05-03-2007, 09:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-SwamyG+May 4 2007, 03:03 AM-->QUOTE(SwamyG @ May 4 2007, 03:03 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ashok and Bodhi:
Do you know under what japa category would Transcendal Meditation come in?
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SwamyG,
TM is a meditation technique. Usually japa forms only one part of any meditation technique. And all japas tend to follow the progression that Bodhi mentioned.
Also, in meditation terms, ajapA japa is a sign of moving on from dhAraNA (concentration) to dhyAna (meditation).
dhyAna is described by a concentration that is "flowing" and which keeps on renewing the object of concentration, like in a feedback loop. A dhAraNA can last few seconds, as there is no feedback. You hold some image in your mind and it fades away in few seconds. However long you can hold it is the duration of dhAraNA and it is counted in seconds. dhyAna is when a certain "flow" develops, and the image that you are trying to hold within renews itself by feeding itself back. Thats why dhyAna is often described as "taila-dhArAvat" like a "smooth flow of oil", which is very smooth and may not appear moving, but if you watch closely you see the flow.
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Re: sacred thread for women, the practice was (re)started by Sw. Dayananda of Arya samAja. But outside the Arya-samAjis the practice is not very common.
The present truth is that there is no effective barrier left for anyone from any caste or gender to get sacred thread or to chant gAyatrI. The more poignant fact is that young people are nowadays perhaps no more interested in gaining these "privileges".
Do you know under what japa category would Transcendal Meditation come in?
[right][snapback]68247[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
SwamyG,
TM is a meditation technique. Usually japa forms only one part of any meditation technique. And all japas tend to follow the progression that Bodhi mentioned.
Also, in meditation terms, ajapA japa is a sign of moving on from dhAraNA (concentration) to dhyAna (meditation).
dhyAna is described by a concentration that is "flowing" and which keeps on renewing the object of concentration, like in a feedback loop. A dhAraNA can last few seconds, as there is no feedback. You hold some image in your mind and it fades away in few seconds. However long you can hold it is the duration of dhAraNA and it is counted in seconds. dhyAna is when a certain "flow" develops, and the image that you are trying to hold within renews itself by feeding itself back. Thats why dhyAna is often described as "taila-dhArAvat" like a "smooth flow of oil", which is very smooth and may not appear moving, but if you watch closely you see the flow.
----------------------------------
Re: sacred thread for women, the practice was (re)started by Sw. Dayananda of Arya samAja. But outside the Arya-samAjis the practice is not very common.
The present truth is that there is no effective barrier left for anyone from any caste or gender to get sacred thread or to chant gAyatrI. The more poignant fact is that young people are nowadays perhaps no more interested in gaining these "privileges".