Mastering the Mind, Realising the Self by Sturgess, Stephen -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Dedication Preface Part One: The Mind

‘Man shall not live on bread alone’ Real Happiness What is Happiness? What is the Mind? The Seat of the Mind Mind, thoughts and feelings Mind, reason, will, ego – The four functions of the mind Antaḥkaraṇa – its four functions Manas Buddhi Ahaṁkāra Citta Five Conditions of the Mind (Citta) Uncontrolled states of the mind The nine ‘distractors of the mind’ The means to remove the obstacles and transform the mind Controlled states of the mind The Restless Mind Desires and attachment Beyond pleasure and pain Why do desires arise in us? And where do they arise from? Your thoughts develop your character Habits Changing negative habits Methods of overcoming bad habits Saṁskāras Vāsanās Vṛttis – The subtle vortices of mental energy Yogas citta vṛtti nirodha The cause of Vṛttis The five afflictions or obstacles Avidyā Asmitā Rāga-Dveṣa Abhiniveśa How to overcome the five afflictions (Kleśas) Eliminating the Kleśas by Kriya Yoga Tapaḥ svādhyāya īśvara-praṇidhānāni kriyāyogaḥ The mind and the senses The senses – a means for gathering experience What makes the senses function? Dulling of the senses The ego’s relation to experience False identification with the object of the senses Mastery of the senses The practice of Pratyāhāra Training the mind to be clear, calm and one-pointed Abhyāsa (practice) and Vairāgya (non-attachment) Developing stability of mind Twenty qualities of a spiritually awakened mind

Part Two: The Different States of Consciousness

Death Three different planes of consciousness The waking state The dream state The difference between the waking state and the dream state Dreamless sleep The difference between the dreamless sleep state and the transcendental state (turīya) The difference between sleep and death Sleep – a perfect model of death The difference between personality and individuality The essence of Consciousness – Turīya (the fourth) The States of Consciousness according to the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Table 1: The States of Consciousness

Part Three: The Self

What is Consciousness? Consciousness-awareness is independent of the mind Consciousness is itself the proof of everything else The mind and consciousness are not in the brain Regaining your true blissful nature The Self and names and forms of objects Seeing undivided Oneness The real nature of who I am Am I the body? Am I the physiological functions of the body? Am I the senses? Am I the mind? Emotions/feelings Intellect Memory Thoughts Ego ‘I’-consciousness – I am, I exist Awareness Remember, know and realise your real nature now Time and Space Space and Time are Consciousness Thought in space and time Time and space do not exist in deep sleep Unlimited by Time and Space God, Time and Space Eternity is not within time ‘Now’ – the present moment The hindrances to realising the Self

Part Four: Meditation, the Path to Inner Peace and Bliss

Know your true purpose in life The three main purposes toward finding true inner and outer fulfilment in life Beginning to meditate The Power of Affirmation: A powerful tool for inner and outer transformation Your thoughts can change your life Using the words ‘I am’ with clarity and purpose I AM That I AM How to use Affirmations Everyday Affirmations and prayers Prayer and how to pray effectively Pray without Ceasing Be Still and know that I am God A drop of ocean water Concept of God – Who or what do we pray to? How to Pray Effectively Pray from an awareness of the Divine Presence within you Prayer blessing before meals Sanskrit Prayers Grace of God Grace is available to you in every moment Earning Grace Tuning in to divine Grace God’s grace is abundant The Guru’s grace Set the intention and resolve to meditate Regular daily practice When to meditate Length of meditation Where to meditate How to sit for meditation Concentration: Focusing the mind Steps toward concentration for meditation Fixing your mind on the Divine Self Hong Sau technique of concentration The Breathless State Practising Hong Sau in Daily Life Meditation begins with concentration Meditation is the highest form of worship Inner communion with God within Aum Meditation Technique The Chakra Sounds as heard in Meditation Superconscious Yoga Meditation A Guided Deep Meditation Closing your meditation

Part Five: Yoga Practices for Meditation

Prāṇāyāma Ujjayi prāṇāyāma (victorious breath) Nāḍī śodhana or Anuloma Viloma prāṇāyāma Alternate nostril breathing with the mantra Sohaṁ-haṁsa Epilogue Spiritual Guidelines

Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation Sanskrit Glossary Bibliography About the Author Kriya Yoga Meditation Resources Acknowledgements

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