This meditation develops the neutral mind. When your neutral mind is working for you, you observe everything around you without reacting in anger or enmity. In the absence of these reactions, your heart can open and you can live as your authentic self.
The Practice
Posture: Sit in an Easy Pose, with a light jalandhar bandh.
Eye Focus: The focus is on the tips of the thumbs.
Mudra: Raise the hands up in front of the face with the palms facing forward. Curl the fingers so that the fingertips press onto the mounds at the base of the fingers. Extend the thumbs out from the hands and press the thumb tips together. The thumbs form a little arc at the level of the lips. The elbows are relaxed, down by the sides of the chest. The hands are held 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) in front of the face.
The tips of the thumbs touch to form the arched look of the swan’s neck. This represents inner grace and the dominance of the neutral mind and the sattva guna.
Breath: Begin to inhale completely in 8 equal strokes. Then exhale in 8 equal strokes. One entire breath cycle (16 strokes) takes about 10 seconds. The only mantra for this meditation is the sound of the breath itself.
Concentrate on the rhythm of the breath. The 8:8 rhythm will work on the connection between the Heart Chakra and the immune system. The hand position will give you strength.
Continue for 11 – 31 minutes. To end, inhale deeply, hold the breath as long as comfortable, then exhale. Inhale again and stretch the hands upward. Pull up on the spine as you open and close the fists. Exhale. Repeat the last breath again. Relax.
Comments:
This is not a beginner’s meditation. It should be practiced with respect, and the time should be increased slowly, as your nerves adjust to the changes the meditation initiates.
You observe all that happens with no anger or enmity. The absence of these reactions makes all the energy of prana available to the direction of the mind. The mind has joined with its prana.
This kriya can be found in KRI International Teacher Training Manual Level 1.