Tʜᴇ Sᴇᴠᴇɴ-Dᴀʏ Cʜᴀᴋʀᴀ Wᴏʀᴋᴏᴜᴛ🔗

Chakras are the subtle energy hubs of our body. The seven major chakras are Muladhara, Swadishthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Vishuddhi, Ajna and Sahasrara. Though they have no physcial location, these energy centers are present along the length of the body. They roughly correspond to, and influence the activity of, the important glands of the body. The chakras deeply impact our physical and mental health. They are, in turn, affected by our thoughts and emotions.

The chakras are direct channels to the boundless energy of the Cosmos. But immoderate lifestyles, stress and negative emotions can 'lock' the chakras, or cause them to malfunction. Without even being aware of it, we are continuously blocking off these important sources of energy.

Energy is health. That's why almost all physcial and mental ailments can be partly or wholly cured, simply by cleansing and energising the corresponding chakra.

The Ananda Spurana Program (ASP) is a two-day intensive camp for chakra healing through meditation. At the camp, you learn about the nature and role of each chakra, and are given seven powerful and practical meditation techniques for cleansing and recharging the seven chakras.

All these meditations (except Nirbhaya Dhyana for Swadishthana Chakra) can be practised freely once a week. Or you could choose one technique which best appeals to you (Mahamantra, Dukkha Harana and Manipuraka Shuddhi Kriya are the most helpful for beginners) and continue it for 21 days. Then you could switch to a new technique. When practised sincerely, these techniques can work miracles on the physcial, mental and spiritual level.

Instruction tapes are available for all seven techniques.

DAY I

Dukkha Harana Dhyana (Destroyer of Misery)

Heals the chakra : Muladhara Location of chakra : Base of the spine Chakra locked by : Fantasy & expectation Chakra unlocked by : Acceptance of reality

Meditation technique from : Shiva Tantra Duration : 30 minutes

Instructions for Dukkha Harana

Dukkha Harana is a 30-minute meditation, with 3 parts of 10 minutes each. Use the ASP instruction tape if you have one, else use an alarm clock, or have someone monitor the timings.

For the first 10 minutes, work with your breath.

Begin to breathe deeply, chaotically.

What is chaotic breathing?

In chaotic breathing, there is no definite rhythm. Just breathe as deeply as you can. Forget everything else, just breathe, breathe deeply. Become the breathing!

During chaotic breathing, when the body intelligence is allowed to take over, the body will take in however much oxygen is needed. There is no need to control your breath - this is not pranayama.

If you have a heart problem, do it as much as you can without discomfort. Otherwise, put your whole energy into it!

The heat generated in these 10 minutes will melt all your solidified negative energies. The subconscious will be thrown open.

There are no particular breathing exercises. Let your body behave as it wants. You have to be standing, that's all.

The next 10 minutes is called catharsis.

Catharsis is the process of opening the 'seed body' which is inside your being. During catharsis, you throw out all your suppressed emotions in a controlled environment, without harming others, and without internalizing it as disease.

Make your body as tense as possible. Throw your limbs around. Clench your teeth. Rotate your head. Whatever the body wants to do, allow it to do. But keep every limb tense, taut. Just throw out all your dukkha. If you feel like crying, screaming, laughing - just do it. For these ten minutes, don't control your body. Just go crazy.

Don't worry, this technique is not going to make you mad - in truth, it is only going to bring out all the madness already inside!

Don't be afraid of the violence that is bubbling up inside you. Once all the violence is spent, a peace will start blooming inside your Being. Without your knowledge, from deep inside your consciousness, you will experience a stillness, a silence arising.

At the end of ten minutes (if you are using the tape), you will hear the word, STOP!

At that point, just stop – in whichever position you are. Just become a frozen statue.

When you switch suddenly from frantic action to total silence, your mind is totally stopped, arrested for a moment. In that moment, you may even experience samadhi. This is especially possible in the master’s presence. The moment your mind stops working, you will feel a tremendous energy rushing into you.

After a few seconds, you will see that thoughts are again rising in you. Then just sit down, in a pleasant mood, and slowly start witnessing those thoughts. Breathe normally. Don’t concentrate on anything. Meditation is not concentration. Meditation is awareness.

So just be aware of your thoughts, witness what happens inside your body and outside your body.

If you want to test the efficiency of this technique, go and have your picture taken today.

After 15 days of practising this technique, have another picture taken and compare the two. I assure you, your face will look completely different! Your eyes will have become more pleasing. You will have blossomed.

Heals the chakra : Swadishthana Location of chakra : 2 inches below the navel Chakra locked by : Fear, especially the fear of Death Chakra unlocked by : Acceptance of Death

Meditation technique from : Vedanta Duration : 40 minutes

CAUTION: This meditation is very powerful. It is best practised in the presence of the master. If you are unable to attend the ASP, make sure you purchase and strictly follow the ASP instruction tape for this meditation. Also ensure that a close friend or relative is present while you are doing this meditation. In case you fail to come out of your sleep within the stipulated time, instruct them to wake you by calling your name, gently but firmly.

Before you start, some instructions:

What will be required from your side?

You will need to call up all your powers of visualization. You are going to visualize the whole process of your own death! From the master’s side, tremendous energy will be given to you to support you through the process.

First, let go of fear. Don’t be afraid that you will really die – even if it seems like that for some time during the meditation. You are not going to die. Nothing is going to happen to you. You have the master’s word and support. Just place your trust in the master.

Second, let go of greed. Don’t ask yourself – what can imagining all this do for me? Your whole life is an imagination anyway – so you don’t lose anything by spending some more time in imagination!

Actually, this meditation is more real than what you imagine to be reality! Most of the things you imagine don’t ever happen, but death is certain!

Don’t worry about whether you will be able to imagine death accurately. Of course, no one can visualize death correctly, but you can at least try and visualize it according to your understanding.

When you lie down, make sure there’s some space between you and your neighbours – at least one foot on each side. Your etheric body is going to expand, and you’ll feel uneasy if you are too close to someone else. But do it calmly – dead people don’t fight for space!

So, are you ready to die?

(more instructions in the ASP tape)

Manipuraka Shuddhi Kriya (Releasing Stress)

Meditation technique from : Sufism & Christianity Duration : 30 minutes

Manipuraka Shuddhi Kriya is a cathartic technique that bypassses mental processes and roots out worries in their most elemental form

Instructions for Manipuraka Shuddhi Kriya

All your worries are nothing but words! Nothing but the sum total of all the languages you know. All your life, you have put your worries into words, spoken about them in some language which you know.

Now, you are going to speak in a language which you don't know!

You are holding all your worries, negativity and suppressions like a weight in your navel area. Can you see how heavy that area feels? Now you are going to act out all those suppressions

out of your system! Just vomit them out in sounds.

First, for a minute, concentrate on the Manipuraka area. All your worries and suppressed negativity will start rising up into your conscious mind.

Now, imagine yourself in some situation of conflict. Imagine that you are fighting hard with someone. Talk to him - in a language that you don't know! Just use nonsense sounds, like how babies talk. Try to convey your problem, your pain, to the other person.

But the other person simply doesn't agree with you! How do you feel? Angry? Throw out your anger on him! If tears come, let them! Don't stop yourself. Scream, wail, cry, throw your limbs about. Create as much violence as possible! Do this sincerely - this is your chance to get rid of a lifetime's suppressions! Enter completely into the meditation.

After 20 minutes, stop.

For the next 10 minutes, simply sit in silence. Focus on your Manipuraka chakra. You will feel a tremendous lightness in that area! It is as if you have taken a mental bath!

Repeat this meditation every day for 21 days, or until you feel as if you have nothing left inside to throw out during the meditation.

Right from the very first day onwards, you will find a change, a great peace blossoming in your Being. Enjoy the peace!

Heals the chakra : Anahata Location of chakra : In the heart region Chakra locked by : Asking for attention Chakra unlocked by : Selfless love Meditation technique from : Tibetan Tantra Duration : 40 minutes

Mahamantra (The Great Mantra) meditation is a technique to make your mind centred, solid: Manasasya sthiraah iti mantrah.

By doing this meditation, your entire energy becomes centered on yourself. This technique is designed to make your whole body mantramayaa (vibrate with the mantra). It elevates you into the state of ajapa – where you don't even have to do the japa (chanting), the japa happens on its own. Your whole Being becomes japa. You don't have to repeat the mantra, the mantra will repeat you.

Sit in a relaxed way, cross-legged, with your hands on your knees, palms facing upwards. Remove your watch and jewellery, as they block the energy flow.

So don’t just close your eyelids – close your eyes! There is a good way to do this: for a moment, just imagine that your eyeballs have turned to stone. Immediately, your thoughts will also stop, or become slow.

Now, with your mouth closed, start humming.

Just create the vibration Mmmm. Don’t chant any other mantra, don’t chant Om.

Chant as lengthily as possible. Allow the body to sway. The sound has to come from your naabhi kamala – from your loins.

Imagine your body as an empty vessel. If you put your mouth to it and hum, what sound do you hear? Create that same vibration inside yourself.

Hum as loudly as possible, as deeply as possible, as lengthily as possible. Put your whole effort into your humming.

Do this for 40 minutes. If you are using the ASP tape, there will be music accompanying your humming. Else, you can simply hum in silence.

Don’t attempt any kind of breath control. Your breathing will automatically take care of itself.

This is known as the mahamantra udchaadana – uttering the mantra which is beyond utterance, beyond speech or writing, beyond expression. It is the anahata dhwani (the unheard sound). The Mahamantra is the essential vibration which is resonating not only in your Being, but in all of Existence. When you experience the energy of this meditation, you will understand that you are based in this anahata dhwani.

Allow whatever happens to happen. If tears roll, let them roll. Laughter, coughing, shivering – let it happen. Let it out. Don’t hold back anything. Whatever thoughts arise, throw them also into the humming. Gradually, they will disappear.

At the end of twenty minutes, the music stops and a gong sounds.

Instantly stop your humming.

A great silence floods your Being.

For a moment, time stands still.

Witness this silence.

Experience the tremendous calm in and around you.

After a short while, thoughts will slowly start entering into this silence. Don't stop them; don't enter into them. Simply witness these thoughts.

Become a centre of awareness. Remain in your Anahata chakra. You will feel completely centered, calm.

It is best to practise this meditation in the early morning. It generates a tremendous amount of energy in your body. If you practise it at night, it may interfere with your sleep.

Heals the chakra : Vishuddhi Location of chakra : In the throat region Chakra locked by : Comparison & jealousy Chakra unlocked by : Realizing your uniqueness

Meditation technique from : Zen Buddhism Duration : 40 minutes

Most of us are unaware that we have three layers of energy - the normal layer, the emergency layer, and what we call Intelligence.

In our normal life, we utilize only the first layer of energy. We are happy with just that much energy! Very rarely, when we have to push ourselves, the second layer of energy opens up. But the third layer, we have never used. We are not even aware of it. Intelligence is nothing but functioning at the highest level of energy available to us.

During Shakti Sagar meditation, you unlock the resources of Intelligence.

All your life, you have been running a race against others. Now, you will run against yourself! You will compete with, and win against, the negative aspects of your own self.

This is a 40-minute meditation, with two parts of 30 minutes and 10 minutes.

First, stand in silence with your eyes closed. Concentrate your entire awareness upon the Vishuddhi chakra, located in your throat region.

Now, standing in place, slowly begin to jog. Start very slowly, then increase your pace. Increase it gradually - because once you start jogging fast you won't be allowed to slow down! So keep going faster, faster. Your mind may tell you that it is too tiring - don't listen! Push your limits. Your body has tremendous potential that you have never used.

When you enter totally into this meditation, you will find that the higher level of energy opens up.

So keep jogging. Let the energy rise!

At the end of 30 minutes, stop.

For the next 10 minutes, just sit down quietly wherever you are.

Keep your eyes closed. Focus all your attention on the Vishuddhi chakra. In this phase, you will absorb the energy you have released during the jogging.

Materials like silk, gold and diamonds are excellent storehouses for energy. During the meditation, if you wear these around your neck, they will absorb and retain the released energy for a longer time.

DAY 6

Heals the chakra : Ajna Location of chakra : Between the eyebrows Chakra locked by : Seriousness Chakra unlocked by : Innocence and simplicity

Meditation technique from : Christianity Duration : 40 minutes

The Ajna chakra is known as the Chakra Raj – the Master chakra. It is such a significant chakra that there is no religion that hasn't worked on activating it. When the Ajna is awakened, the whole Being enters into a different realm. A whole layer of faculties opens up.

Divya Netra Dhyana is an extremely powerful technique where you come in direct contact with the master's energy. This meditation is most effective when practised in the master's presence. Alternatively, you could practise with the picture of Swamiji's eyes that is available for use in this meditation. (Don't use just any picture of Swamiji as it won't have the desired effect. The recommended picture was taken when an actual Ajna meditation session was in progress.)

This meditation involves two separate techniques: one for cleansing the Ajna, and the other for energizing it.

Our lower chakras need only cleansing and channeling. The higher chakras need

energizing also – pumping up the energy to the chakra.

In the two phases, you will need to alternately close and open your eyes.

When your eyes are closed, focus on your ‘third eye’ - on the area of your Ajna chakra.

In the next phase, you will open your eyes

Try not to blink. Initially, you may feel some discomfort. You may experience a burning sensation in the eyes, or tears may come. Let it happen. This is all part of the cleansing process.

Be prepared to have unusual experiences during this meditation. Your Ajna has never been activated before. Opening the Ajna will open you to a whole new realm of experience. You may see visions of your favourite deities, or find that Swamiji’s form disappears and is replaced by a point or beam of light. Sometimes you may see total emptiness where his form or picture was.

Don’t be alarmed or lose your clarity at these moments. You are not being hypnotized! In fact, only now are you finally being dehypnotized. Only now is your superconscious awakened. If you see only light or emptiness, it is a sign that you have done the meditation with deep sincerity. Because that is the truth of our nature. We are all nothing but energy. The physical body that we perceive as our own, and the physical existence of everything around us, is nothing but an illusion.

That’s why the Ajna chakra is known as Maya Harana – destroyer of illusion.

Sahasrara Dhyana (Gratitude as Prayer)

Heals the chakra : Sahasrara Location of chakra : On the crown of the head Chakra locked by : Discontentment Chakra unlocked by : Gratitude & Bliss

Meditation technique from : Sufism (Islam) Duration : 30 minutes

Sahasrara Dhyana is the simplest possible meditation technique. It involves the effortless process of paying our gratitude to Existence for everything we have in life, and which we have taken for granted till now. Although the meditation is deceptively simple, it has profound effects on our conscious and subconscious minds.

Instructions for Sahasrara Dhyana

If you are using the ASP tape, listen to the Sahasrara music. Else, play any soothing music which appeals to you. Allow the music to flow through you, to enrich you.

If you feel like standing, swaying to the music, dancing – do it. If you prefer to sit still, do that. But let the music become part of you. Experience it as if it arises from your own Being.

Think of whomsoever you want - God, your favourite saint or your chosen deity. The form is not important. But pay your gratitude to Existence for this gift of Life.

Life itself is a great gift from Existence.

Have we worked very hard to deserve life? No!

So living itself is enough reason to be grateful.

When you give your thanks to Existence, remember all the people who have made your life what it is today.

Start with your parents - the people who gave you life. Pay your deepest gratitude to them.

Ask their forgiveness for any wrong that you may have done them. In the same way, forgive them for any way in which they may have hurt you.

Forgive completely, feel only gratitude!

Now remember each person who has helped you in life - the doctors in the hospital where you were born, your teachers in school and college, your friends and relatives. Pay your gratitude to them all.

Think of the strangers who have helped you - the farmers who grow your food, the weavers who weave your clothes. Thank them all.

Even your enemies have played a role in your life, they have taught you something.

Drop the anger. Drop the hatred. Forgive them and ask forgiveness. Do it with all your heart, with totalsincerity!

Have you thanked Existence for the beauties of nature?

Have you thanked the sun for warming you every morning? Have you paid thanks for the water you drink?

How many things we have forgotten to pay our gratitude for! Now you can do it.

Give each and every one your thanks.

When you pay your thanks to all of Existence, also remember the enlightened masters who have made us aware of the joy of gratitude.

The purpose of all enlightened masters, through the ages, has always been the same: they want to lift you into bliss, into Ananda.

So the best way to thank them is – simply to be blissful!

Pay your gratitude to the Sadguru, the master.

When the music stops, remain in silence for a while.

Remain in the attitude of gratitude and bliss.

For as long as possible, stay in silence. Turn your awareness inward and enjoy the peace and contentment within.

Sahasrara Dhyana can be modified to an ‘anytime-anywhere’ meditation. Cultivating a permanent attitude of gratitude and positivity can work wonders for your physical and emotional health.