Going Deeper into Yoga Meditation with Gregor Maehle

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we introduce some of the powerful, advanced teachings within Gregor Maehle’s book, Yoga Meditation.

Objective

Gain a sense for the powerful, advanced teachings that are covered in Gregor Maehle’s 2013 book, Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom and consider consulting this book for yourself.

Description

Note the meditation perspective provided by these styles of yoga: Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. List 18 teachings that Maehle covers in his 2013 book Yoga Meditation — six teachings in each of three categories: Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.

Hatha Yoga: Physical Dimension of Meditation

1. Success in meditation is powered by drawing life force energy up.

Whether they know it or not, those who succeed in meditation raise their life force (prana) to one of the higher chakras. The process of raising the life force is referred to as Kundalini-raising. Meditation is powered by Kundalini. (p 19)

2. The downward energy (apana) needs to be turned around.

During meditation, apana (the vital down-breath) needs to be turned around & pointed up so that the inner updraft in Shakti’s down-force, the so-called Kundalini, is activated. Shakti and Kundalini are really one and the same thing. Shakti is the Great Goddess during downward action, whereas Kundalini is the same Mother Goddess during upward movement. (p 35)

3. We must transform the fire of digestion into the fire of intelligence.

The lower manifestation of fire (agni) within us is metabolic or digestive fire, whereas its higher manifestation is the fire of intelligence and discrimination. (p 45)

4. Breath powers the experience.

Meditation cannot be achieved without pranayama…Patanjali lists the slowing down and smoothing of the breathing pattern as a prerequisite for meditation…The goal of meditation is the oceanic experience or oceanic ecstasy. As an ocean is moved by waves, so we use breath waves to move us into the oceanic state. (p 57)

5. Prana rises only if there is a balance among brain hemispheres.

Meditation is ideally done when both brain hemispheres are suspended and the flow of breath through the nostrils is exactly balanced. However, while in this state, you should do nothing but practice yoga and meditation as all other activities will prove fruitless. (p 78)

6. Inversions support readiness for meditation.

There are many yogic techniques that prevent the reaching out of the senses..this reaching out is related to lunar prana seeping out the ajna chakra. The most straightforward way to prevent this is through inversions. When the body is inverted for an extended period daily, amrita becomes stored… Readiness for meditation is supported by inversions. (pgs 82-83)