to where I am now. Looking back I can see the change clearly, but at the time I had no idea there was a connection.

Yoga teaches that a fresh whole food diet that consists mainly of fruits, beautiful leafy greans, assorted vegetables, nuts, legumes, and a little milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt is the way to go.  That is if, we desire a more friendly, and joyful consciousness, not to mention a closer relationship with the divine.

If I was eating meat now, I probably wouldn’t stop overnight. But I would stop eating beef and pork ASAP and eat more fish instead. I would also experiment with preparing vegetables in new creative ways. Have fun with your meals.

Juicing is an awesome way to get tons of great nutrients, and prana (life-force) from raw vegetables and fruits. Overcooking takes the life-force (prana or chi), out of food. I personally enjoy certain foods that are not raw, but I do eat more raw foods than not.

A good juicer and a serious heavy-duty blender makes life a whole lot of fun. I also love fresh citrus juice and find that I won’t drink it regularly if I don’t have a good juicer. So I included links below for my “weapons of choice” for having an awesome veggie lifestyle.

And here are two blogs I enjoy that have great ideas for super tasty raw veggies, fruits and other foods.

Real Food Tulsa

Raw Radiance

omegajuicer

tribestcitrusjuicer

vitamix

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“Pleasing God”

March 21, 2009 — turiyamoore

This is the very end of a Sunday Service talk I gave in February. It’s just a few minutes and you miss the background, but I hope it still makes the point.

I see life as a park or playground, where I am a young child, who has learned to rely on my loving mom to guide me. She is God. I have learned that to please Her keeps me out of trouble. She always knows better than me, and tries to teach me to become more free in myself. I believe this is how God trains us.  But we must concentrate and listen to receive Guidance. Mom is more than a teacher, She loves us with her whole being, we are a part of her. She will never turn away from us.

Deep meditation is not something we can do alone, it is a dialog between the child and God, or the little self and higher Self. We must not let our meditation practice become an empty ritual. Instead of meditating with expectations or wants. We can meditate to return the love we have received. Call out from your heart with humility, love, and greatitude. Then listen.

God is always here, but speaks very softly.

View the whole talk by clicking here. Then find the link that says “The Law is Perfected in Love.”

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Life

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

These posts include notes to myself regarding all aspects of my life including my practice of specific aspects of raja yoga. Raja yoga and it’s goal are my spiritual path and practice. It seems appropriate to include my own notes in this blog. I hope you find it interesting and inspiring.

I lead a Raja Yoga study course and in it we focus on specific aspects of the teachings for two week intervals. At this time we are practicing the yama and niyama of Patanjali which are:

Yama:

Non-Violence, or Ahimsa

Non-Lying, or Satya

Non-Stealing, or Asteya

Non-Sensuality, or Brahmacharya

Non-Greed, or Aparigraha

Niyama:

Cleanliness, or Shaucha

Contentment, or Santosha

Austerity, or Tapasya

Self-Study, or Swadhyaya

Devotion to the Supreme Lord, or Ishvarapranidhana

These qualities that are not limited to any one path or teaching. They are states of spiritual attainment universally experienced by all souls on their way to perfect union(Yoga) with “all there is” or God.  The practice of yoga is directional, in other words, we work from “where we are” and focus on the immediate steps needed to move toward perfection. Every step in this direction brings a greater experience of freedom, joy and wonder. It’s the greatest adventure on earth!

As Paramhansa Yogananda said:

“If we are not having fun, we are doing something wrong.”

Enjoy the ride!

turiya

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Meditation Intro

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

The first three articles on meditation (see links numbered 1-3) are full of tips and guidance to help you get started and be successful with daily meditation. The others are guided practices that anyone can do at any time. Just give them a try!

What I share here is based on the teachings of yoga. It’s not made up, or modernized by me. It’s just a taste of what is available, but I hope it helps you to create or deepen your meditation practice.

These articles contain suggestions regarding posture, direction of eyes, and mental attitude. This is to help direct our energy inward away from the senses, while lifting it upward through the body to place it at the frontal portion of the brain. All yoga techniques and teachings are aimed at achieving this. By taking control of our energy we can control the way we feel and perceive the world, instead of slavishly reacting to it.

If there are spiritual or meditation topics that you would like to see on this blog, please send me your suggestions.

I’m grateful for any feedback. If you make a post I’ll answer it right away.

Blessings,

turiya

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1 Tips for Beginners

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

Choose a certain time each day and keep your “meditation appointment.” This way your body and mind get into the habit of meditating just as they do to eating at certain times.

Times that are especially good are early in the morning just after waking and late at night right before sleep. Dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight are also good times.

It’s best to meditate on an empty stomach. You need your energy in your brain, not in your stomach. Best not to eat heavy foods for at least 2 hours before meditation.

Light exercise or stretching before meditation really helps some people. Taking your dog for a walk in fresh air, or doing a calm meditative yoga practice may work wonders for your practice.

Create a meditation space in your home. Use this space only for meditation. It can be very simple. After a month or two of daily practice you will find it easier to meditate here.

Have a focal point in your meditation area, like an altar. Whether it is elaborate or simple is completely up to you. It should make you smile when you see it, and be a source of upliftment and inspiration. When you find your thoughts and energy going in the wrong direction, just look at your little piece of heaven and it will help you to come back to your practice.

Find a comfortable way to sit with an erect spine. This matters. It’s easier to concentrate when you have an erect and vertical posture. If possible sit up without using a backrest. Sitting on a chair, the edge of a firm bed, meditation bench, or cross-legged on a cushion are all fine choices as long as you can relax in the position. A slight tension between shoulder blades to keep your chest open and shoulders from rounding forward is good.

Rest your hands in your lap facing palms upward. Let the hands relax.

Don’t over do it! Meditate with deep attention and a joyful heart and only meditate as long as you can stay enthusiastic and focused. Just 5 – 15 minutes is fine to begin with.

Focused on what? This depends on you. I recommend using a traditional technique and resisting the temptation to modify it. Creativity is also needed but focus that on the attitude you bring to meditation, the way you approach your technique etc., not the technique itself.

Choose a practice and stick with it for a while. Don’t measure your meditation practice by what happens during meditation, and do not expect immediate results. Instead observe over weeks or months how your life is going. Are you more patient, kind, and happy? If so, something is working. Or, are you becoming prideful, or stressed out? Then look at the way you approach your practice, it may be your attitude while meditating that needs adjustment, or other changes may be needed.

Be creative and keep it fun. Isn’t having more Joy the whole point of anything we do? Taking yourself, or your meditation practice too seriously is like starting to run a race with your shoes untied.
Next: A Simple Meditation Technique

Do you have a question or comment? Post it below and I’ll answer you asap.

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2 A Simple Technique

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

Close your eyes and slightly lift your gaze as if you were looking at a mountain-top far away. Try to feel that this eye position is helping to center your concentration in the front part of your brain, at the point between the eyebrows.

Sitting with a tall spine inhale deeply through the nose and tense your whole body until it vibrates, then throw the breath out through the mouth and relax. Repeat this three times. Each time, try to relax more deeply while keeping your posture erect.

Then give yourself one final chance to tweak your position and make up your mind to keep the body still while you relax into your practice.

Start by gently deepening the breath and scanning the body for un-needed tension. Feel the spine tall and the back of your neck long. Use your exhalation to remove stress and tension from your body. Feel your muscles relaxing more each time your breath out.

Now begin measured three-part breathing: Count mentally to time your breaths. Inhale, hold, and exhale making each of the three parts the same count. Don’t hold the breath after exhaling, just begin the next inhalation. Adjust the timing until you have the longest count you can do comfortably without strain. Do this for 6 rounds. You should be moving toward a more relaxed state.

Now stop the counting, and release all control of the breathing. Watch the breath, without controlling it. “Watch” in this context means to feel. This is important. What you feel will change over time. Do your best to keep the mind focused on exactly what you feel related to the breath.

Keeping your mind on the feeling of the breath and also keeping your focus at the point between the eyebrows, and allowing your body to take each breath when and how it feels to (through the nose) is your technique.

You can use this simple technique for just a few minutes or you can do it for hours. It’s going to take some practice and time for your mind and body to acclimate to this. Be patient with yourself.
Next: The Art of Meditation

Do you have a question or comment? Post it below and I’ll answer you asap.

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3 The Art of Meditation

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

The art of meditation is opening ones heart. It’s all about the attitude we meditate with. Meditation is not “blanking the mind”, or moving into a state of emptiness, nothingness, or running away from the world. True meditation is an evolving process of listening and concentration, with the goal of experiencing ones deepest nature. The inner reality of every man has been called “the kingdom of Heaven.” Inner Joy is not something we create. It is something we reconnect with at our center. It is never far away. Joy is our true nature.

Do your best to enter your practice with gratitude and joy. It helps to practice with enthusiasm and wonder at the beauty and wisdom of the outer and the inner worlds.

Your mind is going to play all kinds of tricks on you to divert your attention away from your technique. If the mind must think (yours is not the only one!) choose thoughts, or images, that are uplifting to you and then go back to your technique. If you believe in God then try to feel God is your breath or breathing through you. If you are an atheist, then feel the power and beauty of nature has become your breath. Your breath is the sky and the light in the sky. Your breath feels wonderful and brings peace and joy and light into your heart.

You will notice at some point that the more you relax, and stay focused on your technique the less your body will breathe. Enjoy the peace you feel. If you wander off into thoughts, your breath will become deeper again to let you know. When that happens, just come back to the techniques and keep having fun.

Think of your daily practice as a joyful experiment where you are diving into the infinite ocean of Joy. Beneath the waves of personality, and the shallow currents of thought, hidden in the silent depths of your soul are the eternal pearls of love, peace, wisdom, and joy.

I would love to hear from you. Comments or Questions below.

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Basic Breathing to Get Centered

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore
  • Sit in a comfortable position. Have the spine straight and feel tall. Close your eyes and gaze slightly above the level of the horizon. Don’t strain the eyes, but feel as if you concentrate your energy through them.
  • Prepare yourself. Inhale as you bring the shoulders forward and then raise them up toward your ears. Exhale and let them circle rearward and relax down away from the neck. Feel your arms and shoulders limp. Your neck feels long and relaxed. Chin is level with the floor.
  • Inhale through the nose. Make sure your belly is soft. Feel the belly expanding as you inhale. Let the expansion move upward into the chest. Imagine that the love or joy of your heart is expanding, as your body grows with the breath.
  • Exhale through the nose. Notice the collar-bones lowering slightly. Feel your ribcage relaxing. Complete the exhalation by drawing the navel toward the spine to remove all of the old air in the lungs.

  • Count mentally at first to make sure the duration of inhalation and exhalation are equal.

  • Keep your mind on this task. Just go through a mental list of checks to make sure your shoulders have not crept up, or that your belly is still relaxed etc. Stay with it until it all comes more naturally.
  • Relax. Make sure your not forcing the breath. Let it be long and smooth. Use as little energy as possible. It may help to imagine the exhalation removing stress and worry, the inhalation filling you with peace and calmness.
  • Now move more deeply into a relaxed state. After doing several rounds (try 6 to 12), release control of the breathing. Concentrate on the feeling of the breath. Train yourself to stay relaxed with a soft belly and tall posture. Allow your body to breath as it feels to. You can do this as long as you like. The more you concentrate through your gaze, and on the feeling of your breath (without controlling it), the less your body will breathe and the more peace you will feel. Patience, Gratitude, and Joy are very important. If you can’t feel these, then just do your best.

  • Try giving yourself “mini breaks” throughout your day. Even in your office chair just take three to five minutes to “breath.” Give yourself this gift. You and your companions deserve it!
  • Options that can help:
  • Think of God or a great Saint and feel that He/She is breathing through you.
  • Or concentrate on Peace. And feel it leaking into you from all around.
  • Or concentrate on Love. Feel it in your heart, slowly expanding outward in all directions, blessing all in its path.
  • Be creative, but careful not to get too “busy”. Keep it simple if you want to go deep.

“As the breath flows, so flows the mind.” Paramhansa Yogananda

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Good Medicine to End a Long Day

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

Stand upright in a room with fresh air where you won’t be disturbed. Light a candle, or dim the lights, and close your eyes.

Inhale and tense your body. Tense every body part you can think of until it literally vibrates with energy. Hold this for a few seconds along with your breath. Then throw the breath out of the mouth with a “huh-huh” sound. Feel the tension leave you, (as well as stress, worry, negativity, let it all go). Notice the different muscles and body parts relaxing, and concentrate on the feeling of relaxation, making sure there is no tension left in you. Visualize a bright light filling you. The more you relax, the more this healing light can enter your body. See in your minds eye, the shape of your body radiating light like a beautiful star.
Repeat this exercise three to five times.

Now do some gentle stretching. Intuition will guide you. Concentrate on what you feel inside, and where you feel guided to release and open your body. Don’t be technical about this. Just keep it simple and nurturing. Stretch the shoulders, back and chest for more relaxed breathing.
Do this for approximately 10 minutes.

Standing tall, try to feel while inhaling, a sense of upliftment. Let your arms rise outward and upward with each inhalation like the wings of a graceful bird. Exhalation brings the arms softly downward again. Breathing through the nose, let the arms flow increasingly smoothly with your breathing. Feel the breathing becoming calmer and smoother too. Notice the feeling of the air as it passes over your arms and through your fingers. Allow yourself to fly. Gliding forward and upward on each inhalation, fly through an expansive sky high above the world, feel refreshing coolness as you brush past huge billowing clouds. Rise into the motionless skies of peace.
Practice until you feel the inner guidance to sit and be very still.

Now sit down with tall posture. Extend an arm and hold your thumb up level with the top of your head. Focus your gaze on the thumb. Close your eyes and keep them in this position and relax your arm down. Place your hands in your lap with palms facing upward, in a comfortable relaxed way (inside of a baggy sweatshirt or a “hoody” with pockets works nicely).

Now watch the breath without controlling its flow, and you may sense the feeling of upliftment when inhaling. Gliding forward and upward on each inhalation, fly through a darkening sky high above the clouds and beyond the world of matter. Gradually rise into a heavenly realm where everything is multicolored tissues of light. On each exhalation, feel stillness and peace expanding within you. Stillness and peace are now your “wings” as you expand into infinity. You are free, an astral bird of peace, in a luminous rainbow sky!

Affirm mentally: I am Free! I am Free! I am Free!

(kids can try this too)

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Finding Peace in a Busy Home

March 20, 2009 — turiyamoore

Meditation is a process of interiorizing our focus, opening the heart, and lifting our energy upward. When these three things occur you’ll know, because you will feel deeply calm, joyful, and your awareness will expand making you feel as if you were one with the sky. You may even feel that you are in complete harmony with the rhythms of the natural world. Having this experience lifts us beyond the reaches of the most nagging difficulties we face in life, strengthening our ability to stay peaceful in all situations. Not to run away, but just taking a step back to put things in a more real perspective. After all, how big can our problems be when we consider the universe, it’s many billions of galaxies, and the vast space in-between?

Let’s look at the three factors I just mentioned:

Interiorization
By relaxing the body and focusing on the breath, we can take the mind away from the past, future, worry, and tension causing thoughts. Feel your breath intimately, and notice the way each breath makes you feel inside. Be patient and go as deep as you can with this simple technique. There are many layers to this experience.

Opening the Heart
Dwell on one of the sweetest moments in your life, a prayer, or part of Holy Scripture that moves you. Awaken the natural love, or devotion in your heart. Now go beyond the seed inspiration by concentrating on, and going deeper into, the feeling it helped you connect with. Stay at the center of this feeling and allow it to expand.

Lifting Energy Up
Have your closed eyes pointing slightly upward. Without controlling the breath, notice the inner upliftment of each inhalation. Imagine a current inside your center that flows upward through your heart. Draw it’s feeling upward toward the forehead. Feel a calm joy pouring into your center from everywhere, and offer this up too. Offer you’re whole experience upward in gratitude for the blessings that you have received.

What if we are interrupted during meditation?
According to the yogi’s of India, in the highest sense- all conditions are neutral. When a branch becomes dry it looses its flexibility and is easily broken. The more conditions we place on our peace, the less peace we’ll experience.

It’s quiet, you’re sitting, and just entering a deep peace. The door swings open and your dog, child, or spouse comes in to lick your eye, or hand you the phone. Just hang up the phone and embrace your guest. Invite them into your arms, lie down and hold them close to your heart. Close your eyes, and go back through the steps above. They are your inspiration now. Rest in silence with them, without expecting them to be perfectly still, or quiet. But continue your practice just the same. Smile inside because your peace is growing to include the changing world, and offer that feeling up too.

Have five or ten minutes? Try this.

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