How Are We Learning to Meditate? Summer 2012 Edition

This summer, the Michigan Meditation Meetup, meeting in Ann Arbor is doing something different, something powerful - something highly relevant to the goal of transforming seekers into meditation practitioners.

The summer programs kicked off in downtown last month and we haven't looked back. In the first session, meditation enthusiasts were introduced to the fundamental experience and knowledge of meditation basics. Knowing, feeling and working with the inner energy and our channels is the first priority in the experiential learning approach of Sahaja Meditation.

When followed up a week after the initial experience of practice, all new practitioners reported gains in their knowledge of the energy channels and the inner energy within. This was a good foundation to get into the details of the nature of our inner energy.

We asked participants to estimate their knowledge on a scale of 0 - 5 on these two main topics. Once we knew we were clear with the basics, we had the opportunity to delve into experiences which would take our experiential learning deeper. The chart on the left is about the general awareness of the system of spiritual centers and channels within us, the one on the right reports learning about the inner energy in us. (n=4 workshop participants).

The use of hand movements and attention exercises are traditionally shared as techniques to bring balance to the soul. The use of sounds has a deeper impact on the process. Traditionally, the use of mantras is not introduced until after 5 or 6 sessions. But on a recommendation of master teacher, Shri Mataji, we decided to bump up the mantra learning earlier into the process. 

Corresponding to the two main aspects of the inner system, two basic sets of sounds were introduced: AUM (OM) for the channels and root mantras that harmonize with the spiritual centers. At the one month mark, we asked participants to rate their learning on these topics and the results are below.

 Many learners are already familiar with the use of the OM chant in their meditations. Or atleast they have seen other meditators use them. So it was not surprising that there was some prior knowledge in the session participants (n = 3). It would have been truly surprising if the knowledge of mantras for spiritual centers was known, as that knowledge is quite exclusive to the Sahaja Yoga Meditation system. 

With two more meetings, the basics course will be completed and the path ahead is open. The next step would be to seek out engaging learning activities which would stimulate the learners and provide profound learning experiences.

Have a great summer ahead.