Upasana Yoga - a Discipline.

This is the second discipline, next to Karma Yoga.

This word literally translates to disciplining and integrating the personality. Every human being is a source of power. If a dam is built across a river, first, water does not wastefully flow into the ocean and second, the water conserved by the dam can be constructively used for many purposes. The same holds good for the human body. The powers to desire, act and know should be conserved and utilized.

Disciplines at four levels are:

Physical discipline :
This is discipline of the body. Activity and rest must be balanced. Eating and fasting should be balanced. Sleeping and walking should be balanced. Yoga, physical exercise and dietary discipline keep the body fit.

Verbal discipline:
In speech, there must be quality and quantity control.
Avoid gossip and worthless talk. This is quantity control.
Speech should be non-hurtful, polite, useful and truthful. This is quality control.

Sensory discipline:
The sense organs are like open doors through which the world enters our mind in the form of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell. This discipline is achieved through a life of alertness and discrimination.

Mental discipline:
The four aspects to be taken care of, are:

Relaxation – mind should enjoy relaxation.

Concentration – mind should have capacity to focus.

Accomodation – mind should expand enough to accommodate everyone in the creation.

Refinement – cultivation of ethical values.

To develop the above, the scriptures prescribe meditation, otherwise called Upasanam.

There are four varieties, one to develop a particular type of faculty.

Relaxation-meditation:
In this method, we do not concentrate on anything. The visualization of nature, like sky, mountains, ocean is one method.

Concentration-meditation:
Here some activity is given to the mind. It can be chanting or mentally doing puja, as realistically as possible. Doing manasika puja is a good example.

Expansion-meditation:
In this I can change my perspective by looking at anything vast like sky or ocean. If we do this, our problems look unimportant. If I look at nature, I understand millions appearing and disappearing. We wishfully think we will continue to exist. We realise life is nothing but the flow of one generation to the other. We learn to accept things and beings. Meditation of the totality is called Viswarupa-upasanam. This is universal vision and is described In Gita 12^th chapter.

Value-meditation:
Here, I take up every positive virtue like truth, compassion, forgiveness, patience etc and see its importance in my life for my spiritual growth. By repeating, we unknowingly imbibe these virtues.

These different types of meditation bring in a wonderfully disciplined mind which is ready for the next stage of Sadhana (quest for moksha or inner liberaton). Thus, discipline is the second stage of Sadhana which we call Upasana-Yoga.

Love,
Chithra.

Dear Chithra

You have written beautifully about the disciplines at the four levels and the ways to achieve it. Short and clear. Thank you.

I would like to know what is Manasika pooja.

Love
vidhi

Dear Vidhi,
Thankyou for starting the F B s.
I wanted anyone of you to ask what the meaning of manasika puja is & then only explain !
You sit in a place with concentration. Without any physical action, you imagine in detail, that you are doing the puja fully, without missing out any step. Every step in the physical puja is included.
There are 2 shloks, Shivamanasa Puja & Mantramatruka pushpamala - both must be available on the net.
The entire puja is done mentally without any physical action.
My mother has taught me to do manasika visit to Meenakshi temple. I go through the entire thing in mind right from entering the temple till coming out. It gives you so much of satifaction !
Try it - you fel so nice & happy.
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by vidhi

Dear Chithra

You have written beautifully about the disciplines at the four levels and the ways to achieve it. Short and clear. Thank you.

I would like to know what is Manasika pooja.

Love
vidhi

Dear Chitra,
I liked the first para very much.....abt every human being a source of power......powerful statements.
also the 4 disciplines, and the meditations. So clear and concise......and the explanation you have given on manasika pooja , to Vidhi , was also great.
i really enjoyed reading this article......read it again and again, since evrything you have explained seemed new and ina different perspective!

Mrs C,

Thanks for the wonderful write up about the 4 forms of discipline. Your posts are short,sweet and understandable to a lay person as well.

I would like to add the links for the two slokas you mentioned.

http://www.svbf.org/sringeri/journal/vol1no4/mantra.pdf

Siva Manasa Puja by Adi Sankara (Shiv Maanas Puja by Adi Shankara) Shivamanasapuja by Adi Shankaracharya - Stutimandal

Thanks

Dear Sudha,
Thankyou very much.
It was with great apprehension that I posted this at all ! The subject is such ; but these disciplines should also be familiarised befor we go on to Gita. Next to come wiil be Jnana Yoga & finally Bhakthi Yoga which permeates through all the three disciplines.
These posts should be read a few times to understand !
Now a days, I am ver much into manasika puja since I enjoy it very much !
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by sudhavnarasimhan

Dear Chitra,
I liked the first para very much.....abt every human being a source of power......powerful statements.
also the 4 disciplines, and the meditations. So clear and concise......and the explanation you have given on manasika pooja , to Vidhi , was also great.
i really enjoyed reading this article......read it again and again, since evrything you have explained seemed new and ina different perspective!

Dear Hamsadhwani,
Thanks for the sweet feedback.
Many thanks for posting the corresponding links. Reading the meanings, will give one a knowledge of what manasika puja is all about.
That is imagination touching noble heights !
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by Hamsadhwani

Mrs C,

Thanks for the wonderful write up about the 4 forms of discipline. Your posts are short,sweet and understandable to a lay person as well.

I would like to add the links for the two slokas you mentioned.

http://www.svbf.org/sringeri/journal/vol1no4/mantra.pdf

Siva Manasa Puja by Adi Sankara (Shiv Maanas Puja by Adi Shankara) Shivamanasapuja by Adi Shankaracharya - Stutimandal

Thanks

Dear Chitra Mam,
Again another very good post. I think I should practise the same and I will. When there is a post by how come I can miss one. I saw that you have started on LS and wish you all the best.

With love
Birundha

Dear Birundha,
Kind of you to join us here.
Awareness is the first step - practising it follows !
Thanks for your wishes - I need them !
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by birraj

Dear Chitra Mam,
Again another very good post. I think I should practise the same and I will. When there is a post by how come I can miss one. I saw that you have started on LS and wish you all the best.

With love
Birundha

A very nice post. So Mrs.C can you just visualize the whole process of going to your favorite temple without any particular rules or is there a good time, day etc during which that we can visualize this. I ask this 'coz I have always visualized this though I didn't know that it was a part of meditation in general. Well I guess anything that's brings us mental tranquility is indeed meditation. Does it mean that when you do manasika puja that people don't do the real pooja that often? I mean to ask about general people not about saints...