The Stages of Meditation *
November 11, 2011 is the date that the ancient ones have talked about for millennia — the change of the age — from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age. And we
were privileged to share the arrival of this new age with the Kundalini Research Institute’s (KRI) Director of Training,
Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, Ph.D., as he joins us for a very special ‘The Stages of Meditation’ workshop at KYL.
Gurucharan brings to Chicago a new series in deep meditation called ‘The
Stages of Meditation:
An Expedition towards Realization.’ He learned these stages directly from his teacher, Yogi Bhajan, and developed the workshops for this special 3-part meditation series.***
This ‘expedition towards realization’ consists of three journeys. Each journey lasts one weekend. Each weekend takes you through seven stages of deep meditation. Each stage systematically confronts your mind’s patterns and limitations, awakens a part of you and develops new skills to clear your way towards realization.
Register Here...
Journey 3: Transcend the Self — March 17-18, 2012 (9 am to 6 pm
both days)
register ****
Course Fee:
Regular Rate:
Single weekend: $300
Single Day: $160
Refund policy: Cancellation or 'No Show' results in a 10%
administrative fee assesment.
Housing:
Click Here to view housing options near the event
venue.
* This course is not certified as Level 3
by KRI.
*** This is not a yoga course. This is a meditation course. However, early morning sadhana will be available for those desiring yoga practice prior to the start of each day of ‘The Stages of Meditation.’
**** As a pre-requisite to participating solely in the March weekend (i.e., for anyone
not attending the November or January weekend) an interview with Shakta Kaur is required.
Gurucharan comments on the path toward realization...
Reprinted from YogaChicago September 2011
issue.
I have
learned, practiced and taught meditation for over 45 years because my love
is to see the miracle in each person when they open to who they are, share
their unique gifts and thrive as they make a better world. Meditation is a
powerful tool to unleash that potential. I was often uneasy about many
things in spiritual and meditation movements that seemed ungrounded in the
beauty and reality of everyday living and that simply promised extraordinary
experiences. I believe in testing each thing I learn and then sharing what
works. I learned that when using meditation as a skill to reach
enlightenment or realization, everyone journeys through the same set of
stages, almost as if they are mile markers along a road.
I had
the privilege to study for over 35 years with Yogi Bhajan, a master of
kundalini yoga, from his immigration to the USA in 1969 until his passing in
2004. He taught these techniques worldwide, founded the 3HO foundation to
reach everyone and trained teachers.
My role was to elaborate, systematize and research the techniques and
to develop practical programs. I learned about the three journeys, the
stages and the meditations to complete the journeys directly from him and
have shared that along with my own experiences from practice and teaching
them. The stages provide an indispensable map for deepening and
understanding meditation.
Every
expedition requires a purpose, the skills and a map. The purpose of my
life’s expedition is often called realization. Realization simply means to
be happy, to thrive, and to experience the full measure of our humanity. The
skills we need for this expedition are acquired through the practice of
meditation. Meditation is natural to
us and we can cultivate it, become skilled in it, and bring ourselves to a
deep, full expression of who we are and can be. Now, without a map, any
expedition can seem daunting. A map is essential to orient our exploration.
The map
for this expedition towards realization is simple. It consists of three
journeys. As you become skillful in each meditation, you progress along the
journey and expand the range of your experience.
Each journey consists of seven meditation experiences. Each
meditation awakens a part of you and develops a skill that clears your way.
The seven meditations systematically confront the patterns and limitations
we all have in our mind and emotions while expanding our sense of presence,
stillness and connectedness. Each meditation is an experience that is
different for each person since each of us is individual in our character,
interests, history, culture and training. And each meditation is a keystone
to the transformation of our capacity to feel and act from our authentic
Self. Each of the three journeys guides us through seven stages of our Self
and our meditation capacity.
I
learned these stages directly from my teacher, Yogi Bhajan, and developed
the two day workshops for each journey. The three journeys are:
Crystallize and Experience the Self
In this
first journey, you deepen the basic skills of attention, focus and
stillness. Most importantly you open the heart center and crystallize your
sense of Self. Then you open to all of your feelings- good and bad- without
losing your own self and inner compass. The names of the stages in this
journey are: upset, boredom,
irritation, frustration, focus, absorption and, finally, crystallize and
experience the self.
Express
and Distill the Self
In this
second journey, to Express the Self, the meditations expand your capacity to
express your self effectively and authentically in every role and area of
your life. It is all about our power to connect, express, create and have
joy. The seven stages are called-rasa, delight, politeness, humility,
elevation, graceful enlightenment and express and be your Self.
Transcend and Sublimate the Self
In the
third journey, you open the intuition fully and connect to your Infinite
Self. You refine the skill to become still, grateful, and go past your real
and imagined limitations. The seven stages are called presence like a
beacon, everywhere radiance, prayerful stillness, preacher, teacher, sage
and Infinite Pulse.
Here is
an example of a meditation you can practice that is part of the seventh
stage to meditation that crystallizes your sense of Self.
The Crystallized Self and the Heart Center
Through all of
human history individuals have found a way to crystallize the self. With
that crystallized self we can stand before the depth and mystery of our
being and act with dignity, integrity and creativity. When we begin
to crystallize the Self, we start to separate our ego and commotions from
our Self as we open our heart center. Opening the heart center is the key to
the culmination of this first journey.
For the meditation we use a classical mantra:
“Humee Hum Brahm Hum,”.
There are many mantras that work on
the heart center. The sound “Hum” itself and the sound “Hu” are used in
various wisdom traditions. The
“Humee Hum” is the sense of self we
get in our connection with other people, things and thoughts about our self.
It means, “We are we”. It affirms our interconnection with all we are part
of. “Brahm Hum” is the subtle aspects of our Self. It is the formless
creative witness in us. It is the part of our existence as a self that is
beyond rational capture and is the ineffable reality of our Being. Combined
they are like a heartbeat. The energetic form and flow of these sounds work
the heart center, navel center, and throat and brow centers together.
The mantra brings the experience of
the Self fully present in your body and mind.
A crystallized self is an integrated sense of self. It
requires the meditative capacity to be still, open your sensitivity to all
sensations, and to simultaneously be aware of your awareness. It is from
this space that we can step back from our emotions and feelings while
sensing them all. Then we can make room for compassion. That begins with
compassion for your self. That allows the whole self to become present. All
the parts of you that you affirm and all those you do not; all the parts you
know and all that you do not.
That is why we say that opening the heart center is the first step to being
fully human.
Here is how to use the mantra in the “Heart Seal
Meditation”.
Sit in a meditative pose individually. Close your eyes
and focus through the brow point. Cross the hands right over left over the heart center
in the center of the chest.
Feel your heart beat. Keep the chest lifted slightly.
Chant the mantra out loud.
You can do it Acapella. You can also
use a musical version of the mantra precisely done by Gurusangat Singh
called “Humee, Hum” from itunes, amazon or kriteachings.org.
Sit still and consolidate your self. You welcome the
unknown infinity of your being to synchronize with every action, thought and
cell. You meditate aware of all sensations. Aware that you are aware. Aware
that you are present and observing. Aware of all that flows through you.
Aware that you are created and
creating in this moment. Aware
that each moment records your thoughts, acts and feelings as a ripple in
infinity and eternity. Before this simplicity and vastness, be humble,
joyous, contained, content and conscious. Practice alert mind, full heart
and bless all. Bless your self; bless your friends and enemies; bless all
that is known to you; bless all that is unknown.
Be clear, crystal clear.
Continue for 11 minutes.
With practice you can extend this to 31 minutes. To end, inhale
deeply, suspend the breath and press the hands firmly on the chest. Exhale
in one powerful stroke through the mouth.
Repeat this three times. Then be still or deeply relax on your back.
Excerpts from the soon-to-be-published, ‘The 21 Stages
of Meditation,’ by Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.
Gurucharan is an expert in psychology
and meditation, author, consultant, researcher and director of training for
the Kundalini Research Institute. Contact:
yogamaster@aol.com
Gurucharan Singh Khalsa leads the three-part workshop,
‘Crystallize the Self’ November 12-13, ‘Express the Self’ January 14-15 and
‘Transcend the Self’ March 17-18 at Kundalini Yoga in the Loop (KYL),
downtown Chicago, 312-922-4699 or
www.shaktakaur.com.
Housing Options:
For those traveling to Chicago for this event, the following housing options
are available (Note: All hotels in Chicago
add a 15.4% tax to the room rate). All of these properties are within walking distance of the event venue.
Hostelling International
The J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel
24 East Congress Parkway
Chicago, Illinois 60605 |
312-360-0300
www.hichicago.org |
| For the lowest possible room rate this is the place - about $41.50 per
night - but it is a shared room with either 6 or 12 beds. The
rooms are really nice if you can do without privacy. This is perfect when you just need a crash pad. |
Priceline.com
Good deals can be had here, if
you follow these rules. |
Use: 'Name Your
Own Price' feature.
Select: 4 Star Hotel.
Location: Millennium/Grant Park, Loop. |
| Start bidding at $70 per
night to see what happens, you may need to bid higher. You have no worries about room quality
when bidding on a 4 Star hotel. Odds favor getting one of the
Hiltons downtown. |
Wyndham Blake Chicago
500 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60605 |
(312) 986-1234
www.hotelblake.com
Click Here to Book Room for
November
Click Here to Book Room for
January
Click Here to Bood Room for
March |
| We have negotiated a special
rate for these rooms - $129 ($149 with taxes - November weekend) available for a limited
time. Register no later than February 27 to secure
this group rate. You must mention the group name "Kundalini Yoga Room
Block" when making the reservation (or use the online links above). You must
cancel at least 24 hours ahead of your arrival date or you will be
charged for the room. Check-in time is 3 pm. |
Palmer House Hilton
17 East Monroe St
Chicago, IL 60603 |
312-726-7500
877-865-5321
Palmer House Website |
| We have negotiated a special
rate for these rooms - $129 ($149 with taxes) available for a limited
time. Register no later than February 27 to secure
this group rate. You must mention the group name "Kundalini Yoga
in the Loop Room
Block" when making the reservation. You must
cancel at least 24 hours ahead of your arrival date or you will be
charged for the room. Check-in time is 3 pm. |