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- Denis Giles
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By Yogi Ashwini
Understanding this is a sadhna…which can span lifetimes or be accomplished in a moment just, a beautiful journey bestowing myriad siddhis enroute…
Shiv is an experience. This experience begins at the feet of the Guru and unfolds as per the capacity of the sadhak. Ravan composed the Shiv Tandav Stotram to describe it. Adi Shankaracharya said ‘na paapam, na punyam, na saukham, na daukham...’ to describe what it’s not. These were the Shiv sadhaks of finest quality, a rare phenomenon. What they described was their experience of Shiv; Shiv however is beyond description, for what is limitless cannot be bound in words and meanings. So no amount of reading and writing can grant you the experience, to get that experience you need to tread the path of sadhna, under a Guru.
The first experience of Shiv is the shakti of Guru. As you walk the path shown by Guru, something that you were wanting manifests in your life. It could be health, relationship, job etc. That becomes your experience of the Shiv tatva - that which has manifested the un-manifested. There are as many examples of such manifestations at Dhyan Ashram in present times as there are narratives from past of sadhaks who were able to get the boon they desired. That ‘boon’ or manifested desire, however is only an aspect of Shiv. 90% of the people get satisfied with the experience and their focus shifts from Shiv to that ‘thing’ which they wanted. So the experience of Shiv for them gets limited to that. A thousand names of Shiv, stem from here. Those who don’t let their focus shift, move further into the dimension of Shiv. Next, the subtler siddhis of yog start manifesting – clairvoyance, clairaudience, premonition, extrasensory perceptions etc. Many take this to be the ultimate and end their experience here. They immerse themselves in the siddhis and powers so acquired and forget that this too is just an aspect. The finer sadhaks progress ahead where they start interacting with the energies that run creation, aiding and assisting them in the process of Creation.
Mentioned above are just some siddhis, the domain of Shiv however is endless. The key to accessing it is vairagya (detachment). The moment one gets attached to any aspect of Shiv or siddhi that it bestows, the upward progression stops. Vairagya is possible only when one has the gyan of reality and gyan is possible only when one is able to sit in dhyan. Dhyan happens only when one has accumulated good karmas, which are acquired from seva or service. Seva, is the first step. It is through seva that one increases the size of their container or the experience of Shiv that one can hold. This Shivratri, embark on the journey to increasing the size of your container…to experience Shiv.
Shiv is real, not a myth. Shiv is all encompassing. All are accepted in the abode of Shiv – bhoot, pret, pisach, yaksh, kinnar, naag, dev, danav, humans. You don’t have to be of a special caste to experience the various dimensions of Shiv.
Shivratri is the night of Shiv and Shakti, the night of merger, the night of completeness. Guru, on the night of Shivratri, awakens the power of Shiv and Shakti in each and every one who follows the path shown, without exceptions. In my journey of 25 years, I have yet to come across a sadhak who under Guru Sanidhya has not experienced Shiv. The seva and sadhna performed on this night grants one the experiences and siddhis of many lifetimes, in just one night. It is a 100% science, not a religion. Try and test it for yourself. For darshan of Shiv and aawahaan of its Shakti, you may attend the Mahashivratri yagya at Dhyan Ashram.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. Log onto to www.dhyanfoundation.com for more
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- Denis Giles
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By Yogi Ashwini
In the previous article we discussed a Pranayam and an ayurvedic tonic to keep the mind calm as well as maintaining good health and a youthful glow. Adding to that we will learn two asans from the Sanatan Kriya which affect the vagus nerve. This nerve runs parallel to the Sushumna Nadi (spine) and connects the Mooladhar chakra (base of the spine) to the Agya chakra (forehead).
Asans for Vagus Nerve
Invoke the energy of the Guru and Lord Ganesh.
1. Marjariasan (Cat pose)
Go down on your palms and knees, place your hands directly below your shoulders and your knees below your hips. Keep your elbows straight and look forward. Inhale as you raise your head and gaze at the highest point above, while you arch your spine downwards. Hold the posture for sometime and as you exhale you pull your abdominal muscles in and arch the spine in the opposite direction towards the ceiling while you look downwards. Hold the posture and repeat it gently seven times.
2. Vyaghrasan (Tiger pose)
It is called so as it simulates the stretching movement made by a tiger when it wakes up from sleep. Go down on your palms and knees. Place your hands directly below your shoulders and your knees below your hips. Keep your elbows straight and look forward. Inhale deep as you slowly raise your right leg as high as possible above the ground. Bend your leg at your knee to make your shin vertical. Simultaneously, curve the neck towards the back. Hold this posture. Bring the right knee between the arms and pull your abdominal muscles in and arch the spine towards the ceiling. Simultaneously, bring your head between your hands and look at the floor between your knees. Hold this posture. Repeat this seven times with both legs.
After completing this relax in shavasan for some time. That is you lie down on your back with palms facing upwards. Exhale and stretch the muscles as you relax. Anyone who would practice the above given techniques would have a radiant and glowing appearance along with a relaxed and calm mind. Its recommended that you visit a Dhyan Foundation center near you to learn the correct way to practice asans. Any yogic kriya is effective only when it is channelized by a Guru who has the siddhis and is not bound by maya.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless
Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. Log onto to www.dhyanfoundation.com for more
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- Denis Giles
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By Yogi Ashwini
What is a disease? A disease is an imbalance in your body which first enters your pranic layer or the etheric layer and then manifests into the physical body. The disease is a result of your karma and can be seen by a clairvoyant in the pranic body much before it even manifests in the physical body and before any symptoms appear. Your consciousness is all the time moving around and you are receiving energy from the whole creation. You have energy centers called chakras which act like receptors and catch these frequencies and translate it into the body. So you don't act out you simply catch this energy from the surroundings depending upon your desires and state.
Like the Manipoorak chakra will catch all the thoughts which are connected to power, Anahad chakra will catch all the thoughts which are connected to love, Vishuddhi chakra will catch all the thoughts connected to creativity.
A chakra is a vortex of energy that is whirling around clockwise and anticlockwise. It expels the used up prana from the body and pulls in fresh prana in to the body that a person requires all the time. Hence when a disease manifests into the physical body that means that it has already effected the pranic layer and the corresponding chakras. Lets take Diabetes as an example. The malfunction of the Manipoorak chakra is directly responsible for Diabetes. It effects the pancreas in the physical body and results in an uncontrolled increase in the sugar levels of the body.
The early warning signs of diabetes is lethargy. One feels drained out very quickly. If a disease has manifested, the thought that you pull in from the environment, the thought has already manifested and taken shape in the body and the symptoms have already come in that is a time we recommend you should see a good vaid or a doctor. Along with that you can practice certain Yog asans to target that specific area and organ in the body where the disease has manifested and take some remedies to minimize or fully cure the problem.
So with a combination of Ayurveda and Yoga we will try to hold the disease back. First we start with Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic Cure
Take 4-5 pieces of the Jamun tree bark. Heat them in an earthen utensil on coal under the ground. Combustion will take place and it will turn into a powder. Ensure not to burn it and turn it into ash instead as the process of combustion starts you take it out, pound it and store it.
Eat two 2 tsp full of the powder, 3 times a day with hot water.
(For more such ayurvedic remedies one may refer to the book 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension').
This will give the strength to your pancreas which is going to help you manage diabetes.
There are some asans which one can perform to reduce the effect of Diabetes. In the next article we will discuss certain asans as detailed in the 'Sanatan Kriya' that can help one keep diabetes in check. We will also learn the mantra for strengthening the Manipoorak chakra to reduce the effect of Diabetes.
If you are doing yoga properly then you might be able to get rid of Diabetes completely.
It is vital that any Yogic practice be done under the guidance of one's Guru, to experience the true powers and efficacy of the science.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. Log onto to www.dhyanfoundation.com or mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more.
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- Denis Giles
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By Yogi Ashwini
In the previous article we understood how and why a disease manifests in the body and how one can cure it. The Arurvedic remedy for diabetes was detailed, that needs to be taken every day along with certain yogic asans that will help control the rising sugar levels in the body. A combination of Ayurveda, Asans and Mantra chanting will have an immediate effect on controlling diabetes.
It is important that the breath rate and heart rate do not shoot up while performing asans. But since these are repetitive asans, there is a possibility of a slight increase in the breath rate while performing them. Therefore it is vital to perform them in tandem with Sanatan Kriya to balance out or decrease the number of breaths taken overall. It is advised you learn the practices at a Dhyan Foundation centre near you.
Veerbhadra Asan - Stand straight. As you inhale, slowly bend forward keeping your spine straight. Touch both hands on the ground and raise your left leg up so it remains parallel to the ground as you balance the body on the right leg. Gently exhale and bring the leg down. Repeat this 7 times.
Natraj Asan - Inhaling, bend your left knee backwards and lift the left leg behind you and raise your right arm up while you look upwards. Support the left ankle with left hand. As you exhale bring your hand and foot down. Repeat 7 times.
Udyan & Jalandhar Bandh - Stand straight, inhale and expand your stomach as much as possible, then exhale from your mouth emptying the stomach and the lungs as much as possible. The area below the rib cage has to be pulled inwards but only enough so it does not cause any discomfort or trauma. Do a chin lock, Jalandhar Bandh, your chin touching the chest as you look down. Exhale while the abdomen is pulled inside. Gradually release the abdominal lock then the chin lock.
Caution - Kapal Bhati pranayam should be avoided completely as it causes hyperactivity and is not advised for diabetes.
Mantra to strengthen the Manipoorak
Along with the asans it’s important to strengthen the Manipoorak chakra (navel), as diabetes is caused due to an imbalance in the Manipoorak chakra.
The Beej mantra of Manipoorak chakra is RAM. Sit in Sukhasan or Vajrasan. Place both palms on the navel, one on top of the other, and chant ram. To hear the correct uccharan of the mantra, visit www. dhyanfoundation.com. This mantra activates the Manipoorak chakra.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. Log onto to www.dhyanfoundation.com or mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more.
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- Denis Giles
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By Yogi Ashwini
Are you depressed? Is it because your job doesn't pay you well enough? Or because your spouse and children do not listen to you? Or because your talent goes unnoticed and you are not valued enough? Or is it because of how your body and looks are deteriorating by the day?
You are not alone.
If you look around you will find that every individual is entwined in the same set of four worries—health, finances, relationships and/or status. In the physical world, the root of all these problems is an unfulfilled expectation. While the actual reason for this is the basic nature of soul and it’s not being able to find solace.
Unfulfilled expectations gradually pull one into depression, where the person hopes and tries to fulfil his/her expectations and while they never get met, the body ages...hair become grey, skin wrinkles, senses dull and then one day the breath also stops. The expectations are still not met and so birth is taken to fulfil them.
Expectations are directly proportional to one’s ego. The higher the ego, the more one expects from him/herself and the things/people around, and when those expectations are not met, he/she goes into depression. Medically, it is seen as an imbalance in specific hormones in the body which is triggered usually by psychological factors, age-related changes and in some cases owing to mental instability. Yoga says, this is because of avidya, which is lack of knowledge of reality. Everything in the physical world is unreal and is in passing. Basic nature of physically manifested world is destruction. Every second, all that is around us is getting destroyed. Actually, what we get depressed about doesn’t exist.
The interesting thing about expectations is that there is no limit to them. King Yayati enjoyed youth and its related pleasures for a thousand years and even then his desires and expectations were still not met. He realized there is no way they could be met by further indulgence. So he returned the youth back to his son, and went in search of that which is permanent, real and does not disappoint you, for that alone is the key to bliss. And that reality, only a Guru can show you by giving you the experience of what you desire, and gradually change those desires and simultaneously lower the ego, so the expectations too fade away.
Expectations can never be met. The more you have, the more you expect. And the irony is, that whatever you have in the physical—be it health, wealth, relationship or power—will also leave you one day, and when it leaves the disappointment will be directly proportional to the pleasure it brought with it, all this is because of avidya. To give you an example, I knew a man who had a very loving wife. She cared for him and kept him happy. At sixty, she left the body, and the husband went into depression. A healthy man, he died of a heart attack within a month.
I detail here a simple kriya which when practiced in the presence of your Guru, instantly alleviates all kinds of depressions, giving you the experience of bliss, an instant glow is an added benefit.
Sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect.
Close your eyes and paying reverence to the energy of Guru, take your awareness to the centre of the chest cavity.
Become aware of a light pink lotus at this point, and of a soft pink light emanating from it and filling up your body. Gradually let this light grow to fill up your immediate surroundings, the planet and all of creation.
Now become aware of your Guru and connect with him/her in this light pink light (if you do not have a Guru, you can become aware of the image on www.dhyanfoundation.com).
Gently holding the hand of the Guru, drop all awareness, let go. Let there be no thoughts or movement beyond this point.
Whenever you feel like, open your eyes looking first at the centre of the palms.
Write to me about your experiences.
Yogi Ashwini is the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on the Vedic Sciences. His book, 'Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension' is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. Log onto to www.dhyanfoundation.com for more