Dear Friends,
Namaste!
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get down to the logic of why certain timings during the day make more sense to perform specific activities. Why we have allotted the time and duration that we did for activities in the sample routine we discussed in our last meeting.
1. Wake up at 5:55 am
Time between 2 am to 6 am is the “Vaata” period. This is the period where ‘wind’ element is most predominant among the three basic elements (others being earth and fire).
Wind signifies ease of movement and lightness. If we get up during - or as close as possible to - the “Vaata” period, we remain more active, energetic and light throughout our day.
On the other hand, if we wake up during the following “Kapha” period (from 6 am to 10 am during which ‘earth’ element predominates over the other two) we remain heavy, less-than-easily-mobile and lethargic.
2. Meditate between 5:55 am to 6 am
Sufficient time should pass between waking up and getting up from bed. We should slide effortlessly into our routine. Herky-jerky movements, hurry, leads to sudden strain on our body (which may lead to injury in the worst case) and stress in our mind.
Therefore the best way to start the day is through meditation done lying in bed after waking up. Meditation maintains or restores equilibrium of our mind. And what better way to start the day than to ensure an equi-poised mind?
We can ‘Play the Watchman’ to purge our mind of unwanted thoughts or do mantra meditation. If we synchronize our mantra with breath, the benefits it brings are without parallel. We can meditate on “So” during inhale and “Humm” during exhale if we are fond of “So-humm” meditation. Otherwise we can meditate on “Shri” during inhale and “Krishna” during exhale if reciting Lord Krishna’s name works for us.
Ever watched Sunil Gavaskar begin his innings? First thing he used to do was take guard. Starting your day with meditation is akin to ‘taking guard’ in cricket parlance. Simply put, it is taking the ‘right position’ or (re)setting your mind in the correct frame.
Gavaskar also used to take a fresh guard after completing next 10 runs at the wicket or going through a torrid spell or a bad shot. Similarly, we can also take ‘fresh guard’ or restore equilibrium of our mind through meditation every now and then throughout the day or while being subjected to stress. We don’t have to set any time aside. We can do it during breaks or while waiting at traffic lights or a few seconds before reacting to a negative situation. This simple technique (another one being ‘counting to ten’ when we are about to explode) converts an undesirable reaction into a constructive response which can make all the difference and turn the situation around in our favour.
It is only through meditation that we experience what ‘real’ happiness is. As per “Yoga-Shastra”, we experience real happiness (“Anand”) when we become conscious (“Chit”) of our sheer and pure existence (“Sat”). Unfortunately, most people, while yearning endlessly for infinite and eternal happiness, even don’t know what to look for. What they think as ‘happiness’ is merely yet another (albeit positive) ripple on the veritable pond of our mind. This ripple is necessarily transient. Hence they never get eternal and infinite bliss. What is not transient is our consciousness. So only when we do “Nirodh” (look beyond) of these “Vritti” (positive and negative ripples) in our “Chitta” (consciousness) do we get to know what real happiness, real peace, is. That’s what real Yoga is and meditation helps us to achieve “Yoga” (connection with true happiness) by getting rid of “Vritti” in our “Chitta”.
A Zen student approached his master and said, “O master, whenever I sit for meditation, my body starts aching and it becomes very difficult for me to maintain the posture”.
The master merely smiled and said, “It will pass.”
The student faithfully continued meditation practice under his master’s guidance for a long time.
Then he again approached his master and said, “O master, now I can assume flawless posture for as long as I want but my mind still wanders when I try to meditate.”
The master merely smiled and said, “It will pass.”
The student faithfully continued meditation practice under his master’s guidance for a long time.
Then he again approached his master and said, “O master, now not only can I assume flawless posture for as long as I want but my mind also does not wander anymore and I feel extremely happy, really excited.”
The master merely smiled and said, “It will pass.”
Want to have a great day ahead? Start the day with meditation. For, well begun is half done!
Live, laugh, love...
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