Discovering Ultimate Joy: My New Meditation Techniques

Hey there,

Arlin here, back with another story and some transformative insights.

Not long ago, I moved into a new place, and by pure chance—or maybe divine guidance—I found myself living right next to a Self Realization Fellowship ashram. Funny thing is, I hadn't even realized it until a friend of mine, a dedicated yogi who meditates for five hours a day and runs a multi-hundred-million-dollar company, pointed it out to me.

Probably craziest wake up call from God / The Universe I’ve ever had. It was as if God was to say, “Hey dummy, quit focusing on the material stuff, come back to me. I can’t make it any easier for you.”

Intrigued, I started visiting the ashram and learning their meditation techniques. Every morning, I dedicated an hour to practicing what they taught. And let me tell you, it has been by far the most life changing experience I have ever had. That’s why i’m shouting in these emails about you daily now about it.

Through these daily meditation sessions, I came to understand that God is truly the ultimate joy. We spend so much time looking outward for happiness, but I found God within. I know this is a common thing, but I actually legit get it now & i’m here to share the good news like one of those crazy christian evangelists.

It took me a decade of meditating to really grasp this truth. I used to meditate with a goal in mind—seeking clarity, ideas, or solutions for my business and life. But now, my approach has completely shifted. I meditate just to give my love and attention to God, and it's brought me a sense of total bliss.

Everything else in life has become a bonus.

Yogananda's techniques are simple yet profound. They involve focusing on the breath, chanting, and deepening your awareness of the divine presence within. Here's a brief outline of how you can incorporate these techniques into your daily routine:

1. Start with Breath Awareness: Begin by sitting comfortably and focusing on your breath. Inhale deeply and slowly through your nose, constricting your throat so that the breath is slow and quiet. Extend the inhale as long and slowly and quietly as you can. Hold for a moment, and exhale slowly, in the same fashion as the inhale. Constricted throat, slowly letting out. Repeat this cycle, letting your mind calm down and your body relax.

2. Practice Chanting: Use a mantra or chant to help direct your mind. Yogananda often used "Om" or "God" in his practices. Chant slowly, letting the sound resonate through your body and mind. he also has a number of songs & a great prayer book I read daily called The Whispers from Eternity.

3. Deepen Your Awareness: As you become more relaxed, shift your focus inward moving up and down the spine with the inhale and exhale. You can visualize a divine light or presence within your heart, or just observe the flow of the breath. Feel the love and joy emanating from this source, and let it fill you completely. Do this awareness control for 10-100 cycles & then just sit in observation mode - feeling into your body and watching from the throne of awareness where your mind wants to go.

4. Give Your Attention to God: Spend these moments in silence, offering your love and attention to your concept of God. This is not about seeking anything, but simply being in the presence of the divine. That’s it. The place to go is here. There is no where to go & wait for it.

;)

Incorporating these techniques into my daily routine has been life-changing. I encourage you to give them a try and experience the profound joy that comes from connecting with the divine within.

Until next time, Arlin

ps- jump in 8am app for $1 with the code yogananda and join a community of people waking up