MODULE 6
DHYANA
MEDITATING ON EVERYTHINGNESS AND NOTHINGNESS
CONNECTING WITH DIVINE MYSTERY - EXPERIENCING SOULFUL JOY
STUDY YOGA HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY
Explore the myth of Shiva and Shakti. Consider metaphor of Shiva as changeless consciousness and Shakti as dynamic energy that separate upon embodiment and unite upon awakening. Become familiar with the five divine acts (creating, sustaining, dissolving, concealing, revealing).Consider the life and influence of Sri Aurobindo and Sri Ramana Maharshi.
ENGAGE WITH A PERRENIAL YOGA PRACTICE
Understand dhyana as meditating on everythingness and nothingness. Consider how dhyana connects us with divine mystery for the experience of soulful love, equanimity, and joy. Consider various aspects of devotional expression, including: meditating, praying, worshiping, prostrating, singing, dancing, creating art, and witnessing the Beloved in everything.
OBSERVE YAMAS & NIYAMAS
Explore the ethics-integrity pairing of aparigraha (non-greed, non-possessiveness, generosity, without fixation) and saucha (cleanliness, wholesomeness). Consider how Dipa Ma exemplifies this ethics-integrity pairing. Imagine other icons who embody this ethics-integrity pairing.
PRACTICE & SHARE ASANA
Learn and teach backbending and balancing postures, including: setu andha sarvangasana, salamba bhujanasana, salabhasana+, ustrasana, urdva dhanurasana, navasana, malasana, bakasana; and bhujapidasana. Develop and practice teaching a relaxation sequence with three seatedpostures, two backbend postures, and one integratingposture.
PRACTICE & SHARE PRANAYAMA
Experiment with bhramari (humming bee breath) and shitali(cooling breath) pranayama practice as described in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Gheranda Sanmhita. Observe the energetic effects as compared with ujjayi and nadi shodhanapranayama practice. Practice teaching extended exhalations during your practice teaching of the relaxation sequence.
PRACTICE PRATYAHARA
Practice self-reflective journaling as a form of pratyahara. What really inspires you? Can you allow yourself more opportunities to witness the awe of nature, like a sunset? How might our longings stem from our be desires to feel whole – to feel connected to that which is greater than ourselves?
PRACTICE DHARANA
Consider the importance of questions in understandingfundamental realities. Explore your deepest yearnings and longings to know. Determine your core question – the question that really stirs something inside you – that represents your innate desires to know. Experience dhyana mudra.
PRACTICE DHYANA
Chant Gayatri Mantra (Enlightenment Chant) honoring divine illumination for collective enlightenment. Understand japa as mantra repetition (manasika-mental; vacika–verbal). Consider mala practice. Practice open awareness meditation as dhyana-abhava to create favorable conditions for equanimity to arise and to experience no-self and nothingness.
CO-CREATE CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY
Experience kirtan and feel into transcendent power of singing devotional songs in community. Share rhythm and get in-tune with each other through community drumming circle. Add to our community alter with offerings meaningful to you as a devotional offering to life itself. Meet with your mentor and peer groups.
CREATE YANTRA
Begin to create a yantra as an exploration of energy and self-expression. Notice what arise during this creative process. Take and honest and loving look at the experience and feel into your thoughts and emotions – allowing anything that arises to “be ok.” Is there enthusiasm and joy? Is there doubt and insecurity? Is there playfulness and love? Is there intensity and pain?
STUDY AYURVEDA
Learn how kapha energy draws from earth and water elements and is the potential energy of the mind-body. Consider kapha the energy of structure and lubrication. Discern physical, mental, and emotional characteristics of kapha energy. Understand life practices, dietary considerations, and routines beneficial to kapha energy.
STUDY ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & BIOMECHANICS
Become familiar with the functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Explore the role of the vagusnerve. Understand yoga’s impact on both the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Consider recent scientific studies about yoga’s impact on neuroplasticity.
