Patanjali's Meditation Advice - Relevant today?

Last night we gathered at the studio for our first monthly meditation/study group meeting. Wonderful to share energy with other yoga teachers, meditators and seekers. As promised, here is a summary of the discussion.

Our question of the evening was: What did Patanjali advise regarding meditation, and is his advice still relevant in the complicated world of the 21st century?

First we reviewed some of the Sutras specifically addressing meditation.
1:2 - "The restraint of the fluctuations of the mind stuff is Yoga"
(The whole point of physical stretching, breathwork, going vegetarian, etc is to assist us in calming the "monkey mind". A racing mind prevents us from sleep, keeps us edgey and stressed. A cluttered mind causes us suffering and Patanjali compassionately tries to guide us away from suffering.)

1:12 - "These fluctuations are restrained by practice and non-attachment"
(As with all things in life, practice is required; discipline is necessary to get results. The definition of non-attachment sparked some lively discussion. It is not the same as disinterest. One can still be engaged or interested in something, but not invested in owning it or controlling it.)

1:27 - 32 - "The expression of Ishwara (God) is the mystic sound of Om"
(Patanjali is starting to explain mantra and why it is an acceptable method of meditation. He introduces Om as a universal vibration, the hum of the business of creation: the making, evolving and dissolving of beings and objects.)

"To repeat it in a meditative way reveals its meaning"
"From this practice, the awareness turns inward, and the distracting obstacles vanish"
(The distracting obstacles are defined in the next sutra. When attention is withdrawn from outside distractions, the power they have over us withers like my houseplants.)
"Disease, doubt, dullness, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained - these distractions of the mind stuff are the obstacles"
"Accompaniments to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body, and disturbed breathing."
"The concentration on a single subject, or the use of one technique, is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniment"
(Who wouldn't want to move away from the obstacles? And their side effects? Patanjali advises that we should stick to one method of meditation, single pointed focus, in order to be effective)

2:3 - "Ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion and clinging to bodily life at the five obstacles to happiness, or causes of suffering"
(Buddhism offers a similar listing of traits that prevent enlightenment. We talked about how the need to earn a living encourages us to attach, practice egoism and operate in ignorance. We looked at ways that our need to control, secure and acquire leads us into suffering.)

The translation that we were using for the Yoga Sutras was "Inside the Yoga Sutras" by Reverend Jaganath Carrera.

Our meditation method was mantra using "Om Shanti"; inhaling on Om and exhaling on Shanti. Next month we decided to explore mantra meditation further by chanting out loud. Anyone have a drum they could play for us????

If anyone needed further incentive to delve into meditation, here are some links to various research studies. The world might be more complicated in the 21st century, but suffering is definitely still a huge issue.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804114102.htm

(article on lowering stress in the workplace)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090609072719.htm

(article on sleep study)

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-02/uow-usr020303.php#

(immune system and meditation)

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/643585.html

(MS & meditation)

Next meeting: Tuesday October 26 at 6:30 pm