We’ve discussed the rational for, and the benefits of, living according to Universal Principles. How then do we proceed to train ourselves, how do we advance on the path of spirituality?
BalanceScience has tackled the subject and the first thing we discovered that there exists a huge amount of material on the subject. In fact, the question of, and the means to achieve, spirituality runs parallel with Humankind through all the ages and epochs of recorded history.
At best, we hope to provide an overview of what is available so that you the reader may make a conscious decision to take the first step on the path of spirituality. We plan to review the many paths and have qualified practitioners and teachers elaborate on them.
Let’s get started.
Firstly I must reiterate that spirituality does not supplant or disagree with any religion. The two walk side by side and complement each other. If fact , in most religions spiritual techniques and training are reserved for the serious seekers of universal truths. What we are finding is that these teachings began to be disseminated to the general population of western cultures early in the last century. It’s noteworthy that in the last century world-wide conflicts and changes coincided with the wide-spread release of spiritual techniques. The universe, as we are discovering, has an inherent way of balancing out.
As we reviewed the huge number of spiritual techniques available some points of commonality emerged. There seems to have been a universal consensus for the need to integrate man’s threefold being; that is to say he should be in harmony with his body, his mind, and his spirit. And, furthermore, the ancient Yogis of India put together techniques to do this. They did this by combining exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation techniques. And, not just any exercises or techniques, but such based on their observation and understanding of universal principles. This meshes perfectly with the mission statement of BalanceScience so it is in this direction that we will focus our attention.
At present we have found 56 different forms of Yoga and similar theory and techniques in other spiritual disciplines. What we are seeing here is the historical spread of principles and techniques. Different countries embraced certain techniques and incorporated them into their existing spiritual systems. Even today Yoga is evolving, making science and technique thereof, more easily accessible to a growing number of participants.
In order to make sense of all this we will consolidate the many down into their root foundations.
Having said that, I must point out that you the reader will naturally gravitate towards the style that for you is most accessible, easier to progress in, and yields the best results for your efforts. As I am fond of saying; “If it works for YOU, it’s true for YOU, keep the faith and don’t get lost in the words.”
The original Yoga of physical poses was Hatha Yoga.
It was characterized by physical postures held for long periods of time. In the last century more styles have been derived from Hatha Yoga, some of which are more active,
or more gentler,
or they use props to help support the body.
Of the physical exercises, traditional static poses have evolved to dynamic poses where the participant flows from one pose to another. The originator of at least one style consolidated the many teachings into one Integrated Yoga.
Some styles have integrated breathing techniques,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnbzxMsjbIk
or energetic healing techniques, or have made the actual physical practice more active.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEzznV7LlyA
We stood back from all this and noticed that, in the traditional listing of Yoga Styles, Kriya Yoga (or Raja Yoga, meaning Royal) was taken as the highest form. This meant that the practitioner was studying the quickest method of self-evolution. As a student of the same I can make some simple observations;
Kriya Yoga appears, initially, so deceptively simple, that if you don’t have an open mind, or firm commitment then you might not give it the respect it deserves. Kriya Yoga does not have asanas or poses, rather it has a simple system of isometric exercises. It does not have a multitude of breathing techniques, just a few principles and one technique in a very subtle combination. Included in the practice and study are simple discourses on correct living, thinking, and acting. At a certain point in the training the dedicated student is given an initiation to a higher technique. While other styles of Yoga are evolving to accommodate different cultures, temperaments, and lifestyles I cannot help but observe that Kriya Yoga has remained so simple that it can be adapted, as is, into other religious practices, cultures, and lifestyles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4INTHH3xY&feature=related
We have to be careful not to stray too far from the original styles of Yoga, which were a careful blend of universal principles, so that we don’t drift off track in our spiritual quest. That is my opinion of course and I would welcome a qualified response on this point.
We live in a very interesting time in which we can access Yoga through accredited instructors yet can also learn about and do some limited practice through the various forms of media available today.
After we balance and strengthen our bodies through physical postures and breathing techniques, what then?
It would be time for meditation.
Now that body and breath are in balance we address the task of personal evolution and somehow getting a direct intuitive grasp of universal principles. Interestingly different styles of meditation have developed through human history and all are available (in western cultures). The western cultures seem to be a melting pot of knowledge and customs due to social migrations and opportunities over the last century. Again we have observed the different spiritual schools all seem to be directing the initiate towards the same goal but they appear to approach the task from different perspectives. For example, in the Taoist meditation school the initiate is guided to quiet the mind and still the body so as to do a detached observation of the self. A sort of self understanding and mental self-improvement process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz57SMOa-dM
In the Zen meditation school the initiate is guided to quiet the mind and still the body so as to do a detailed observation of the natural world and understand universal rhythms. Same goal but I believe the point of view is influenced by cultural differences.
Most of the great religions of the world have a core of spiritual teaching reserved for the most sincere and dedicated believers. This would include Kaballah Meditation from the Jewish Religion and Buddist Meditation from the Buddism religion.
Some meditation styles have focused on the vibratory effects of sound or Mantras to help the initiate. An example would be Transcendental Meditation.
While almost all meditative styles start with a relaxed static position a few styles have gentle movement combined with their breathing technique.
And again we find that Kriya Yoga has such a simple fusion of exercise and meditation that it is hard to classify it as anything but a meditation form.
There are several definitions of meditation but this is my simple version;
“Meditation, simply explained, is the conscious controlled cessation of breath. By controlling the breath we can slow the beating of the heart. By slowing the heart rate, every living cell in the human body will act on that signal and slow down their activity as well (whatever their specialized activity is). We then have a surplus of energy as the body shifts into idle. By focusing on the spot between our eyes we coax this surplus energy to flow up the spinal column. By coaxing the life force to move up the spinal column it reaches and energizes the medulla oblongata located at the junction of the human skull and spine. Medulla oblongata is Latin for ‘Mouth of God’. Ancient people felt this is where God blows life into each and every human. By directing energy to this spot we can boost the human immune system. The result, according to Yoga, is that we can slow and even reverse the aging process. And, we burn off accumulated Karma (thereby balancing and raising our vibrational frequency) and thereby raise our vibratory level up to each and every chakra. The practice of meditation is the practice of self-evolution to the point where we can access ‘something higher’ in the universe.”
At this point I hope we have been able to give you a general feel of what is available and where to start. Much information on Yoga, Meditation, and the different schools of both are available through all the popular forms of media. Spiritual training can be done by oneself (indeed every initiate has to do a lot of introspection and self-evaluation) but at some point you will need to refer to some instruction or guidance. This would include spiritual teachers, yoga instructors, and light workers. That is a separate page in itself. All one has to do is open their mind to the possibility that we are more than what we believe ourselves to be.
In the future we shall explore the many styles of spiritual teachings, not to rank or dispute them but to gather a larger picture of the relationship of Man to the Universe, as seen through many different viewpoints.
Sincerely Yours In Balance
Editor in Chief
BalanceScience.com
