Showing Respect

This post has been a work in progress for a while.  One day when doing some Energy Work I  started to make notes. I found that my prayers and pleading to God for help in removing negative energy and trapped emotions were becoming  repetitive in word. I started  to make some notes and was guided to write down some names and titles of God and Jesus Christ to use as I prayed.  I then was blessed with some inspiration.

 God wants us to call him by his godly names when we pray to him and ask him for his help.  God is our Father and  out of all his titles I know  he is most pleased with this title.  But God is the God of everything in this universe.  We need to  hear and use Gods titles for our benefit not for His. God doesn't need us to pray to him. He knows the thoughts and intents of our Hearts.  (Alma 18 : 30-32) And he knows what we need before we  even ask. (Matt 6:8) Prayer is for us. Lets say that again, Prayer is a blessing  for US. We need prayer to bring us closer to God. The names and titles of God are there for  us as well. When we call on God and use His  titles we  remind ourselves of His Everlasting power and knowledge over that area of our lives. Here is a  quote from Elder Oaks during conference that explains it  well.

... communications to our most senior government leaders should be addressed in a particular way, such as Mr. President, Your Excellency, or Your Majesty. The use of titles signifies respect for office and authority.

The words we use in speaking to someone can identify the nature of our relationship to that person. They can also remind speaker and listener of the responsibilities they owe one another in that relationship. The form of address can also serve as a mark of respect or affection.

So it is with the language of prayer. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches its members to use special language in addressing prayers to our Father in Heaven.

When we go to worship in a temple or a church, we put aside our working clothes and dress ourselves in something better. This change of clothing is a mark of respect. Similarly, when we address our Heavenly Father, we should put aside our working words and clothe our prayers in special language of reverence and respect. Dallin H. Oaks APRIL 1993 The Language of Prayer

Therefore, when I approached God my Father, I was to appeal to him as the God over my specific concern. God has many titles and is the God over all.  As LDS we tend to only refer to him as  our Father in Heaven, our Heavenly Father, or God when we pray.

Yet in our  scriptures and hymns (which  ARE prayers to God - See  D & C 25:12) we praise God with many of His wonderful titles. Here are just a few I picked from the back of the hymn book: God of our Fathers, Wonderful, God of Power, My Guide, My Stay, Lord of Hosts, My Light, Great, God on High, Eternal Father, King of Glory, Master of Earth and Sky, Lord of Harvest,  Divine Healer,  Counselor, Everlasting Father, A Mighty Fortress, and Great King of Heaven.
 There are so many divine titles that God is entitled to, and that we should be using when we pray and praise Him.  It does us good to remember that God is the King of all glory, light, knowledge, and creation. We can address him  by theses titles as long as we are specifically praying to the one true God, The Father of our spirits. Prayer is sincere, heartfelt communication with our Heavenly Father. We should pray to God and to no one else. We do not pray to any other being or to anything made by man or God (see Exodus 20:3–5).  But just because we are to pray to God does not mean we can not use his divine titles as we pray. When we are praying for health and strength it is good to  refer to God as the Master Healer, or Creator of our bodies, and  Our Strength.  I found this quote  helpful:

According to man’s judgment there may be but little importance attached to names; but in the nomenclature of the Gods every name is a title of power or station. God is righteously zealous of the sanctity of His own name and of names given by His appointment. JESUS THE CHRIST James E. Talmage CHAPTER 4: THE ANTEMORTAL GODSHIP OF CHRIST

 So before you pray think about what you are asking God to help you with. Is it healing, knowledge, peace,or prosperity? Find a good office and remember that God is  the God of the Universe and is worthy of every title save those that apply to  the atonement (Those titles are reserved for Jesus Christ).  God is the Father of My Spirit, God is  the God of the Universe, God  of Creation, God of Health, God of  Wisdom and Knowledge,  He is the God of Peace and Serenity, He is the God of  Plenty and Blessings.   So praise and show  honor and respect to God as you pray, and recognize God and his power and His absolute authority in  all areas of your life.

The Language of Prayer- Elder Oaks  LINK 

 HERE is  A meditation calling on  the many aspects of God  It is: Gobinday Mukunday Udaaray Apaaray Hariang Kariang Nirnamay Akamay It is usually translated as: Sustainer, Liberator, Enlgihtener, Infinite, Destroyer, Creator, Nameless, Pure Light . Listen to  a version of it here.

Chakras

First of all what are they?  A Chakra is an energy center in the  body and there are 8 main ones.  Chakras are not only energy centers but they are in constant movement they  are swirling vortexes of energy. The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit word meaning wheels.  How open or closed these  energy centers are  effects your  Kundalini energy- or what we like to call our Divine Potential.  Lets back up some.  And take a min to  review the chart.  Start at  #1 and read a bit about each  energy center.

There are 8 major energy centers in the body and each energy center is responsible for certain types of energy and is associated with certain  feelings. Yes the  diagram only shows 7 the 8 th is your aura and your aura is affected by all the chakras and how they are interacting with each other.  Your aura which combines the effects of the other seven chakras can often be seen by others and is another post on its own- some day I might get around to writing one.  The chakras  and their swirling motion  tie the spiritual body, and physical body, and ethereal bodies together. They transfer spiritual information back and forth to and from your physical body and are centers where energy flows.  Remember that  swirling vortexes are powerful forms of energy. Think of  Hurricanes, tornadoes,and maelstroms for a visual reference. Just like these environmental vortexes, energy is constantly being pulled in and emitted out in  a circular motion internally through each chakra.  

The  first three chakras  deal with the basic needs of life and the physical needs of the body.  In the LDS world we would call this living as the natural man focusing only on  physical things that bring  pleasure, power, and posterity. In KY (Kundalini Yoga)  we call this  the lower triangle.  Lets talk about the upper triangle now. The chakras in the upper triangle  are 5, 6, 7  they accumulate, create, and refine the energy, and deal with more spiritual things.  Someone who lives in the upper triangle (think of  a wise man  who spends his days meditating in a cave, or people who devote ALL their time and energy to spiritual things) we consider them to be very enlightened and intuitive but they live in this triangle so they lack balance.
On to  the 4th chakra  or the heart center. The Heart Center  is the balancing point in the body between the flow of the upper energies of the Spiritual things or the Heavens and the lower energies that stem from the natural man or the energies of the Earth. A balancing of the energy in all the chakras  will meet here at the heart. 

When  man partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil there was more than just a physical detachment from God. Man's consciousness  fell as well.  In stead of being like god and balanced and spiritually minded  we fell to the lower triangle making us natural men and carnal minded. Lets read Mosiah  16 :3-5   

3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.

 4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

 5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

So this isnt a good thing. We need to rise up and over come the natural man. Mosiah 3:19  

Knowing that energy attracts like energy its important to raise your vibration- raise your  kunidalini energy up the Chakras or Raise your divine potential  by putting off the natural man.  Here is a good  quote that  says  it better than I could. 

This relationship between behavior and your dominant chakra is key because energy acts like a magnet. We constantly attract vibrations to ourselves that are on the same wavelength as the chakras from which we are operating. Kundalini Yoga allows the kundalini energy to rise, balancing and coordinating all of the chakras.
Kundalini Yoga does not force the kundalini to rise; it prepares the body to allow it to rise so that you can experience your higher consciousness. When this balance of the chakras occurs, you become empowered; you are able to be a compassionate, conscious, and capable human being.
Yogi Bhajan taught about the functions and attributes of the eight major chakras so that we could understand and transform ourselves via the practice of Kundalini Yoga.
[From Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power by Shakti Parwha Kaur and The KRI Aquarian Teacher Training Level 1 Manual]

So when we tap in to our divine potential and divine energy we become  more Christ like. Pay attention to the word Energy its all over in the Scriptures if you are looking for it. "All energy of heart."  it is interesting  to me that when the word is used  it often corresponds to  the correct chakra. energy of heart- love and concern for children and others.  Or this one  " I did speak unto my people,and did urge them with great energy" here he is using the energy of his throat speaking words to convince others to  fight for freedom.
It should be our  goal to find a Good balance and to live in the heart chakra. We can come up  for spiritual highs but we cant live there or we wont be able to live this life as it was meant to be lived.  We can  spend time doing Earthly things- hey its part of life- but we cant live there or we will miss the spiritual experiences we are are meant to have in this life. So to live life to its fullest we  must seek a balance we must raise up from the natural man and shake yourself from the dust of the earth and become a saint - full of LOVE.   Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled (GR purified) from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  Or in other words let us  be pure in heart  cleaned from evil minds and have a clean body free from the dust of the earth.

For more reading  check these helpful sites out
Chakras
The Eight Major Chakras
Yogi Bhajan Lecture: Living in Love
The Chakras and the Two Trees in The Garden of Eden
Chakra Center

Cleaning Mind and Cleaning your Blood

D&C 88:73-75
73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.
 74 And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;
 75 That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will.
Lets read more about what the  Guide to the Scriptures say about blood before we move on to new things shall we.

Blood-

Regarded by the ancient Israelites and many cultures today as the seat of life or vital energy of all flesh.      The Guide to the Scriptures

 There is that word again ENERGY. Keep it in mind as you keep reading. There is a  Venezuelan Proverb that states: Blood is inherited and virtue is acquired. I think there is a lot of truth to that. Im not just talking about your DNA part of your blood but ALL things you have inherited from your ancestors so their ENERGY.  Lets read  Truman G. Madsen's talk on this.

"And, therefore, as you look back at your seventy or so forebears... you might recognize that you have inherited the blood of many generations. And blood may not be a correct word scientifically, but in the scriptures it stands for seed, which means heredity, the inheritance of tendencies, and all of us have them. You have the blood of this generation, from which we must become clean - 'clean from the blood of this generation' (D&C 88:85). If you do, you will be clean from the blood of every generation, because it is compounded and accumulated into now- and that includes the blood of some degeneration.So perhaps you do have problems that you can blame on your ancestors, and if you forgive that and choose to stand close to the Lord in the process of purifying your life, that will affect your whole family in both directions. You are not alone. There is no way you can gain solitary and neutral ground. You are in it - you are involved. And this, I believe, is one of the profound meanings of the tame and wild olive trees. If you take a wild branch and graft it in to a tame one, if the branch is strong enough it will eventually corrupt and spoil the tree all the way to the roots. But if you take a tame branch and graft it in to a wild tree, in due time, if that branch is strong enough, it will heal and regenerate to the very roots. You will have then been an instrument in the sanctification even of your forebears.
...To be that kind of branch and achieve that kind of transformation backward and forward is perhaps the greatest achievement of this world. But to do it one must be great, one must be linked, bound to the Lord Jesus Christ. One must be mighty. One must be something of a savior. And that is exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith said we are: 'saviors on Mount Zion.' (Truman G. Madsen, "The Temple: Where Heaven Meets Earth," p 84)

So all that is so cool but  what do we do about it HOW do we do the 'dirty work' and clean out our blood?
Meditation and Energy work my friends are the answer.  If you haven't taken a min to watch this video about  your blood then take a look and this will start to make more sense.

 So meditation  cleans the mind  from subconscious garbage. By so doing we are also  cleaning  our  blood from negative energy and helps raise our vibration to be closer to God. Also remember every thing is Energy. That means our blood and the "Stuff" in it. We can also clear and clean our bodies from negative energy by using the Emotion Code and other techniques similar to it.  This is done by connecting  to God and asking him to help you find impurities or negative  energy in your body.  Once these  trapped  emotions/the negative  Energy is  located we can ask God to help  us remove it. For more on that read Dr Nelsons book The Emotion Code. You can read it on line here.  He specifically talks about many times we have inherited negative  emotions from our ancestors. These  negative emotions taint our blood and  we are not clean. We can remove these negative energies only by and through the atonement.  With out the atonement we could not be free. 

Kirtan Kriya-The Ultimate Meditation

Here are my ramblings about  Kirtan Kriya

Feel free to skip the ramblings and just do it 

Kirtan Kriya 

Tune In  Take a few deep Breaths,  

• Sit in easy pose or in a chair with feet flat on the floor (This can also be done walking just be sure to keep a strait back.)
• Arms should be stretched out with the back of the hands resting on the knees, or at your side if you are  walking.  
• Eyes should be closed and focused at the brow point also called the 3rd eye.
•  Mudra- changes start in Gyan Mudra (Thumb  and pointer  pressing with the other fingers  outstretched and together). Move the  thumb to the middle finger,  then ring finger, and  little finger and pressing the thumb and finger as you say each sound of the Mantra.
• The Mantra  Sa Ta Na Ma  
• The breath  should come  naturally during the spoken parts of the Meditation and should be in and out in a slow steady rhythm during the silent portions.  
• As you meditate  visualize  white light energy coming down through the top of your head and out through  your third eye in a L shape. This will help eliminate head aches.  
• The order of the meditation is: Chant Sa Ta Na Ma for 1 min, whisper it for 1 min,  chant it silently in your mind for 1 min, Then work your way back up  by continuing your silent chanting for 1 min, whisper it for  1 min,  and chant for 1 min. Next stretch arms out wiggle fingers as you suspend your breath for  three breaths. Then let your hands fall  to  knees in receptive pose (hands cupped) and sit in stillness and quiet your mind for one minuet.

Beginers start with 7 min.
 1 min for each  portion ( 1 min chant, 1 min whisper, 1 min silent then work your way back out, 1 min of silent, 1min of whisper, 1 min chant. ) Follow with one 1 minute of stretching the arms over your head and spreading the fingers wide, shaking them out, circulating the energy, inhaling and exhaling 3 times. Relax.

IF that is easy try  it for  14min
 2 min for each  portion ( 2 min chant, 2 min whisper, 2 min silent then work your way back out, 2 min of silent, 2min of whisper, 2 min chant. ) Follow with one 1 minute of stretching the arms over your head and spreading the fingers wide, shaking them out, circulating the energy, inhaling and exhaling 3 times. Relax.

Work up to  31 min
Begin the kriya by chanting for 5 minutes; then whisper for 5 minutes; then go deep into the sound, vibrating silently for 10 minutes. Then come back to a whisper for 5 minutes, then aloud for 5 minutes. The duration of the meditation may vary, as long as the proportion of loud, whisper, silent, whisper, loud is maintained.
To End: This sequence will take 30 minutes. Follow with one 1 minute of stretching the arms over your head and spreading the fingers wide, shaking them out, circulating the energy, inhaling and exhaling 3 times. Relax.

 Start out  with  One min for each set and then build up, adding  one  or 2 min at at time to each set, always keeping the stretch and quieting of the mind at the end  1 min regardless of how much you  add time  to the sets until you have  built up to 31 mins.  Why do you want to build up your time? Read more  about that  HERE 

 For your convenience here is a good meditation  Timer . There are many more online and many apps for your device.        

SA  Infinity or God          - Pointer Finger           Stimulates knowledge, wisdom, receptivity, & calmness

TA Life, Birth,                   -Middle Finger           Promotes patience, discernment, and commitment.

NA Death and change       -Ring Finger               Revitalizing energy, health, and vitality

MA Re-birth                     -Pinky Finger            Creates capacity to clearly and intuitively communicate

                                               

                                                 -Thumb                       corresponds to your Ego

 

* IF you want to  think Heavenly Father as you touch your pointer,  Jesus Birth as you touch your  middle finger,  His atonement and Death as you touch your ring finger, and  His resurrection as you touch your pinky finger. Making this connection to the plan of salvation during the silent  portion of this meditation has been so  uplifting for me.

So in a nutshell do this every day for 40 days and you  will feel closer to God in many ways. Your prayers will become deeper, you will have a better  out look on life, you will be more  calm in situations where you would normally  lose your temper or be stressed, and you will start to  notice the Energy of the Atonement surround you as you  go through out your day. 

Read more on :

Head Covering Here 

Sadhna  Here

Sat Nam  Here 

https://www.3ho.org/files/pdfs/KirtanKriya.pdf

Bursting the Bubble around the Heart - by Charan Surdhar

She explains this really well. So enjoy silly slides  and the information.

Remember  Like Dr Bradley Nelson says

Like everything else in the universe, the thoughts that you create are made of energy. Thought-energy has no boundary. Your thoughts are not confined to a certain volume and location like your physical body.

Now think of the scriptures it brings to mind the terms  Hard Hearted and Past Feeling.  Take a look at these two scriptures for a moment.
1 Nephi 7:8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts...
 1 Nephi 17:45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words;
Also think of  phrases like  he has  a heart of stone. When we wall our selves off from feelings our hearts become hard we are no longer able to hear and feel the  quiet whisperings of the spirit. We become past feeling.
 Now when we repent and when we remove negative emotions and negative energy from our hearts we can be  clean and have a soft heart. We will be more open to God and the Holy Ghost. Read 3 Nephi 19:33 "And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed". Going from not feeling emotions as you should  to feeling them a new or  more strongly can be a big change- but hey that is what  this life is all about.  Here read what Alma has to say  "Have you been spiritually born of God and experienced a mighty change in your heart?:Alma 5:14"  Once this change sets in and we do our best to keep our  hearts open and tuned in to God We get many blessings. When Alma  speaks to  Zeezrom  He says  " And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." Alma 12:10
May we use the wonderful blessings of the atonement to clear our selves from  sin and harmful emotions that would deaden our hearts to the  promptings of the spirit and the workings of God is my humble prayer for every one.  So if you haven't studied the atonement Please do! See my thoughts on that  HERE  and  HERE on my scripture blog. And if you want step by step guide on how to clear your heart wall read  Dr Nelson's book the Emotion Code.

The Meditation Minute

Meditation Minutes
Yogic science says that there are specific lengths of time needed for certain desired effects in meditation. Thus, meditations (and exercises in a kriya) are held for a specified period of time.

3 minutes: Affects circulation (blood) and electromagnetic field.
11 minutes: Changes glandular system and nerves.
22 minutes: Balances and coordinates the three minds.
31 minutes: Affects all the cells and rhythms of the body and all layers of the mind’s projection.
62 minutes: Changes the gray matter of the brain. Integrates the subconscious “shadow mind” and the outer projection.
2 ½ hours: Holds the new pattern in the subconscious mind by the surrounding universal mind.

Meditation Cycles of Transformation
Committing to a personal practice makes the meditation process of transformation and self-discovery your own. To master the effects of a meditation, practice it as a sadhana, as a daily discipline. This will develop a life-promoting habit. Habit controls us so much that it is said that we can actually change our destiny by changing our habits. We can use various cycles of the human mind to help replace unwanted patterns of behavior with new, more positive ones. Choose a meditation that suits your goals and/or inspires you, and commit to practicing it over 40, 90, 120, or 1,000 days.
40 days: Change a habit.
90 days: Confirm the habit.
120 days: You are the new habit.
1,000 days: Mastery of the new habit.  The link for this info is HERE

Check out  my  post on  Sadhuna   To learn more about  the 40 days and why its important.

LDS Living Magazine

 How Meditation Can Make You an Even Better Mormon

by SHELDON LAWRENCE

Visit the    Link   or read here.

 Between all our obligations—going to school, working, being a parent, and fulfilling Church callings—the business of life can be overwhelming. But in just 10 minutes a day, we can take up the Savior’s command to “Be still, and know that I am God.”

We often try to spiritually ground ourselves with daily prayer and scripture study. However, our commitment to these practices is sometimes irregular at best. During prayer, it’s natural for our minds to wander; when reading the scriptures, our attention often drifts to what we’re going to do next. Not surprisingly, it’s easy to feel spiritually empty and apathetic.

Faced with these problems, an important breakthrough for me came as I began practicing the art of meditation. Latter-day Saints often use the word “meditate” to mean something like “ponder.” But the type of meditation I discovered indicates a more intentional approach to bringing stillness and focus to our distracted minds. It is this purposeful cultivation of inner peace and quietude that, I believe, President McKay referred to when he said, “Meditation is the language of the soul. . . . [It] is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.”

Meditation, however, is not just a 10-minute activity in the morning. It entails an entire way of viewing and encountering the world. In my own spiritual life, I have found many of the truths taught by meditation masters have deepened and enriched my understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our True Essence

One of the central ideas of the philosophy of meditation is that at the core of every human being is an infinite soul. In the Hindu tradition, this essence is called the “atman.” The atman is a kind of divine spark, a piece of God inhabiting a human body. Human beings are  experiencing a temporary sense of separation from God but can reunite with Him as we remember our true nature as divine beings.

These ideas ought to resonate with Latter-day Saints who also understand that we are eternal beings and that our truest, deepest self derives from the same substance of God. We learn that “man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.” It was in reference to this inner light that the Savior taught, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”

The Natural Man

Then why, if our inner self is “the light of truth,” is it sometimes so difficult to feel the presence of God? The complications come from our embodiment as human beings. When we come to earth, we “fall” from the paradise of God’s presence and enter a harsh realm that demands survival. We lose our sense of being in harmony with creation and instead become a “me” in competition with “others.” This selfish sense of self is referred to in meditation studies as the ego.

The ego is roughly equivalent to what the scriptures call the natural man. Just as meditation masters have identified the ego or “false self” as the thing that separates us from the presence of God, the Book of Mormon describes the natural man as the “enemy to God,” or in other words, the thing that creates enmity between ourselves and our divine origin. We must “put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.”

The innate instincts we are born with cause the natural man to react quickly to unpleasant situations. Someone insults us, and we feel offended before our religious training tells us we shouldn’t be. If someone hurts us, we want to hurt them. Something scares us, and we want to run or fight. Stimulus, response. Action, reaction.

In the meditation tradition, the natural needs and fears of the ego are called “attachments,” and they are singled out as the principal cause of human suffering and impediment to spiritual progress. The Savior referred to attachments as burdens that cause us to be “heavy laden” and labor under their weight, and he taught us to live without them. He invited the rich young man to unburden himself of his riches. He questions Martha’s need to be “careful about many things.” He said, “Take no thought for the morrow.”

Attachments cause us to live in a state of anxiety and dissatisfaction, because to need something is to fear not getting it.  Meditation is a method of spiritual training that helps us eliminate our attachments and awaken our spirits. Our natural bodies and natural minds are like wild horses, powerful and strong, but potentially dangerous and destructive. Our spirit intelligences are like trainers, sent from the presence of God to guide the evolution of this wild animal until it becomes a temple in which the Spirit can dwell.

At-one-ment

There are many different traditions and approaches to formal meditation, and there is no single “right” way to meditate. I suggest researching different approaches with the spirit of discernment to find what works best for you. Even basic principles of meditation, when applied to everyday spirituality, can be transformative. 

The small space of holy silence cultivated in meditation is a powerful place for the Atonement to work. We become “at-one” with God every time we are mindful of the natural man and return our attention to the Lord’s grace. When we meditate, with our “eye [or attention] single to the glory of God,” our “whole body shall be full of light.” The Atonement can be seen as a kind of burning away of the darker, Natural man energies within our being as we reunite our inner light with the Savior’s light. This process has a self-reinforcing, upward trajectory: “He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

This influx of light allows for the flow of grace, wherein we do not check off lists of commandments or become depressed with setbacks or obsessed with perfectionism. In the meditative life our “confidence wax[es] strong in the presence of God” because when we practice abiding in the light for a few minutes every day, then returning to that light every time we wander, the habit will become internalized. This process of sanctification allows the transformation of body and mind until we finally “put off” the natural man and “become a Saint through the atonement of Christ.”

More on Meditation

Mastering meditation is a lifelong pursuit requiring focus, hard work, and understanding. For more on how to find peace and meaning in life and prayer, try searching these additional resources:

Christ-Centered Meditation: Handbook for Spiritual Practice 

This how-to handbook provides the readers with insights and tools to enrich their spiritual practice through “passive” meditative techniques, which involve stilling the conscious mind, and “active” meditative techniques, using guided visualizations and interaction with others. $17.95; Available at Deseret Book.

Simple Steps for More Meaningful Prayer 

Prayer isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Discover nearly one hundred ideas for more powerful prayer, including simple suggestions about how, when, and where we pray; clarifications of the doctrine of prayer; and meditations about the things we pray about. $11.95; Available at Deseret Book.

Sadhana

SADHANA

What is a Sadhana?

Sadhana means daily spiritual practice.  One should  Tune in,  and then a sadhana can be any combination of  Kundalini Yoga,  meditation(s), Prayer, and or scripture study, and then tune out.  The best time to do your Sadhana is during the "ambrosial hours"  or the 2 and 1/2 hrs before sunrise.  IF you can’t get up that early then just do it when you can.

“One part of sadhana should stay constant long enough for you to master, or at least experience, the changes evoked by a single technique. Each kriya and mantra has its individual effects, although they all elevate you toward a cosmic consciousness. Learn to value the pricelessness of one kriya, and all others will be understood in a clearer light.” 
–Yogi Bhajan,

How many days do I need to keep a sadhana?Here is an article about  40,  90, and 120 day sadhanas.  Link
And here is a wonderful explanation of why we meditate- why we do it for 40 days or more- and how meditation can help cleanse us from the blood of this generation. 

You can find it here if my video isnt working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxcimeKrfpU&list=PLr2N5U9Tj2jElkYDLsf8wRT_KfhCUrJ5M&index=4&t=14s

Cool stuff Huh?! And if that blows your mind  try my post on Cleaning ourselves from the blood of this Generation. HERE

  Harold B. Lee was quoted in the article "Filled with Life and Energy," Here is what he has to say  about Sadhana.

“If you are to be successful as a General Authority, you will need to be inspired. You will need to receive revelation. I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early. If you do, your body and mind will become rested and then in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day.”

Additional blessings are pledged to those who follow the Lord’s counsel on sleep. Consider these incredible promises: “Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated” (D&C 88:124; emphasis added). Invigorate means “to fill with life and energy.”

Here is what my Sadhana looks like on a good day. 
Wake up at 4:30am, Tune in, during  the quiet  part of tuning in I pray and ask  Father in Heaven to help me meditate well and to teach me as I study. Next I do my  kundalini yoga- HERE is one of my favorite sets. 
Then I do a few   short meditations, The first is eliminating anger and negativity, The next one is  the removing addictions meditation. The church defines addictions as any thing that  keeps you away from Christ, so mine are mismanagement of my time and sugar addiction right now. Both of those meditations are great and you can find them online or who knows I might post a video how to on those some day.   
In the next post I do Kirtan Kryia - that is your Sa Ta Na Ma  meditation, Click the link to  read more or see me do it. After this I have  put my body in an alert royal  posture, this is called easy pose, I am free from anger and negative thoughts and energy, I spend time trying to remove addictions  and put off the natural man, I have then cleared my  subconscious and meditated on the purpose of Christs life and the cycle of life.  Now Im ready to read, study and ponder the scriptures.
I  usually spend about 25-30 min  doing yoga and about 30 min total to meditate  this leaves me about 30 min to  study and ponder  my scriptures, church lessons, the Ensign or conference talks. I then tune out and I am positively charged up to meet my "5 smiling sunshines" who wake up at 6 am.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMJ6ZDCAp4 

Sadhana is a way of   doing the work for your daily bread. The manna was there but they had to  go gather it. The blessings are there if you are willing to  get up and  gather them. 

The Mahan Tantric of Kundalini Yoga has said, "Sadhana is a willful effort to prove you are not lazy about your own Infinity. When the sun rises early in the day, even idiots rise. But blessed are those who rise before the sun and prove that they are the children of the Almighty."

Head Covering

In the Old Testament covering your head in prayer or spiritual work represented submission, and humility  and all priests were required to wear a head covering when they worked in the temple.
See Exodus 29:6 
6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. If you look at the foot note the HEB translation is turban. 
 "A mitre was made of linen and was a wrap of linen about his head in the form of a turban... The holy crown was a plate of gold which had these words, "holiness to the Lord", engraven on it." (Bible Hub)
Meditation is  a  way to come in to the  presence of the Lord. We cover our heads and crown our selves as we do so. I  reminded of the temple. In the temple everyone covers their heads in preparation for more spiritual knowledge.  We do not cover heads at baptism, or when receiving the  gift of the Holy Ghost,  nor do  we cover our heads when we are receiving our washing and anointings. We cover our heads when we  come before the Lord to receive our Endowment, knowledge from on high, and great blessings and "the crowning" sealing ordinances.  

Covering our heads  lends focus to our meditation. I love it when I cover my head with a scarf there is a very royal feeling about it- perhaps its because I played too much dress-up as a child, but when I do  I feel like a princess I feel like the princess that I am, I am royal and an heir to  a vast kingdom. So for a few min each day ( or maybe even all day) Im going to dress the part of a princess, and remember  who I really am,  a daughter of God, A princess who is seeking knowledge and peace from the all knowing King of the Universe.

I also find  that on hard days, when I am having problems being patent and  talking like a princess would to others, if I put a hat on it reminds me to act  more God like and gives me that constant reminder to chose to act like a Goddess and not like a natural man.

If you want more info Read my awesome KY teacher's  post on it. HERE

More behind the science of covering your head is  found HERE 

Tuning Out

Tuning Out

May the long time sun/son

Shine upon you,

All love surround you,

And the pure light within you

Guide your way on.

Sat Nam

 Listen to a professional sing  it with the Music.  

Think of  Jesus Christ being the light of the world- or the long time sun.

Remember that all of us had a pure light  with in us or the light of Christ and it can guide us on our way back to the presence of our  Father in Heaven. 

 "The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience." Link 

Read More on Sat Nam 

Sat Nam Oh Say, What is Truth?

Sat Nam- Its a greeting and parting phrase you will hear me use a lot, but what does it mean really?
Sat Nam is commonly translated as Truth is my Identity, Or truth is my name. Sat Nam is used in many meditations and in Kundalini Yoga as  part of the breath or  Pranayam.
I love this because it reminds me  that we are commanded to search after truth. That we need to actively search out light and truth in order to progress and develop our TRUE self -our true self being like God our Father.
 Check this scripture out  found in D&C 93: 23,24,26-28. 
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
 24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
 26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
 27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
 28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

There are many Truths out there.  That is one great thing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is  if  you find a truth from some place  else it is supported by the Gospel. When Science discovers a new truth it supports the  Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-Day Saints by confirming spiritual truths scientifically.  Truth is not only found in the Gospel. There are Truths in Nature, Science, literature, other religions also have truth (though they lack key principles and ordinances of salvation). By their fruits ye shall know them 3 Nephi 14 :20. So look for the fruit  if it is good- does good- supports and is in line with the  teachings of Jesus Christ than it is truth and should be sought after.

We seek for truth wherever we may find it. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “Mormonism is truth. … The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we

have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or … being … prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men.” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 264.Yes, we do have the fulness of the everlasting gospel, but that does not mean that we know everything. In fact, one principle of the restored gospel is our belief that God “will yet reveal many great and important things.”

So  as we greet and part from each other,  breath in and out and think the words, and meditate with this wonderful phrase we are reminding our selves that:  Truth is everywhere, Truth is in us, Truth is divine, We must Seek after Truth.

Other fun reading on Truth

•  Pres  Uchtorf gave a great talk  "What is Truth?" Check it out
• The Teachings of Brigham Young Manual  Chapter 2 Section 2 The Gospel  of Jesus Christ Embraces ALL Truth   
• Truth The Guide to the Scriptures Truth also refers to light and revelation from heaven. 
• John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 
• Listen to Oh Say, What is Truth?

Lyrics To Oh Say, What is Truth?

1. Oh say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch's costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse.
2. Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire.
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies,
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies:
'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.
3. The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes.
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast
And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes.
4. Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o'er.
Tho the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.
Text: John Jaques, 1827-1900
Music: Ellen Knowles Melling, 1820-1905

Breathe the Breath of Life

So you have been breathing for many years now. How often do you stop to notice the breath inside you? If you are like  most you dont  notice your breath  unless there is something wrong with it.  You notice when your breath is bad, when your nose is blocked and you cant breathe, when there is something in your wind pipe.  Do you know why? Because the air is infused with prana. Well what is Prana? Prana is a word driving from the Sancrit term meaning "Absolute Energy." This energy or "Prana" is the universal principle of energy, or the principle of energy exhibited in all living things. Living things have prana.  Lets read  D&C 88:13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.  So with out prana we die. End of story.  We gain most of  our Prana from the air and we breath it in and it circulates in the body. We can learn to  channel, use it, store it, and use it to heal ourselves and others.

I found this bit of info interesting. One year my parents took me and my siblings to  Hawaii. I LOVE that  island. I learned there that Hawaiians have/ had a practice of greeting  one another called  hongi  or Ha.

When greeting another person, one would come face-to-face and offer an expression of “ha,” expelling their breath for the other to feel. The literal translation of ha is “the breath of life.” It was a way to give of oneself and show another a deep sense of brotherly love and caring. When foreigners first came to Hawaii, they did not exhibit this same respect for others. They were called haole, (ha-ole), meaning “without ha.” 1
Cool Huh?!
Prana surrounds us, some things have high prana and somethings have low prana.  All though it is part of all living things it is concentrated in the air.  And that is where breathing becomes important.
Most of us dont breathe as deeply as our bodies and brains would like us too.  Breath = Prana, Prana = Life Force. We can have air in our body but not be alive.  The Dr can pump  O2 in our body but if there is no Breath of Life we are not alive.  Take a look at these scriptures and think about the life force in the air or the prana as you do.

• breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: Gen. 2:7 . ( Moses 3:4–7, 19 ; Abr. 5:7 . )
• in whose nostrils was the breath of life: Gen. 7:22 .
• In whose hand is … the breath of all mankind: Job 12:10 .
• the breath of the Almighty hath given me life: Job 33:4 .
• thou takest away their breath, they die: Ps. 104:29 .
• His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: Ps. 146:4 .
• he that giveth breath unto the people: Isa. 42:5 .
• I will cause breath to enter into you: Ezek. 37:5 .
• breath came into them, and they lived: Ezek. 37:10 .
• formeth the spirit of man within him: Zech. 12:1 .

• giveth to all life, and breath: Acts 17:25 .
• Spirit of life from God entered into them: Rev. 11:11 .

Breathing is the greatest pleasure in life. ~Giovanni Papini

• So all that is lovely information Jen but what do you want me to do with it?
• Well let me tell you.  I want you to breathe.... go on....breathe in--- nice--- and--- slow. Fill your body up with prana infused air.  Breathe air into your toes and fill your whole body.  Notice how alive you feel after a  few deep breaths.  Are you tingly any where?  That is good  its energy.  You know that  your  respiratory system is the only system that can be controlled both by the conscious mind and the  unconscious mind?  That is why breathing it is such a great tool to  train the mind.  I want to teach you  a few "breath exercises" yogis call that pranayam.   Yogis use breath as they meditate and do  yoga to move the  prana through out the body. 

• Pranayam is the use of breathing techniques to control the movement of prana. Kundalini Yoga includes a wide range of pranayam techniques to manage and affect different energy states of emotion, consciousness, and health.[7] Even a slight change in this pran, or “seed energy,” can change your entire world. Mastering the breath is therefore fundamental to mastering life.- Progressive Prophetess Link

• Lets start with Long Deep Breathing:

 Long Deep Breathing uses the full capacity of the lungs, by utilizing the three chambers of the lungs: 

Abdominal, or lower 

 Chest or middle  

Clavicular or upper

 Long Deep Breathing starts by filling the abdomen, then expanding the chest, and finally lifting the upper ribs and clavicle. The exhale is the reverse: first the upper deflates, then the middle, and finally the abdomen pulls in and up, as the navel point pulls back toward the spine. First, practice by separating the three parts of the breath. Sit straight on the floor, in a chair, or lie on the back. Initially have the left hand on the belly, right hand on the chest to feel the movement of the diaphragm.

Benefits of Long Deep Breathing

  Relaxes and calms, due to influence on parasympathetic nervous system. 

 Increases the flow of prana. 

 Reduces and prevents the build-up of toxins in the lungs by encouraging the clearing of the small air sacs (alveoli). 

 Stimulates the brain chemicals—endorphins—that help fight depression. 

 Brings the brain to a new level of alertness. 

 Pumps the spinal fluid to the brain, giving greater energy. 

 Breathing long and deep, plus concentration, stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete, enhancing the intuition.

  Filling the lungs to capacity revitalizes and re-adjusts the magnetic field.

  Cleanses the blood. 

 Regulates the body’s pH (acid-akaline balance), which affects the ability to handle stressful situations. 

 Energizes, and increases vitality. 

 Aids in releasing blockages in meridian energy flow.

  Activates and clears the nerve channels. 

 Aids in speeding up emotional and physical healing. 

 Aids in breaking subconscious habit patterns such as insecurities and fears. 

 Aids in fighting addictions. 

 Re-channels previous mental conditioning on pain so as to reduce or eliminate pain. 

 Gives capacity to manage negativity and emotions, supporting clarity, cool headedness, and patience. 2

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Sodhan) 

This simple, yet most powerful technique, is a pranayam that is easy to do, yet can take you through all the stages of your yoga practice.

 How to do Alternate Nostril Breathing: 

 In this pranayam, the breath is always relaxed, deep and full.

 Have the left hand in Gyan Mudra. So your thumb touches your  pointer finger with the remaing fingers extended. 

 Close the right nostril by pressing it closed with the thumb of the right hand, and gently and fully inhale through the left nostril.

 Then close the left nostril  by pressing it closed with your pointer finger or  ring finger and exhale through the right nostril.

Then inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril.  Continue repeating, alternating nostrils after each inhalation.

 Benefits of Alternate Nostril Breathing:

 Creates whole brain functioning by balancing the right and left hemispheres.

  Is both integrating and grounding.

  Purifies the ida and pingala nadis, gently. 

 Creates a deep sense of well-being and harmony on the physical, mental, and emotional levels. 

 Can help with headaches, migraines, and other stress-related symptoms. 

 Inhale left, exhale right: Helps to make you calm and integrates unwanted negative emotions and stress. Excellent by itself before bed. 

 Inhale right, exhale left: Gives clarity, and positive mood. Helps us to focus on what is important.  Left Right Nostril Breathing Through the simple mechanism of closing or opening one of the nostrils, the yogi has a wide array of techniques to control his moods and energies. The quality of Prana processed through the two nostrils differs correspondingly with the qualities associated with the two sides of the brain. The nerves going out from the two brain hemispheres cross at the level of the eyebrows. The left hemisphere is connected to the right side of the body and right nostril, and the right hemisphere to the left side of the body and left nostril. We breathe predominantly through one nostril or the other at any given time. The dominant nostril alternates rhythmically every 90 to 150 minutes. The length of the cycle reflects universal rhythms, individual temperament, and the personal state of mental and physical balance. The rhythm itself is mediated mainly through structures in the hypothalamus and pituitary, though other areas in the brain are also involved. You may use the technique of inhaling and exhaling exclusively through either the left or right nostril in order to benefit from the quality associated with that nostril. For instance, breathe exclusively through the left nostril to deal with compulsive eating habits. 

Breathing through the left nostril is associated with:.

 Ida, the nadi which ends at the left nostril 

 Apana, the cleansing energy 

 The Moon energy—cooling, receptive 

 Calmness 

 Empathy

 Sensitivity 

 Synthesis 

Breathing through the right nostril is associated with: 

 Pingala, the nadi ending at the right nostril 

 Prana, the nurturing energy 

 The Sun energy—warming, projective 

 Vigor 

 Concentration 

 Alertness 

 Readiness-for-action 

 Will power . 3

In conclusion. Prana  brings life, healing, and energy into the body. It is in our  food, water, all living things around us, and it is in the air.  The more prana we have the more life force we have.  As we breathe deeply we can help our bodies heal and function on a higher level.  Breath can change our bodies, our minds, and our moods.  If you need  to change your mood change your breath its that simple. 

This is not my favorite demonstration of  this pranayam but it is only 4 minuets so take a look if you need  a visual. 

Challenge 

Breathe consciously for 11 minutes every day. It doesn't have to be all at once - though it can be  if  that is what works best for you.  Breathe consciously a few minutes here and there  through out the day and see what a difference it makes in your health and attitude. 

Check out these other helpful pranayam

Breath of Fire

Strengthen the nervous system; purify the bloodstream; energize, stimulate, wake up, and increase vitality.

Suspending the Breath

Recondition the nervous system; integration of the body systems; experience deep stillness, shuniya

Segmented Breath

Sitali Breath

Cannon Breath

Whistle breath

Lion Breath

Sitkari Breath

Vatskar Breath

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haole

2. http://www.3ho.org/files/pdfs/long-deep-breathing.pdf

http://www.3ho.org/kundalini-yoga/pranayam/pranayam-techniques

3. © 2003 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, KRI International Teacher Training Manual Level I, p.96