Pyramid of Self-Realization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brother Achalananda

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brother Istananda

Kriya Yoga Paramahansa Yogananda Yogananda quotes Yogananda pictures Self-Realization Fellowship lessons Hong-Sau technique of meditation Aum technique of meditation Energization Exercises Paramahansa Yogananda Podcasts Sri Daya Mata Spiritual Eye SRF convocation notes Metaphysical Meditations Scientific Healing Affirmations Paragrams SRF gurus Sri Yukteswar Lahiri Mahasaya Mahavatar Babaji Bhagavan Krishna Kundalini force Bhagavad Gita quotes Self Realization Fellowship Yogananda spiritual Marriage Causal world Astral body Prana and Apana Brother Achalananda Aum sound He who perceives me everywhere... Ida and pingala Practising the presence of God Divine qualities of God Soulmates Yogananda God Alone Aum symbol Yogananda Yogananda pics Chakra sounds Swami Smaranananda Brother Ishtananda Brother Mokshananda Gyanamata Hong Sau technique Jyoti Mudra Sat Tat Aum Sound of Aum Yogoda exercises Kriya Yoga Pranayama Paramahansa Yogananda quotes Deeper Meditation Kutastha Chaitanya Yogoda Satsanga Society Om technique SRF Om technique Podcast Yogananda Self Realization exercises Yogananda one-pointed concentration SRF podcast SRF lessons

 

HONG-SAU TECHNIQUE

Excerpts from a talk at 2004 Convocation by Brother Ishtananda

Hong-Sau — 'I am He'

Hong-Sau is one of those great techniques of yoga for pinpointing the mind. Sri Daya Mata has praised Hong-Sau so much over the years and she says that whenever she has a few moments she practices.

Hong-Sau means "I am He"— "I am Spirit".

“Hong” and “Sau” are sacred Sanskrit words that have a vibratory connection with the incoming and outgoing breath and they have a calming effect on the breath. Breath and mind are very much interrelated. Calm breath automatically brings about a calm mind. Restless breath creates a restless mind. Just observing the breath will quiet it down. Hong-Sau is a mantra. It is very simple – basics are simple!

What to do when thoughts come?

St. Teresa of Avila gave good advice:

“When unwanted thoughts come, pay no more attention to them than to the words of an idiot.”

If the mind wanders, don’t berate yourself – use it as a reminder to bring it back to the practice of the technique. If during the first few moments of meditation you can get a hold of the mind there will be far less problems. When practiced correctly the breath may slow down - it may even stop – and this is a very desirable state. That is a deep state of stillness. Just enjoy that deep feeling of peace when the breath is not flowing.

Don’t be concerned – the body will breath when it needs to, so don’t fret. And don’t get excited either, thinking, “I did it!!” Just relax and enjoy it. But don’t try to create it. Don’t try to control the breath – that is not practising Hong-Sau. We are trying to be the soul – the silent, conscious witness. Daya Mata says of Hong-Sau: “I didn’t waste my time; I practiced it in spare moments of the day.”

Remember, the techniques are just a means to an end. Don’t waste time. Whenever you have a few moments practise Hong-Sau and then feel the peace – talk to the Guru.

Focus and Enthusiasm: Keys to Deep Meditation

Excerpts from a talk at 1994 Convocation by Brother Achalananda

Paramahansa Yogananda said: "All men and women should remember that their worldly life can be freed from endless physical and mental ills if they add deep meditation to their daily routine of living." Notice that he did not just say meditation, but deep meditation. To go deep in meditation requires focus; it requires concentration. That's why the first technique Guruji gives us is the marvelous Hong-Sau technique of concentration. Its practice intensifies our concentration and therefore our ability to practice all the meditation techniques effectively. In the resulting stillness and calmness we go deeper and deeper within. As all of us know who have made that effort, when we have a deep meditation life seems wonderful. But if we have a lackadaisical meditation, we get up afterward and wonder: "Well, what was I doing? That didn't seem to help at all."

In the beginning of our spiritual search, we're usually full of enthusiasm. We really make effort in our meditations, and often get very good results because of that. But as the years go by, there is a tendency to slacken a little bit and just go through the motions. You sit down to meditate and the mind says, "Oh, it's been a tough day!" And ten minutes later you're still thinking about what a tough day it's been; you haven't even started to meditate. In struggling against this myself, I've found that it can be overcome if I make an effort to get myself charged up for meditation, give myself a good pep talk: "OK, mind, we're going to meditate. I don't want any backtalk from you. Focus on the Hong-Sau technique, and don't even think about wandering off!" Summon up intensity; and you will find that the mind obeys, and you go deep quickly.

Keep on keeping on. That's the whole secret of spiritual success: Never give up! You are a divine soul; and the pressures and stresses you feel can never dim that radiant spark of divinity within you. They are simply challenges to be faced and overcome, joyously! You already have within you everything you need to do so; all you have to do is uncover it. So keep on uncovering; keep on simplifying; keep on going deeper, becoming more and more joyous—with God. (SRF Magazine 1996, Summer)

Further Readings about Hong-Sau: Notes from SRF Convocations

If you would like to learn the Hong-Sau technique please apply for the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. The Hong-Sau technique is taught as preparatory to Kriya Yoga.

The Science of Kriya Yoga (from Autobiography of a Yogi) Kriya Yoga in The Bhagavad Gita IV:29 Pranayama (the life-force control) Universal Prana: Energy that Pervades all Creation Specific Prana: Life Principle in the Body Prana and Apana: Two Main Currents in the Body Breath: Cord that Ties Soul to the Body Kriya Yoga: Controlling the Current of Prana and Apana

Kriya Produces Conscious Ecstasy Kriya Yoga in The Bhagavad Gita V:27-28 Converting Breath into Life Force Experiencing Body, Life Force, and Mind as Vibrations The Breathless State of Ecstasy Uniting Individual Consciousness with Cosmic Consciousness Universal Path of Liberation Kriya Yoga plus Devotion by Brother Anandamoy Kriya Yoga — Science of Yoga by Dr. Lewis

 

Meditation on Aum The Cosmic Sound He who knows Aum (Om) knows God

The Holy Ghost The Astral Sounds Inner Peace and Joy

 

God Talks With Arjuna by Paramahansa Yogananda The Purpose of Life Kundalini Force The Esoteric Path of Fire and Light Yoga Physiology of the Astral and Causal Spines The Higher Centers

The Second Coming of Christ by Paramahansa Yogananda "Serpent Force" "Lifting up the serpent" Kundalini and Chakras Kriya Yoga: Life Force Control Benefits of Meditation The True Meaning of Kundalini Awakening Benefits of Awakening of Kundalini

 

Recharging the body with Cosmic Energy How does Energization work?

Would you like to increase your energy today? Concentration and Will Power