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Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
| Eliminating Stress Through the Profound Rest of Deep Meditation |
Sahaj means natural, effortless and Samadhi is a deep meditative state of mind.
Sahaj Samadhi is exactly that - a natural, effortless system of meditation that allows the conscious mind to settle deeply into the
self, thus giving it much needed deep rest. When the mind settles down it lets go of all tension and stress and centers itself into the
present moment.
What is Meditation?
There are many confusing definitions of meditation floating around today. To understand one must
distinguish between Meditation Techniques and the Meditative State of consciousness.
A true state of deep meditation is a state of stillness AND alertness in the mind, but without the attention focused or absorbed on
thoughts. This state is much more than simply being relaxed and is distinctly different from the states of sleeping, waking or
dreaming.
We already know that sleeping, waking and dreaming has a range of depth of experience. You can be deeply or lightly asleep.
You may be very alert and awake, or drowsy and barely awake. Despite where you are in the range of these states of
consciousness you still consider yourself to be in that state, i.e. awake, asleep or dreaming. The meditative state also has a
range of experience. Just as sleep is most beneficial when it is deep, the greatest benefits from meditation occur when the mind
becomes completely still.
For the mind to become sufficiently quiet where one would consider the state of consciousness to be shifting from waking to a
meditative state, you cannot be engaged in activity. A meditative state would begin at the quietest moment of the waking state and
extend to a state of complete stillness of mind. Any activity or effort would limit, and inhibit, the quieting of mental activity and keep
you in the waking state with the attention on thoughts. This includes making any mental effort such as concentration or
contemplation.
A variety of techniques can be used to set the stage for meditation, but the deep meditative state only happens when all effort
stops. Trying to stop thoughts is an effort, concentrating on anything or contemplating any idea is an effort. Trying to meditate is
like trying to sleep. You will not sleep if you keep "trying" to sleep. Only when you stop trying and just let go all your efforts can
sleep, or meditation happen. Effort may be used initially in a technique but the real quieting process only happens once the effort
has stopped.
Each state of consciousness has conditions that are conducive to shifting into that state. When you want to sleep you turn out the
light, lie in a nice bed, put your head on a soft pillow, etc. Once you have set-up the conditions you let go all efforts and sleep
comes, or not. If sleep doesn't come, making an effort will not help. A meditation technique works in the same way. A technique
sets-up conditions conducive for a meditative state of consciousness to happen, and then we must let go all effort. Because the
habit of the mind tends toward activity, a gentle, natural technique is useful to assist the quieting process. If during meditation
practice we find ourselves busy on thoughts we gently, and momentarily, return to our technique, and then we let go all efforts
again.
A little time spent each day in a meditative state of quiet mind powerfully rejuvenates the system, bringing a peace to the mind that
grows stronger and stronger with regular practice while giving the body a very deep, purifying rest. The deepest rest one can
experience is during the meditative state of consciousness. Daydreaming, contemplating or concentrating is not meditation. If you
do not experience silence and deep rest in meditation you are not getting much benefit. This is where the guidance of an
experienced teacher and a proper technique can help.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is easy to learn and effortless to practice. The technique expertly sets the stage for the mind to settle
down bringing peace, increased awareness, and improved physical health through deep rest and dissolving of stress. When the
mind settles into a meditative state it releases tension and stress and centers itself in the present moment. Although the physical
rest in meditation can be even deeper than in sleep, the mind does not become dull as it does in sleep.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is taught only by instructors trained by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar through the
Art of Living Foundation.
There are times when overwhelming mental or emotional influences will not allow the mind to settle
down in meditation. At these times there are breathing practices which can help. Here the
Art of Living Course breathing practices provide a means to release stress and calm the mind
regardless of thoughts or emotions. The Sudarshan Kriya practice also creates a profound calm
in the mind and is a great aid to deep meditation practice.
While Sudarshan Kriya practice may be the single most effective method to eliminate stress, when
it is followed by 20 minutes of deep meditation you increase the purification of the system and
further establish a deep calm in the mind and body.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is NOT taught on the Art of Living Course.
It is learned during a separate 3 session course. Neither course is a prerequisite of the other.
The art of meditation is delightfully simple, but also a delicate art which requires a few sessions of personal guidance with an
experienced teacher. The practice of deep meditation cannot be learned from a book. Once learned, meditation can be practiced
daily anywhere one can sit comfortably. For maximum growth two 20 minute sessions per day is recommended.
Course of Instruction
Instruction in Sahaj Samadhi Meditation takes place over three consecutive days by appointment. The first day is one on one
instruction and guidance lasting about 1½ hours. The following two meetings will be in a group lasting two hours. Follow-ups are
available as needed.
Art of Living Foundation instructor Jim Larsen has been teaching meditation for over 30 years and is available to teach in any city
where a group would like to learn. Contact your local Art of Living Center (click here to find center).
Contact Jim Larsen at info@artoflivingaz.org or call 520-232-2138.
Sahaj Samadhi is exactly that - a natural, effortless system of meditation that allows the conscious mind to settle deeply into the
self, thus giving it much needed deep rest. When the mind settles down it lets go of all tension and stress and centers itself into the
present moment.
What is Meditation?
There are many confusing definitions of meditation floating around today. To understand one must
distinguish between Meditation Techniques and the Meditative State of consciousness.
A true state of deep meditation is a state of stillness AND alertness in the mind, but without the attention focused or absorbed on
thoughts. This state is much more than simply being relaxed and is distinctly different from the states of sleeping, waking or
dreaming.
We already know that sleeping, waking and dreaming has a range of depth of experience. You can be deeply or lightly asleep.
You may be very alert and awake, or drowsy and barely awake. Despite where you are in the range of these states of
consciousness you still consider yourself to be in that state, i.e. awake, asleep or dreaming. The meditative state also has a
range of experience. Just as sleep is most beneficial when it is deep, the greatest benefits from meditation occur when the mind
becomes completely still.
For the mind to become sufficiently quiet where one would consider the state of consciousness to be shifting from waking to a
meditative state, you cannot be engaged in activity. A meditative state would begin at the quietest moment of the waking state and
extend to a state of complete stillness of mind. Any activity or effort would limit, and inhibit, the quieting of mental activity and keep
you in the waking state with the attention on thoughts. This includes making any mental effort such as concentration or
contemplation.
A variety of techniques can be used to set the stage for meditation, but the deep meditative state only happens when all effort
stops. Trying to stop thoughts is an effort, concentrating on anything or contemplating any idea is an effort. Trying to meditate is
like trying to sleep. You will not sleep if you keep "trying" to sleep. Only when you stop trying and just let go all your efforts can
sleep, or meditation happen. Effort may be used initially in a technique but the real quieting process only happens once the effort
has stopped.
Each state of consciousness has conditions that are conducive to shifting into that state. When you want to sleep you turn out the
light, lie in a nice bed, put your head on a soft pillow, etc. Once you have set-up the conditions you let go all efforts and sleep
comes, or not. If sleep doesn't come, making an effort will not help. A meditation technique works in the same way. A technique
sets-up conditions conducive for a meditative state of consciousness to happen, and then we must let go all effort. Because the
habit of the mind tends toward activity, a gentle, natural technique is useful to assist the quieting process. If during meditation
practice we find ourselves busy on thoughts we gently, and momentarily, return to our technique, and then we let go all efforts
again.
A little time spent each day in a meditative state of quiet mind powerfully rejuvenates the system, bringing a peace to the mind that
grows stronger and stronger with regular practice while giving the body a very deep, purifying rest. The deepest rest one can
experience is during the meditative state of consciousness. Daydreaming, contemplating or concentrating is not meditation. If you
do not experience silence and deep rest in meditation you are not getting much benefit. This is where the guidance of an
experienced teacher and a proper technique can help.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is easy to learn and effortless to practice. The technique expertly sets the stage for the mind to settle
down bringing peace, increased awareness, and improved physical health through deep rest and dissolving of stress. When the
mind settles into a meditative state it releases tension and stress and centers itself in the present moment. Although the physical
rest in meditation can be even deeper than in sleep, the mind does not become dull as it does in sleep.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is taught only by instructors trained by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar through the
Art of Living Foundation.
There are times when overwhelming mental or emotional influences will not allow the mind to settle
down in meditation. At these times there are breathing practices which can help. Here the
Art of Living Course breathing practices provide a means to release stress and calm the mind
regardless of thoughts or emotions. The Sudarshan Kriya practice also creates a profound calm
in the mind and is a great aid to deep meditation practice.
While Sudarshan Kriya practice may be the single most effective method to eliminate stress, when
it is followed by 20 minutes of deep meditation you increase the purification of the system and
further establish a deep calm in the mind and body.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is NOT taught on the Art of Living Course.
It is learned during a separate 3 session course. Neither course is a prerequisite of the other.
The art of meditation is delightfully simple, but also a delicate art which requires a few sessions of personal guidance with an
experienced teacher. The practice of deep meditation cannot be learned from a book. Once learned, meditation can be practiced
daily anywhere one can sit comfortably. For maximum growth two 20 minute sessions per day is recommended.
Course of Instruction
Instruction in Sahaj Samadhi Meditation takes place over three consecutive days by appointment. The first day is one on one
instruction and guidance lasting about 1½ hours. The following two meetings will be in a group lasting two hours. Follow-ups are
available as needed.
Art of Living Foundation instructor Jim Larsen has been teaching meditation for over 30 years and is available to teach in any city
where a group would like to learn. Contact your local Art of Living Center (click here to find center).
Contact Jim Larsen at info@artoflivingaz.org or call 520-232-2138.
" The body is aging, but something in you is not aging. Getting in touch with that 'something'
that doesn't age brings beauty in life. That is meditation.
--His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
that doesn't age brings beauty in life. That is meditation.
--His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar