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TensorTympani
Sweden
100 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2023 : 12:59:04 PM
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I have a habit of re-reading the instructions of the basic AYP techniques once in a while, because I realised that sometimes I simply overlook important details, or that only after practicing for a while I can properly appreciate the subtler details of Yogani's instructions.
My new "discovery" is this line from the SPB instructions https://www.aypsite.org/41.html: quote: Take a minute or so before effortlessly beginning the mantra, just as originally instructed.
I haven't followed this instruction in over a year. I remember vaguely trying this in the beginning (I started DM 14 months ago, SPB 20 months ago), literally waiting a minute before introducing the mantra. Without a timer I would easily get lost in thoughts during that "minute", seemingly (to me) a waste of time. So I switched to simply starting immediately with the mantra and forgot about this line till now.
Recently I rediscovered this instruction and I have been experimenting with it now for two weeks, doing a subtle analysis of the process of introducing the mantra after SPB either with the extra minute + effortless introduction, or my usual "brutal" way. It's quite mind blowing how useful the extra minute is!
During this minute (or whatever brief period), I'm first assessing my level of stillness by just observing for a while, and then I decide to introduce the mantra. Since I'm supposed to do this effortlessly, I interpreted this as introducing the mantra at the appropriate level fuzziness right away given the noise level in my head. And now the wild thing is the following. When I'm done with the assessing and decide to introduce the mantra, it seems that the simple intention of introducing the mantra is quieting my mind even further and very rapidly, so that effortlessly introducing the mantra happens at a very fuzzy level. Such a level I would usually only reach after five or more minutes of DM.
I'm aware that this effect of the mere intention to introduce the mantra and ability to gently act from stillness is very likely a result of practing DM and samyama for a while, and that everybody has their own way of interpreting "Take a minute or so before effortlessly beginning the mantra". Still maybe somebody reading the forums, just like me, forgot this line altogether. So, have fun with it |
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ant
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2024 : 6:06:54 PM
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This is very useful to me at this moment. The mantra has been feeling "stale" to me, as if my mind recognizes it as something so familiar that it just skips onto other thoughts. It has occurred to me that maybe the introduction of the mantra requires more care. I will try this. Thanks! |
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TensorTympani
Sweden
100 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2024 : 11:58:43 PM
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After getting some very helpful feedback from Michael Seidl (on the user comment section of the German video course here https://www.aypinternational.com/academy/ ) about my "sneaky" method of introducing the mantra I described above, and after reading a bit about how TM teachers seem to check on their students, and reading a bit in a book on a DM-sibling called "Natural Meditation" (by Ted Phelps https://naturalmeditation.org ), I took the hint and started to do less during that minute.
That I think is a better practice. At least currently it often happens that the mantra starts by itself during that minute, which if it happens certainly means less effort than deciding to introduce it at some point in a particular way.
Sometimes the mantra doesn't start by itself, and then I start it deliberately some way or another (still sometimes the sneaky way ). But I think it's a good idea to not have a set-in-stone procedure for how to introduce the mantra, and maybe instead give the mantra a chance to start by itself in that minute, or to start it whatever way is natural in the moment. It makes meditation even more fun
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SeySorciere
Seychelles
1571 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2024 : 06:37:30 AM
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I actually take that 1 minute with my first breath of SBP - please note this is not AYP instruction but a habit I seem to have gotten into. First SBP breath, I go automatically into kumbhaka and I take this minute to scan my internal field.
Sey |
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