Raja Yoga Meditation - Achieving an Integration of Mind and Body

By [http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Barrett/102085]   David Barrett

The raja yoga meditation is an effective technique of meditating and kicking out stress and worries from your life. This technique is all about gaining control on everything that is connected with you. This is not just about controlling your breath, but in fact, it is more about controlling your mind. The ultimate purpose here is to achieve an integration of mind and body.

Principles

There are eight principles of raja yoga meditation. In fact, in Sanskrit language, this type of meditation is also known as Ashtanga, which literally means a technique with eight principles.

1.               Self-restraint or the code of conduct is the first principle. It is known as Yama in Sanskrit.

2.               The second principle is Niyama, which means you have to be committed to devotion, study, and practice.

3.               Asana is the third principle, in which you learn how to integrate your body and mind by practicing various physical activities.

4.               Pranayama is the fourth principle of raja yoga meditation, in which you learn how to regulate your breath in a way to achieve an effective integration of body and mind.

5.               The fifth one is Pratyahara, which teaches about the various senses of perceptions.

6.               Dharana is the sixth principle in which you learn to achieve concentration of your mind.

7.               The seventh principle is Dhyana, which is all about quiet and non-sensual meditation.

8.               The last principle is Samadhi, which teaches you about achieving a super-conscious state of your mind.

Five States of Mind

As per the concept of raja yoga meditation, the various states of mind have been put into five categorizes. It all starts with the primarily material state and ends at the state that is primarily spiritual. Let me give you a brief insight into each of these states of mind...

1.            The first state is known as Kshipta. This is a state when mind is not focused to the present. It wanders here and there and pursues everything all over the place. Most of us live with only this state of mind. Our mind is unsettled. We think about the past. We think about the future, and eventually we are never able to make the best use of our present.

2.           As per the raja yoga meditation, Mudha is the next state, where the mind is still unsettled but the intensity is lesser in comparison to the first state. However, in spiritual sense, the mind is still foolish and forgetful.

3.           When we try to concentrate while meditating, the mind often gets distracted by unruly thoughts. This state of mind is known as Vikshipta.

4.           However, when we practice meditation for a long time, we finally achieve concentration. This is the state when the mind is one-pointed. That is the reason this state is known as Ekagra.

5.           Niruddha is the last state of mind. It is the extreme of raja yoga meditation when we are able to achieve full control of mind. We experience enlightenment. We even come to aware of our unity with the Almighty - the Creator.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Raja-Yoga-Meditation---Achieving-An-Integration-Of-Mind-And-Body&id=862073] Raja Yoga Meditation - Achieving an Integration of Mind and Body