The contents of the Advaita Atma Yoga Academy
(The map of the spiritual path)
Fundamental concepts
- ·
Pleasure,
suffering, happiness, bliss
- ·
Bondage and
freedom
- ·
The purpose
of life
- ·
What is Spirituality,
Self-knowledge and Yoga
The principles of Non-duality
What
is non-duality (Advaita Vedanta)
Brahman
(absolute consciousness)
Atman,
Divine Self (the apparently individual consciousness, Soul, Spirit, Self,
Intimate Self). Our true nature
(Being or Consciousness) is peace, bliss and absolute freedom (without limits)
and we are already That. The Self constantly shines in our heart and
illuminates our mind and all external and internal experiences.
The
apparent Self (Body-mind-ego
entity). The conditioned by
the egoic tendencies Consciousness (Physical
body, vital energy, mind, intellect, subconscious, causal body. Five Sheaths or
three bodies according Advaita Vedanta)
The
Shakti, the Maya, the divine power.
The intelligent creative energy that creates all the universe
The
three gunas or qualities (sattva, rajas and tamas),
The
five sheaths and the three bodies
The five sheaths
1.
Annamaya Kosha, the Food Sheath (Physical Body)
2.
Pranamaya Kosha, the vital sheath (Prana-vital energy)
3.
Manomaya Kosha, the mental sheath (manas)
4.
Vijñanamaya Kosha, the sheath of the intellect (Buddhi),
5.
Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss, bliss or happiness (causal body)
The three bodies
1.
The causal body / The Anandamaya
Kosha, the sheath of bliss or happiness
2.
The Subtle or Astral body / The
Pranamaya Kosha, the vital sheath, The Manomaya Kosha, the mental sheath
(manas), The Vijñanamaya Kosha, the sheath of the intellect (Buddhi),
3.
The Physical Body / The Annamaya Kosha,
the Food Sheath
Ignorance
(tamas, the veil)
Projection
(rajas)
The
identification
The
superimposition
Self-awareness,
being aware of yourself
Awakening
Enlightenment
(Liberation, Self-realization)
He
enlightened or liberated (Jinvamukta)
and his characteristics
Holistic Psychology
(The constitution of the Human
Being)
The two fundamental aspects of our human nature
1.
The true Self - Consciousness
(Self, Divine Self, Soul, Essence, Atman).
2.
The apparent Self - Body-mind-ego (Physical
body, vital energy, mind, intellect, subconscious, causal body)
The causal body
The
Astral Body
1.
Vital energy (Prana)
2.
The mind - the quadruple internal organ or
instrument, (in Sanskrit Anthakarana).
The mind - the quadruple inner organ or instrument (Antahkarana)
The
4 aspects of the mind its capacities
1.
Manas - outer mind, (emotional,
thinking, motor)
2.
Buddhi - intermediate mind,
(Intellect, intelligence)
3.
Chitta - inner mind, (mental
consciousness, the conditioned mind, the subconscious),
4.
Ahamkara - the illusory identity,
(The two aspects of the ego: the lower rajasotamasic ego, and the higher
sattvic ego.
Although
the mind is one, it has different aspects and levels (Manas, Buddhi, Chitta,
Ahamkara). Each of them does their own special work, but all of their parts
function as a whole. Because of the Rajasotamic lower ego the mind is
unbalanced and its higher capacities are not developed.
The three gunas or qualities (Sattva-Rajas-Tamas)
The three gunas and the mind
The ego, its nature and aspects (Ahamkara)
The
Ego (Ahamkara) or I is what we think we are and it makes us have the delusion
that we are the body and separate individuals limited by the physical body and
the mind. The ego is the one that has the experiences of I-ness and Mine-ness.
Because
of the ego (the egoic energies and vibrations) we do not experience the
freedom, peace and bliss that are our essential nature. We can live the
fullness of our Being if we are willing to dissolve the egoic tendencies, the
egoic field of energy (kama-manas), the false beliefs and illusions and its desires
and passions that give us a little pleasure or joy and a lot of suffering.
The
aspects of ego according its identifications (with body, mind, heart, senses)
· Perceiver,
· Thinker,
· Enjoyer, Sufferer, Feeler,
·
Doer.
The
aspects of the ego in relation the three gunas
- 1. The sattvic or superior ego
- 2. The rajasotamasic or inferior ego
The
illusions and identifications that the ego creates. The qualities that create
illusions: The rajas and tamas gunas, identification, projection, overlap and
imagination, lack of self-awareness, lack of attention and lack of discernment.
The
psychological structures (Desire,
Selfish tendencies, patterns, programming, emotions, impulses, beliefs…)
Selfish
tendencies (Samskaras and Vasanas).
How they are created, grow and are empowered. Experience, identification,
recording, conditioning of the mind.
Programming
and patterns and habits (mental,
emotional, physical),
Desire
and attachment.
The
pairs of opposites. Its nature, its
aspects and its mechanisms
The
emotions. What are, how do they work, managing
emotions, dissolving negative or inferior emotions.
The
beliefs, the importance and their effects.
Investigate all beliefs and change wrong, harmful and limiting beliefs for true
and beneficial ones.
The vital energy or Prana
Life
energy animates matter. Without prana there is no life. The body and the entire
universe move and function thanks to vital energy. That’s why there are
traditions that consider prana as higher or more important than the mind.
The psychic and physical prana. The physical prana provides the energy for
all physical actions and functions and the more subtle psychic prana provides
the energy for all psychological functions.
Sexual energy
Sexual
energy is the most fundamental expression of cosmic energy, because thanks to
it the entire universe is born and exists. In our bodies it also has a very
important role, which is the reproduction of the species and the experience of
pleasure. But sexual energy is very important for spiritual development as
well.
The 7 Chakras and the Shakti-kundalini
1.
Primer: Muladhara or Root chakra.
2.
Second: Swadisthana or Sacral chakra.
3.
Third: Manipura or Solar Plexus chakra.
4.
Fourth: Anahatha or Heart chakra.
5.
Fifth Visudda or Throat chakra.
6.
Sixth :. Ajna or third eye chakra.
7.
Seventh Sahasrara or crown or light chakra, (literally,
"thousand-petalled lotus")
Nadis (energy channels)
72.000
Nadis
Ayurvedic
and acupuncture meridians
The
important nadis: Ida-Pingala,
Sushumna and Brahmanadi.
The three bio-energies (Dos has)
- · Vata (Air, Space)
- · Pitta (Fire, Water)
- · Kapha (Earth, Water)
The three subtle energies
- ·
Ojas
- ·
Tejas
- ·
Prana
The physical body
The
physical body is the base the receptor that allows all the cosmic energies and
the Soul to function through it. That is why the body is called the temple of
God.
The
physical body is born, grows, changes, decays and dies.
The 5 sensory organs (Eyes,
Ears, Nose, Tongue, Skin)
The five organs of action (Hands,
Legs, Tongue, Genitals, Anus)
Sadhana - Spiritual Practice and
Discipline
What
is sadhana and what does sadhana consist of (spiritual practice)?
The
main paths of yoga: Karma Yoga,
Bhakti yoga, Raja yoga and Jnana Yoga
Preparation
and Purification of the mind and the final goal of the practice (sadhana)
Sadhana's goal is to prepare the mind to meditate and achieve Nirvikalpa samadhi in
which the ego is totally dissolved and the mind merges with consciousness and
reaches enlightenment.
To be able to meditate steadily and deeply and realize the Self, a
sattvic mind is needed, free from passions, attachments and desires and very
very weak egoistic tendencies.
So
sadhana has as its main objective the purification of the mind, the increase of
sattva guna and the elimination of rajas and tamas gunas from the mind, the
elimination of desires, attachments and egoistic tendencies. This process will
result in a mind that is harmonious, calm, calm, detached, stable, lucid,
sharp, intelligent and concentrated, And this mind is capable of correctly
understanding the teachings about the Self and the illusory self and capable of
deep inquiry and meditation attaining Nirvikalpa samadhi and liberation
(enlightenment, self-realization).
The various goals and the ultimate goal of the practice and spiritual path
1.
The purification of the
body, vital energy, sexual energy, mind (4 aspects, manas, buddhi, chitta, ego)
and causal body,
2.
The transformation of the mind and vital and sexual energy,
3.
The elimination of rajas and tamas gunas from the mind and the increase of
sattva. Transform our mind in pure-sattva,
4.
The elimination of selfish tendencies, attachments, desires and negative
emotions,
5.
The investigation of our beliefs and the abandonment false and limiting beliefs
and replace them with beliefs aligned with the truth,
6.
The development of virtues and capacities of heart and mind. Openness,
adaptability, adjustment, common sense, simplicity, practicality. Love, devotion,
empathy, kindness, benevolence, compassion, generosity, courage,
self-confidence, faith, acceptance, self-worthiness, patience, coherence,
truthfulness, sincerity, patience, tenacity, resilience, perseverance,
endurance. The development of concentration, will-power, discernment (discrimination
between true and false, right and wrong, the Self and the non-Self), dispassion
(indifference for sense pleasures and experiences) and ataraxia (serenity,
equanimity among the pairs of opposite),
7.
The establishment of positive habits (physical, mental emotional) and positive
attitudes,
8.
Stopping identifications and projections,
9.
Live consciously moment to moment all day. Being alert and Self-aware,
self-observing, self-discovering, stopping identifications and eliminating
selfish tendencies moment to moment,
10.
Surrender to God, developing the attitude of being an instrument of God.
11.
Development of trust, faith, love and devotion to God,
13.
Practice Self-inquiry to discern our true Self (Consciousness, Being, inner
silent space), from the sheaths, the mind and the ego
14.
Practice meditation and Self-inquiry daily with regularity, in order to be established
on the Self, facilitate awakening and achieve the enlightenment or liberation
that is the final goal of our life and the spiritual journey.
The three pillars of life and
spiritual practice
1. The scheduled practice at home
2.
The moment-by-moment practice
3.
A well-organized sattvic life
1. The scheduled practice at home / The daily
spiritual program
Knowledge
to plan sadhana, a daily program.
Schedule morning and evening practices, moment-to-moment practice throughout
the day), strategy and goal planning and implementation in practice.
Knowledge of practices, methods and
disciplines. How they are made, what are they for, what are the benefits.
Application of practices, methods, etc.
The means to achieve the goals of sadhana and spiritual life
The
means are the daily program, the practices, the disciplines, the techniques,
the methods, the exercises, the disciplines, a well-organized sattvic life. I
point out that achieving a goal goal helps to achieve others easier. For
example, purification of the mind helps in the development of virtues, higher
abilities of the mind, and meditation.
Fundamental
spiritual practices and methods
Be
attentive, alert moment to moment, Be aware of Self, self-observation,
self-inquiry, meditation, reflection, study books, watch videos, attend
satsang, introspection, practices for the dissolution of selfish tendencies
(desires, impulses, attachments, addictions, negative emotions, mental
emotional patterns), karma yoga, prayer, mindful eating, Hatha Yoga asanas,
pranayama, devotion, repetition of God's name and mantras (Japa Nama and Japa
mantra), the chanting of mantras (Kirtan), surrender to God or redemption,
acceptance and forgiveness.
Meditation
and Self-inquiry
2. Spiritual moment to moment practiceo
The goals and practices related to moment to moment practice)
Being
alert, self-awareness (being aware of inner silence), self-observation
(observing thoughts, emotions, etc.), repeating the name of God or a mantra
(japa nama and japa mantra), prayer, control of the senses and the mind,
recognize, observe, calm and dissolve the selfish tendencies that are
manifested (impulses, emotions, thoughts, desires), not identify with the mind,
stop the identifications with the thoughts, emotions, impulses, etc., dissolve
the egoistic tendencies, purify the mind, deepen the silence.
3. Sattvic and well-organized life.
Every day Agenda
Requirements
and qualities to achieve the objectives and liberation
High
motivation, burning thirst for truth, practical-open-flexible mind, common
sense, adapt, invent, clear goals, plan, strategy, organized action,
commitment, coherence, sincerity, firm determination, will, self-confidence,
faith, discernment, dispassion, detachment, patience, tenacity, perseverance,
endurance, diligent systematic constant practice, action plan evaluation,
reassessment, changes, improvements.
Obstacles
and their overcoming
1.
Frequent or common obstacles
that prevent us from applying the daily program and practices, achieving the
objectives and developing what we have planned.
The
first obstacle is the tamas guna and its expressions: laziness,
procrastination, resistance, self-justifications, insincerity, hypocrisy,
misperception, false understanding, harmful habits
2.
The process to overcome obstacles.
We follow a process to find the means and solutions to overcome obstacles and
achieve our goals.
3.
Requirements and qualities to overcome obstacles: high motivation, practical-open-flexible
mind, common sense, adapt, invent, clear objectives, plan, strategy, organized
action, commitment, coherence, sincerity, determination, enthusiasm, will,
self-confidence, patience, tenacity, perseverance, endurance, diligent and
systematic constant practice, action plan evaluation, reevaluation, changes,
improvements.
The
aspirant and the path
The teachings, knowledge and teachers are
essential factors that help us to free ourselves from psychological suffering
and live free and happy. But the most important factor is you. No one
can make the path for you. No one can practice for you and the practice will
not flourish without faith, devotion, will and firm determination to apply the
teachings and do the practices with perseverance, interest and attention. It is
imperative to do all you can with body, heart and mind until you are free from
all illusions of the ego and constantly live the peace, love and eternal bliss
of the Consciousness that You are.
~~~ ~~~
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