Mind and Meditation
The Three Channels of the Mind
To understand how Kundalini Yoga and Meditation creates shifts in our consciousness, we must first understand how our mind works. The human mind has three basic channels: (1) the dualistic channel, (2) the neutral channel, and (3) the subconscious channel.
Our rational or dualistic mind performs functions necessary to makes choices. It is able to evaluate, compare, contrast, and analyze options and information. Without a neutral arbitrator to help us make choices, however, our dualistic mind fluctuates between negative and positive thoughts and creates in a state of conflict or confusion.
Our neutral mind gives us the faculty of non-judgmental observation from where we are able to transcend our dualistic mind and focus our awareness on reality beyond intellectual concepts and thoughts.
Our subconscious mind is beyond our conscious knowing and control. Our subconscious programming is always on the background influencing how we think and feel.
Normally we operate almost exclusively from our dualistic channel or "rational" mind, which is constantly emitting thoughts. Yogi Bhajan says our mind emits 1,000 thoughts per wink of the eye. In other words, our mind is programmed to automatically think.
Our rational mind has the capacity to analyze, compute, calculate, and perform other thinking functions, which make it possible to evaluate our life situations and what to do about them. By default, our dualistic mind is influenced, usually controlled, by our subconscious mind or programming.
The neutral channel, our meditative mind, liberates us from the thinking, analyzing, and judging activity of our dualistic/rational mind. It also had the power to liberate us from our subconscious programming. It does so by connecting us to our intuition and or our peaceful inner space, where we are able to consciously connect with the Infinite and our soul. Our neutral mind is thus our access route to non-physical reality and where we can experience inner peace, stillness, and non-judgement/neutrality.
In sum, we escape the endless chatter and conflict in our dualistic mind by accessing out neutral mind, when we can listen to our intuition -- the voice of our soul. Changing channels from our duel mind to our neutral mind is a most basic goal in our spiritual practice. It is our inner foundation that makes all of our other goals possible.
Change Channels in Your Mind
If you have been discouraged by the chaos in your "monkey mind," you know that you are not alone and that there is hope. It is impossible to experience silence or peace in your dualistic mind where you constantly hear your thoughts and replay your neuroses. So any instructions that say "clear your mind" without teaching you how to access your neutral mind will just create frustration. The trick to experiencing a state of inner silence and peace is to change channels from your dualistic mind to your neutral mind. The neutral mind is your non-dual channel. It has only one voice -- not many. When your neutral mind is an available partner, your dualistic mind can actually compute rationally. Contemplative meditation is possible when your neutral, meditative mind is awakened.
Preparing for Silent Meditation
In Kundalini Yoga, the physical exercises prepare us for meditation. There are many meditative practices. The ones most commonly used in Kundalini Yoga are chanting mantras out loud, reciting mantras silently, and pranayama (breathwork) with or without silent mantra. These techniques can actually be considered preparation for contemplative meditation. They awaken our mind and body so that we are able to turn our attention inwards to our neutral channel. We can enjoy silent meditation after practicing these powerful techniques that clear the subconscious mind, enabling us access the qualities of silence, stillness, and peace in our inner space. The meditation techniques help us to achieve calm, sensitive, non-emotional, and alert intuitive space where we can relax, surrender, and be renewed. Consistent meditative practice promotes inner peace, happiness, and the ability to live life in neutral awareness or higher consciousness.
Mantra Meditations
Most of the Kundalini meditations use sacred mantras, usually chanting with a tune or reciting the sacred sounds in a monotone. The sound current of the divine mantras embodies qualities of the Universal Field. Repetition of these sacred sounds releases negative imprints and harmonizes the flow of elevated energy and prana throughout our physical and energy bodies. Devotional chanting activates and infuses our human vessel with the infinite frequencies and uses the energy of our emotional body as glue to merge our finite being with our infinite essence.
Eye Focus
During most meditations, the default eye focus (called dristi) is at the third eye, which is located in the center of the forehead just above the eyebrow line. Focusing here causes the optic nerves of our two physical eyes to create a pressure or sensation at the third eye, which indicates its location. Yogi Bhajan said looking at the tip of the nose is the most powerful way to activate the pituitary gland.
Meditation instructions often include gazing at the tip of the nose (which creates mental balance) or toward our chin (which helps balance emotions) with the eyes very slightly or one-tenth open. The other benefit of keeping the eyes one-tenth open is that it keeps us from spacing out and helps us stay more present in our body.
Attention and Awareness
We cultivate the faculty of awareness with eye focus, as explained above, and by training our mind to pay attention to the sensations in our body and spine, a chakra, the breath, a mantra, or parts of our physical body being activated by an exercise. As we train our mind to focus and practice awareness,
We discipline our mind to serve instead of manipulate us.
We access the pure, still, stable space in our neutral mind.
We awaken our inner sensory faculties.
We acquire the capacity to direct energy.
We experience physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
We access expanded levels of consciousness.
My friend, learn never to wake up without meditation or without thanking your own unknown -- your God. And never sleep without meditation and relating to your own unknown, God, who knows if tomorrow shall come. Keep the account clear. -- Yogi Bhajan
Source: Introduction to Kundalini Yoga and Meditation,Vol. l - Begin and Deepen Your Practice by Guru Rattana, Ph.D.
