On the importance of posture in dhyana and mental control

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In yoga, the posture is emphasized as a means to attain self control.  Why is

this so?

 

To develop concentration, and in particular, to reign in the mind's wayward

tendencies, especially during meditation, it is useful to adopt certain postures

that will assist the practitioner in controlling the body-mind complex.

 

In the bhagavad gita posture and attitude are emphasized as aids to meditation:

 

Hold the waist, spine, chest, neck, and head erect, motionless and steady, fix

the eyes and the mind steadily between the eye brows, and do not look around.

(6.13) 

 

People who attend satsangs know very well the difficulties of sitting erect for

long periods of time.  Here, a simple approach is offered by which one can

overcome the tendencies that cause sagging of the spine whilst sitting erect. 

By practicing in this manner, one can also overcome (and avoid) any pain

associated with maintaining such a posture.  Indeed, the erect posture is the

natural posture, if you will suspend disbelief for a moment.

 

Those who practice the hatha yoga kriyas know very well the effectiveness of

physical yoga postures.  While the postures themselves appear very difficult,

when once you get the 'hang' of how the body's musculo-skeletal system works,

you can see very clearly why Yogic postures are possible at all.  While physical

excercise focuses primarily on muscular control, yogic postures rely almost

exclusively on skeletal positioning and orientation. 

 

Consider for a moment the simple posture of Naga-asana, the 'Cobra pose'.  To do

this particular pose correctly, one should not use the hands to lift oneself

upwards (although, they may appear to be helping, they should not be

the principal source of lifting force in the movement).  One should first lie

flat on the stomach in a relaxed unclenched manner.  Next, leave the arms to the

side, or spread away from the body as far apart as possible.  Turning the head

forwards from a sideways position, one slowly raises the tip of the nose

upwards, causing the neck to begin locking the upper vertebrae into a fixed

position with respect to the vertebrae immediately adjacent and below it.  In

this manner, lock-step, each vertebrae is locked with the next successive one in

line, as you place all concentration and force on rotating your head backwards

(using your nose as the focal point) by pushing upwards into the air as far back

as possible (not with

your hands).  By continually applying a normal force on successive vertebrae,

the force is concentrated on the motion of the individual vertebrae being moved,

as it locks into place, and then the force is transferred to the next vertebrae

in series.  The action is very much like how a bicycle chain rotates and

transfers motion from one link to the next.  Each link in the chain (a

vertebrae) transfers its force to the next successive link.  In this manner,

without using the hands, one can force the entire spinal column to rise upwards

(again, no hands), resulting in the spine curving in lock-step fashion upwards

and inwards.  The final posture will resemble the back of a cobra with its hood

raised in striking position.  As the forces are transferred successively to each

vertebrae, one will feel a piercing heat being generated in the particular

vertebrae that is in motion at a particular instant in time.  This is due to the

successive

pinching of the nerves in the spinal column as the spine is rolling itself

backwards, which sends a combination of signals back to the brain.  When one has

achieved the full erect position where the spinal column is fully rolled

backwards, then the body begins to generate intense heat and will start to

perspire.  The muscular action is minimaland most of the force is transferred to

the head-neck muscles which maintain the posture, while the abdominal and chest

muscles begin to contribute to maintenance of the static posture.  When once the

posture is relaxed, you will feel like you have a new spine, I guarantee.

 

This particular posture does not require years of practice nor any extraordinary

muscular ability, yet done properly, will yield immense results in reshaping the

spinal curvature and correcting years of poor posture.  When you sit, stand, and

move, the posture begins to correct itself if this posture is practiced

for extended periods.

 

The reason I specifically mention this posture is this:  I argued earlier that

the erect posture is the correct / natural body posture.  Those who correctly

practice the above asana will understand the effectiveness of what i'm

saying.  By practicing this posture for extended and repeated sessions, one

begins to develop a strong sense of proprioception (inner feeling) about the

spinal column, to the point where the individual vertebrae will begin to come

under conscious control even during the normal waking and relaxed stages of

perception/sensation.  By developing the awareness of the spine, one begins

to develop full body control.  So, as one is sitting erect, one exerts a mental

normal force (if you understand what i'm saying here) onto the lowest point of

the spine (near the Lumbar-Sacral junction), that will cause you to push it

forward, and causing your stomach to push forward (bulge forward).  In other

words, your abdominals will

push outwards, as you push the back of your lumbar region inwards, causing the

vertebrae to successively push adjacent veretebrae above to fall into

lock-step.  So, the overall feeling will be as if you are pushing your lower

spine forwards, while your upper spine retracts backwards reclining on the lower

spine.  By arranging your spine in this manner, the upper vertebrae rest on the

lower, and the muscles will be fully relieved of all pressure, with the

exception of a minimal force that is required to push the lumbar portion of the

spine forwards.  That force on the lumbar region is enough to maintain the

entire full erect posture, as the entire weight of the body is transferred to

the bones of the spinal chord. 

 

While it sounds horribly complicated, its actually simple, you just push below,

and relax the above backwards.  If done right, the spine will lock (not

permanently) into an erect configuration that is optimal for sitting in

padma-asana for long periods of dhyana, or any other activity.

 

The sign of having achieved full mental control is being able to maintain

the posture of the body for extended periods of time. 

 

This is why a yogi who is in a state of perfect dhyana can maintain perfect

posture in Padma-asana (Lotus pose) (...as well as the 'half-Lotus' pose)

without experiencing pain or discomfort.  Because the body has merged into the

mind, and the mind itself has expanded to include the body.  What the mind says,

the body does.  When the body has been absorbed into the mind, when the mind

assumes a posture, the body will find the optimal orientation and positioning

automatically such that the posture becomes the thermodynamically stable one (in

other words, the body is actually relaxing in that state, rather than straining

and fighting to be in that state).  To understand what I mean, consider why

standing is so easy for you, yet it is such a difficult task for a baby that has

yet to learn to balance?  The body has determined the exact placement of

skeletal and muscular organs such that the posture is automatic,

self-sustaining, and well-balanced -

the mind does not strain to further maintain that balance (unless significantly

perturbed).  When a baby stands, it is using mostly muscles to maintain its

balance; when you stand, you have transferred a substantial portion of the

weight onto the bones themselves, leaving your muscles free to work on

maintaining balance through the application of a minimal amount of force.  You

think of 'standing' and your body automatically follows.  Likewise for the

accomplished yogi that has mastered their mind, the body becomes a yielding

servant.

 

Naga-asana:  http://www.santosha.com/naga.html

Padma-asana:  http://www.santosha.com/padma.html

 

Happy sitting and standing.

 

Jaya Sri Swamiji! Jaya Guru Datta! Jaya Veera Hanuman!

 

 ---

Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!

Tasmai Sri Guru-murthaye Nama Idam Sri Dakshinamurtaye!

 

 

Ata Nityo Narayanaha, Brahma Narayanaha, Sivascha Narayanaha, Kalascha

Narayanaha. Disascha Narayanaha, Vidisascha Narayanaha, Urdwamscha Narayanaha,

Adhascha Narayanaha, Antar-bahischa-Narayana.Narayana Eh Vedam Sarvam, Yat

BhootamYacchha Bhavyam.Nish-kalango Niranjano Nirvikalpo Nirakyadhas,suddhho

Deva Eko Narayanaha, Na dwiteeyosthi kaschit,ya evam Vedas Vishnu reva Bhavati,

Sa Vishnureva Bhavathi, Etat yajur veda sirodeeyathe.

 

 

~*Om * Ayim * Hreem * Sreem * Siva * Rama * Anagha * Dattaya * Namaha*~