Real Yoga

I know this is a tough one. Different teachers teach different methods of meditation. My method is quite simple. We do not want trance states. We do not want to pass out. We not want to be hooked into visions and light shows as these are all distractions and an illusion. One can take LSD if that want that sort of thing. But the True Yogi has no need for any drug or artificial stimulant. The True Yogi seeks to annihilate all mental fluctuations.

If you would like to meditate, practise your Yoga Postures so that the body is brought under a relaxed and orderly state, so that when you sit you can sit comfortably for hours — without moving! Not even a twitch! This is important. Some of the most famous Zen teachers whack their students with a board if they move or twitch. One must learn to relax into a comfortable seat, and then with eyes open, and no blinking, look at the light in the room — not the objects in the room — the light. If you and I were speaking in person, there would be light between us. That is the light to look at. If you try and visualize a light, then you become trapped by that light as it rises into the mind every time you start meditation. with light itself, it is without quality and has no quantity that you can name, therefore you cannot be trapped in it. As you develop your meditation, all objects contained within that light will disappear — they are after all, an illusion anyway. Only light remains. This is the light you want to become immersed in. Why? Because when you finally one day enter into Samadhi, a high state of meditation, the light is so blinding that you cannot retain it. By becoming used to looking at the light your capabalities of retaining this ultimate state is far better.

That is the beginning of my method. Some schools and Gurus teach to put the eyes up into the Ajna Center at the top part of the nose, the bridge area and look for the opening of the Spiritual Eye there. They teach that you will see a long dark purple tunnel with a light at the end of it. You must then hold it, and with Will draw yourself towards that light, at which point you will see something else, and then you must do something else when you are there and so on it goes.

In this method — the eyes are drawn upwards in an unnatural position, one which you will not want later on in the Final Samadhi, besides which you will have to get rid of the visuals you have become used to. There are enough fluctuations in the mind (vritiis) as it is, without adding more to it. Some Gurus teach a Secret Mantra (which makes you feel special to have that) to help you fix your attention and quiet the mind. This doesn't work in the long run either as that Mantra becomes so indelibly fixed that it rises up of its own accord, and you never get to still the mind when it is time to. Learning to meditate with eyes open, looking at light in the spaces between objects allows you to gradually eradicate ALL objects, so that only you and the light remains. Soon, you will merge with that light and that will begin the initial step in to Samadhi. There are two methods that are superb for learning meditation. The one I have just extolled, plus the Krishnamurti method of being so astutely aware of your thinking processes that you can soon jump into the spaces in between the thoughts and remain there. To do this, one has to close eyes and concentrate.

So ultimately, in the final stages of the Samadhis, one wants to be able to behave quite normally and functionally with eyes open and still carry the experience of your meditations with you while you do your usual works.

I have seen many students of other meditation techniques behave most unnaturally while they are in company, looking quite extraordinary, as though they were visiting some other world — eyes upturned, humming some chant, or just lost in space.

This method I am teaching will have you meditating, with eyes open, doing your chores, talking to your family, or walking to a bus. It is a method where meditation will become an unceasing activity for you. In the final analysis you will be united with the Paramatman all the time in the highest state of Samadhi, Sahaja Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

Don't be in a haste for rewards. There is no reward. It is in the doing. It is an loving act of Pure Karma Yoga.

Articles by Swami Harinanda and Yogi Karmananda are © 2026 and are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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