&n= bsp; Art Of Living NewsLetter = June 24th,2009

Yoga - The Science of Being

<= strong>Trataka - Concentrated Gazing

What is Trat= aka?

Looking intent= ly with an unwavering gaze at a small point until tears are shed, is kno= wn as trataka by the acharyas.
("Hatha Yoga Pradipika" 2:31) 3Dtrataka

Trataka is a d= eceptively simple but powerful practice. Trataka means 'to gaze steadily at a fi= xed point'.

There are two forms of the practice. One is 'bahiranga' or external trataka and the other is 'antaranga' or internal trataka.

Trataka is a process of concentrating the mind and curbing its oscillating tendenc= ies.

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Benefits
According to t= he 'Hatha Yoga Pradipika', Trataka eradicates all eye diseases, fat= igue and sloth and closes the doorway creating these problems. Trata= ka benefits not only the eyes but a whole range of physiological and men= tal functions. It is therapeutic in depression, insomnia allergy, anxiety, postural problems, poor concentration and memory.
Trataka unlocks the inherent energy of the mind and channelises it to= the dormant areas of the unconscious. Yogi Swatmarama mentions the arousa= l of clairvoyance and other capacities such as telepathy, telekinesis, psy= chic healing, etc. One-pointedness of mind which is the result of practici= ng Trataka, creates strong willpower, improved memory and concentra= tive ability as well.

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Bahiranga Trataka
Practice in a dark room which is free from drafts and insects - place= a candle at arms length in front of you with the flame at eye level - i= t is important that the flame does not flicker in the least - sit in a comfortable meditative pose, preferably siddhasana/siddha yoni asana = and place the hands on the knees in either gyana or chin mudra - relax yo= ur whole body, close your eyes and prepare yourself as for any meditative practice -make yourself calm and quiet and be prepared to keep your b= ody perfectly still throughout the entire practice - open your eyes and g= aze at the middle portion of the flame (ideally one should focus on the r= ed tip of the wick as it does not move due to draft) - gaze for as long = as possible without blinking and without strain until the eyes begin to water or = tire - you will be able to increase the time gradually with practice to ten minutes - remain the silent witness (sakshi) throughout, observing all thoughts and feeling which may arise - when you close your eyes keep = them fixed an the impression - if the afterimage moves, bring it back to t= he centre and continue gazing until the impression disappears -once you = can stabilise the afterimage, study it and look intently at its colour.&n= bsp;

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Antaranga Trataka
Prepare yourself as in the technique for bahiranga trataka. Keep the = eyes closed throughout and concentrate on a chosen symbol like Om or a point of light, like a twinkling star, or a crescent or full moon. Tr= y to see the object clearly and steadily in the dark space, in front of the closed eyes. Practice for five to twenty minutes. (This practice has to be cultivated over a long time.)

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Trataka can be done at any time but is more effective when performed = on an empty stomach. The most suitable time is between four and six in t= he morning after asana and pranayama practice. If you wish to delve deep= er into the mind, trataka should be done late at night before going to b= ed and before japa or meditation. One can also imagine that one is breathing in a straight line from, the point of concentration through= the eyebrow centre and straight back to ajna chakra at the back of the he= ad. When you close your eyes to gaze at the counter image, continue with = this awareness.

Knowledge se= ction

<= span style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareas= t-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#99662D'>Love & Sacrifice

  =

All the scriptures of the world glorify sacrifice. But what is sacrifice?

It is giv= ing up something that you value. You can only sacrifice something that you would like to keep for yourself, something that gives you pleasure and joy. You cannot sacrifice something that you dislike or disown.

Sacrifice= is always related to a higher cause for a greater good. At the same time, when your love for the greater good is so strong, nothing else assumes any value. Sacrifice here become irrelevant, because love alone is yo= ur strongest driving force. When there is so much love, there cann= ot be sacrifice and when there is no love there is no sacrifice.<= span style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast= -font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#432C26'>

If a moth= er has plans to watch a movie and she realizes that her child is sick, s= he does not say that she has sacrificed the movie to take care of the child because she simply did not want to go. Nothing else charms= the mother besides being with the child.

You do not sacrifice something for someone you love. Sacrifice indicates that yo= ur pleasure has more value than the cause for which you are sacrificing. When love is luke warm , then sacrifice assumes meaning. Yet sacrifice purifies the human mind and reins in selfish tendencies. It can also bring pride arrogance, self-pity and sometimes even depression.

You can sacrifice only that which you value. For a wise man nothing is more valuable than truth, values and Divine and he will never sacrifice those. God is the greatest and if someone values the Grea= test, how can he sacrifice God? This is the paradox of sacrifice.

&nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; --Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

&nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; Rishikesh,India, March 15, 2001

Sri Krishna lay ill. His pure,tender body was infl= amed with fever. No drugs or charms had an effect.

Mother Yashodha was very worried and she asked Kri= shna "Shyama, my darling, we have tried everything within our power b= ut your fever keeps mounting. Wont you tell me what will make you well again?"

Krishna said "Ma only one thing can cure me. Please apply, on my forehead,the dust from the feet of a person who l= oves me dearly. "This is easily done" said Yashodha. This w= hole place is full of gopis and gopas who love your more than their life.S= oon I shall bring what you need.

Mother Yashodha goes to the house of a Gopi and she explains her situation. As the gopi listens to this strange request, = the colour of their countenance changes. "Mother!" she says,&qu= ot; you know fully well that there is nothing in this world that I would = keep from Beloved Shyama. I would give my life for him gladly. But this request I cannot do.For it is said in the scriptures that a devotee w= ill go to hell if the dust of her feet touches the forehead of the Lord".<= /span>

Yashodha was disappointed,she moves from house to house meeting all the gopis and gopas.But everyone refused to commit a crime of which the penalty is hell. At last Yashodha comes to Radha's house and explains her situation. And Radha says to her, "Mother! All that I have belongs to Shyama. take what you wish-the dust of my = feet or the crown of my head. All, all is consecrated to the Lord.<= /strong>

Surprised, Yashodha says " Radha do you know = what it means. Whoever gives the dust of their feel to the Lord, has to go= to Hell!" Radha answers calmly," Blessed,indeed would I be, if, for the sake of my beloved, I go to hell. Take the dust of my feet , mother , do not delay. If only that the Beloved gets well, I shall gl= adly endure the tortures of a hundred hells". Yashodha was speechless= and she takes the dust from Radha's feet and returns home. Sri Krishna wa= s no longer on the sick-bed and Mother Yashodha realizes that it was the l= eela of Krishna. From that day, no one questioned why Radha was so dear to Krishna.

The law of love is the law of the Cross-the law of Sacrifice. If you would love be prepared to sacrifice, all you have a= nd all you are, at the Lotus feet of the Lord.

When we have lost all the objects that we love, wh= at remains is just love. When our love has over powered our desires for material things, surrender becomes a natural phenomenon. Its is an effortless task.