(Brhadaranyaka Upanishad I.iii.

28)

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra in Sanskrit

Asato Ma Sadgayama Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya Mrytor Ma Amritamgamaya Below is the English translation of this wonderful mantra.

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra English Translation

Lead me from Untruth to Truth Lead me from Darkness to Light Lead me from Death to Immortality

True Meaning of Asato Ma Mantra

This is a really really great mantra. Despite this mantra being only 3 lines, it is still perhaps one of the most profound Vedic mantras ever. What this chant is asking for is the Highest of the Highest. It is a mantra which is implying that the seeker understands finally that there is no peace or happiness in anything material. That anything material will forever be transient and will forever bring suffering. Understanding this, the seeker chants this mantra and asks only for Truth, Truth and Truth. Above in the meanings, the implications are as follows. In asking for deliverance from "Asat", the seeker is asking for deliverance from Maya, duality or the dream world. The seeker is saying, I feel this reality is not the Truth, please awaken me to the Absolute Truth (Sat). The seeker is aiming for God Realization. Similarly, in the second line, the seeker is asking to be delivered form darkness (Tamaso), meaning ignorance, to light (Jyotir), meaning awakening. Again, the seeker, understanding that what is most important in life, is awakening to the Truth, asks for nothing material, but asks for Enlightenment and True Knowledge instead. In the third line, the seeker is not asking for eternal life or immortality. The seeker is asking for Self Realization. The seeker is asking to be awakened to his Infinite, Timeless, Un-born and Eternal nature. The seeker is requesting to be awakened to his True Nature, to who he truly is, and that awakening to the eternal Self is the freedom from time and death which he is seeking. If ever you were to meet the Genie in the bottle, I suggest you immediately chant this mantra for your 3 wishes .

om bhr bhuva sva tt savitr vreniya bhrgo devsya dhmahi dhyo y na prachodyt O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme, sin destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction." (gayathri mantra)

Here you have the text of the Surya Namaskara Mantras: Om Mitraya Namaha Om Suryaya Namaha Om Bhanave Namaha Om Pushne Namaha Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namaha Om Marichaye Namaha Om Adityaya Namaha Om Savitre Namaha Om Arkaya Namaha Om Bhaskaraya Namaha

Gayatri Mantra Meditation & Videos

Of all the mantras in the Vedas, the most revered and powerful is the Gayatri Mantra. This mantra is certainly the most recited and also, perhaps has the widest range of applications. It is not just used to express ones devotion to the Lord, but is also used for jap meditation (mantra chanting), chakra meditation, naad yoga, putting the kids to sleep , etc. In addition to Hindus, the Gayatri mantra is embraced by Buddhists as well.

Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Buvaha Svaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayath Although there are several interpretations of this mantra, with subtle differences between each, the one that I find most suitable is the following

Gayatri Mantra English Translation

O Supreme Creator, Thou art the giver of life, the remover of pain and sorrow and the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe, may we receive Thy supreme sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellect in the right direction. You can get more information and translations at the Gayatri Mantra Wiki Page as well.

Gayatri Mantra Third Eye Chakra Meditation:

As I had mentioned above, there are many application for this wonderful mantra. One particular application that I would like to present to you, is the use of the Gayatri Mantra to awaken Ajna Chakra or the Third Eye Chakra. To use the Gayatri Mantra to do this, you would follow the steps laid out in the AUM Mantra Meditation article, except use the Gayatri Mantra instead of the primordial sound AUM, to do the meditation. So you would sit up comfortably, close your eyes and turn them upwards to look through your forehead (only hold this eye position as long as comfortable) and then chant the Gayatri Mantra, visualizing it emanating from the Third Eye (center of the forehead). As always, please dont over do such potent meditations, start slowly and build up your capacity gently over time.

Om Namah Shivaya is a most potent and popular mantra, which is at the heart of the Vedas and Tantra, and is widely used in this and other variations in the Himalayan tradition, as well as by others. This is a more traditional pronunciation of the mantra, unlike the many modern "singing" versions. While there are other descriptions of the mantra, the following focuses on meanings for mantra meditation leading to Self-Realization. OM/AUM: The three parts of Om (A-U-M) encompass the three states of waking, dreaming, deep sleep, the three

levels of gross, subtle, causal, and the three levels of conscious, unconscious, subconscious, as well as the three universal processes of coming, being, and going. Absolute silence beyond the three levels is the silence after AUM. It also refers to Tripura, the one who live in the "three cities" as in Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, as well as the light referred to in Gayatri Mantra. Namah/Namaha: Adoration, homage, respect. Nothing is mine (as an individual person); everything is thine (as the Absolute Reality). The three levels of Om, the three worlds of gross, subtle, and causal, along with the three states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states of consciousness, as well as the three levels of conscious, unconscious, and subconscious themselves are "not mine" as the true properties of who I really am. Truly, "nothing is mine." Rather, everything, all of these triads is "thine" or the "other" as the Absolute Reality. Shivaya/Shiva: That Absolute Reality that is the ground out of which the others emerge. It is that "ink," so to speak, that is not separate from the many forms which may appear to manifest or be created from that ink. In the Realization of this, one comes to see that he or she is one and the same with the Absolute Reality. The Mahavakyas, the great utterances, are seen to be true. Shiva (the static or ground) and Shakti (the active or creative) are seen to be one and the same. She (Shakti), while one with Shiva is realized in direct experience as the one in the three worlds (Tripura) outlined in Om. http://www.swamij.com

Concentration Meditation Technique Trataka

Yoga Meditation Method to Build Concentration
Trataka Meditation Technique to Improve Concentration: I have mentioned this timeless meditation technique briefly in several articles on Mastery of Meditation before, but now I would like to provide all the details regarding it, in order to help you learn and master it. This meditation method is called Trataka or candle flame gazing, and it was introduced in the following 2 articles: Brain Development & Enlightenment Series Part 1: Awaken the Senses and Yoga Meditation Techniques The Top 3. It is now the eight guided meditation of our Free Online Guided Meditation Techniques Book. Although Trataka is famous for being a meditation to build concentration, it has a solid list of other great benefits as well, which I will detail below. This meditation technique comes from the school of Yoga, and has been widely embraced due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Tools for Trataka Concentration Meditation Technique: Candle, candle holder and lighter/matches.

Benefits of Trataka - Concentration Meditation Technique:

Primary Benefits: Terrific for building and improving concentration. Builds mental fortitude, mental focus and willpower. Calms the mind and bestows inner peace and silence. Stimulates and activates the Third Eye Chakra (Ajna Chakra) to bestow wisdom, intuition and psychic powers. Helps penetrate the veil of duality and see the non-dual nature of Reality.

Secondary Benefits: Improves the visual system.

Cautions for Trataka Meditation for Concentration: Be careful not to strain the eyes excessively when practicing this method.

Instructions for Practicing Trataka Meditation for Concentration: Sit up in any comfortable relaxed position, preferably with the spine straight. You may also sit on a chair to practice this meditation. To practice this meditation your must hold absolutely still. Place your hands in Gyan Mudra. Such that the thumb tips and index finger are meeting, while the other three fingers are extended. Rest your wrists gently on your knees with the palms facing slightly upward. Gyan mudra will help you with your concentration.
Make sure the room is darkened and there is no breeze of any kind. Light the candle and ensure that it is about 3 feet away from you and at eye level. You may need to use a long candle holder to accomplish this. Begin to gaze, without blinking, steadily at the candle flame for as long as comfortable. Once the eyes tire or start to tear up, close them and then position the afterimage of the flame between the eyebrows at the center of the forehead (the physical trigger point of the Third Eye Chakra). Focus on this afterimage, trying to keep it steadily fixed in the region of the Third Eye Chakra described above. Your level of concentration will determine the clarity of the afterimage. If the image wavers, moves or looses clarity, just reapply your concentration and restore the position. Once the image fades out completely, open your eyes and begin again focusing on the candle flame. Continue this cycle for 5-10 minutes. As your capacity to concentrate and meditate grows, increase the time by increments of 5 minutes till you reach 20 minutes. You may do this meditation even longer if you like. It is not uncommon to practice this technique for up to 1 hour, by those who are passionate about building concentration and mental focus.

Meditation tips for Trataka Meditation for Concentration: Try to get a decent size flame (make sure the wick is of good length). It will help prolong the afterimage and make it easier to practice the concentration portion of the meditation. Dont strain the eyes during the gazing period. Over time your eyes will adjust and allow you to concentrate on the flame for longer periods of time.