Dr.King - Author of books on Yoga, Spirituality and Indology

[Quick links] [Pause] In the previous episode we tried to answer two important questions about the ultimate stage of meditation, namely the Samadhi. Firstly, we argued that Samadhi may not always be a result of some form of mental conditioning.  We also reasoned that the blissful experience that one goes through in the initial phases of Samadhi may not be originated in the brain, though our brain experiences it and we get aware of that. Moving on, one important question about Samadhi is whether it is some form of deep sleep or unconscious state that we enter into as a result of meditation.

[Quick links] [Pause] I am happy to be back exactly after two months. I know lot of things would have happened in these two months. It is sad that there were so many deaths. I wish they did not happen. During the pause, I was observing that many of you were re-reading/listening past episodes.  Some asked me quite a few interesting questions both as comments as well as through the “Ask me” page in my blog. Some even communicated with me through other modes as well. I have always tried to respond in the best possible way. I am thankful to all of you. I took the break mainly because of my voice related problem. I am better now and so I decided to break this silence. But instead of twice a week, I would be talking to you once a week – every Wednesday 12 PM PST. I am doing it both to avoid straining myself, and also to give you more time to ponder over the things I will be discussing in future episodes.  The topics I will be discussing from now on are going to be a bit more technical and intense. But I will assure you that I will provide you details which probably you will not find elsewhere. At the same time, I will put every effort to provide authentic information and make it easy to understand. So, let us get back.

[Quick links] [Pause] I am sorry that I am still not in a position to record my voice. So, you have to read these posts on my blog. I hope to get back soon with my regular series on Mind that I paused a month ago. The havoc created by Corona unnerves even a seasoned Yogi. So many deaths not just in underdeveloped countries but even in those countries supposedly advanced and on the cutting edge of innovation.  Our scientists are struggling to come up with either a cure or a vaccine for this dreaded virus that has already upset our lives and appears to ruin it altogether. But no hope at sight. All of a sudden, here comes an Indian Yoga Guru who claims that he has a cure for this dreaded disease! Before you dismiss this as yet another ‘Indian rope trick’, please read on. Maybe you will find some food for thought.

[Quick links] [Pause] I started this long series of talks on Mind beginning November last year. I spent a month each, discussing various scientific and philosophic aspects of Mind.

[Quick links] [Pause] Many people associate different meanings to the Yogic state called Samadhi. Most people imply a sudden loss of awareness, or an experience of proximity to the divine, and so on.

[Quick links] [Pause] We were discussing the strange and unusual experience that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to go through every now and then. What was it? Let me start with a simple analogy.

[Quick links] [Pause] Samadhi is the final stage of meditation. It is the eighth step of Yoga. As the meditation continues for a prolonged duration, one slips into this state of Samadhi. The question is – “is meditation a necessary precondition to attain samadhi?”.

[Quick links] [Pause] In the past few episodes, I rushed through a selection of meditative practices from various disciplines, both ancient and modern.  I am sure there are many more ways.  In one of my books namely “Meditation – Important things you need to know”, I have hinted that most meditations ultimately lead you to the same destination irrespective of their form and origin. The time taken to reach the destination may differ in each case though.

[Quick links] [Pause] In the previous episodes, we climbed the 4 steps of the Yoga ladder and came up to the step namely Pratyahara. The first 4 steps namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, and Pranayama gradually shaped our mind into a well-focused Mind.