Learn Concentration Meditation from Swami Sivananda: Download His Book for Free
Concentration Meditation Swami Sivananda Pdf Download
Do you want to improve your concentration and mental focus? Do you want to learn from one of the most respected and influential yoga masters of the 20th century? Do you want to access his teachings for free in a convenient PDF format? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you.
Concentration Meditation Swami Sivananda Pdf Download
In this article, you will learn what concentration meditation is, who Swami Sivananda is, why you should practice concentration meditation, how to practice it according to Swami Sivananda's instructions, where to find his books on concentration meditation, and some frequently asked questions about this topic. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to practice concentration meditation and how it can benefit your life.
Introduction
What is concentration meditation?
Concentration meditation is a type of meditation that involves focusing your attention on a single object, such as your breath, a mantra, a candle flame, a sound, or an image. The purpose of concentration meditation is to train your mind to become more stable, alert, and clear. By concentrating on one thing at a time, you can reduce the distractions and fluctuations of your thoughts and emotions, and achieve a state of calmness and awareness.
Who is Swami Sivananda?
Swami Sivananda was a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, yoga teacher, and author who lived from 1887 to 1963. He founded the Divine Life Society, a worldwide organization that promotes the practice of yoga and Vedanta (the philosophy of Hinduism). He wrote over 200 books on various aspects of spirituality, including yoga, meditation, health, ethics, and religion. He was also known for his humanitarian work, his simplicity, his humor, and his motto: "Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize".
Why should you practice concentration meditation?
Concentration meditation has many benefits for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Some of these benefits are:
Improved mental clarity and focus: Concentration meditation helps you sharpen your mind and improve your ability to concentrate on any task or activity. It also helps you filter out irrelevant information and distractions that can interfere with your productivity and creativity.
Enhanced memory and learning ability: Concentration meditation helps you strengthen your memory and recall skills by enhancing your neural connections and brain plasticity. It also helps you learn new things faster and more effectively by improving your attention span and comprehension.
Reduced stress and anxiety: Concentration meditation helps you relax your body and mind by lowering your blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol levels (the stress hormone), and muscle tension. It also helps you cope with stress and anxiety by increasing your resilience and emotional regulation.
Increased happiness and peace of mind: Concentration meditation helps you cultivate positive emotions and attitudes, such as joy, gratitude, compassion, and optimism. It also helps you achieve a state of inner peace and harmony by reducing your attachment to worldly desires and expectations.
How to practice concentration meditation according to Swami Sivananda
The prerequisites for concentration meditation
Before you start practicing concentration meditation, you need to prepare yourself and your environment for the best possible results. Here are some of the prerequisites that Swami Sivananda recommends:
A quiet and comfortable place
You need to find a place where you can sit comfortably and quietly for at least 15 minutes without being disturbed by noise, people, or other distractions. You can choose a room in your house, a garden, a park, or any other place that suits you. Make sure that the temperature, lighting, and ventilation are comfortable for you. You can also use some props, such as a cushion, a blanket, a mat, or a chair, to support your posture.
A suitable posture
You need to sit in a posture that allows you to keep your spine straight, your chest open, your shoulders relaxed, and your head balanced. You can sit on the floor with your legs crossed (in lotus, half-lotus, or any other comfortable position), or on a chair with your feet flat on the ground. You can rest your hands on your knees, in your lap, or on a cushion. You can also use a wall or a pillow to support your back if needed.
A positive attitude
You need to approach concentration meditation with a positive attitude and an open mind. You need to be willing to learn from your experience and to accept whatever happens without judgment or frustration. You need to be patient with yourself and with the process, and not expect immediate results or perfection. You need to be gentle and compassionate with yourself and with others, and not compare yourself or compete with anyone. You need to be grateful for the opportunity to practice concentration meditation and to enjoy it as much as possible.
The steps of concentration meditation
Once you have prepared yourself and your environment for concentration meditation, you can follow these steps that Swami Sivananda suggests:
Choose an object of concentration
You need to choose an object of concentration that appeals to you and that you can focus on easily. You can choose any object that is simple, clear, and pleasant, such as your breath, a mantra (a sacred word or phrase), a candle flame, a sound (such as a bell or a chant), or an image (such as a flower or a deity). You can also choose an object that is related to your goal or intention, such as a word or a symbol that represents what you want to achieve or manifest.
Focus your attention on the object
You need to focus your attention on the object of concentration with all your senses and faculties. You need to look at it (or imagine it) with your eyes, listen to it (or repeat it) with your ears, feel it (or breathe it) with your body, think about it (or understand it) with your mind, and love it (or appreciate it) with your heart. You need to immerse yourself in the object of concentration and make it the center of your awareness.
Observe your thoughts and sensations
You need to observe your thoughts and sensations that arise in your mind and body while you focus on the object of concentration. You need to acknowledge them without engaging with them or reacting to them. You need to let them come and go without attaching to them or resisting them. You need to be aware of them without identifying with them or judging them. You need to treat them as passing clouds in the sky of your consciousness.
Return to the object whenever you get distracted
You need to return to the object of concentration whenever you get distracted by your thoughts or sensations. You need to gently bring back your attention to the object of concentration without getting angry or disappointed with yourself. You need to resume your focus on the object of concentration without losing your calmness or confidence. You need to persist in your practice without giving up or quitting.
The benefits of concentration meditation
If you practice concentration meditation regularly and sincerely, you will experience many benefits in your life. Some of these benefits are:
Improved mental clarity and focus
Enhanced memory and learning ability
You will enhance your memory and learning ability by strengthening your neural connections and brain plasticity. You will be able to remember and recall information more easily and accurately. You will also be able to learn new things faster and more effectively by improving your attention span and comprehension.
Reduced stress and anxiety
You will reduce your stress and anxiety by relaxing your body and mind. You will lower your blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol levels, and muscle tension. You will also cope with stress and anxiety better by increasing your resilience and emotional regulation.
Increased happiness and peace of mind
You will increase your happiness and peace of mind by cultivating positive emotions and attitudes. You will experience more joy, gratitude, compassion, and optimism. You will also achieve a state of inner peace and harmony by reducing your attachment to worldly desires and expectations.
Where to find Swami Sivananda's books on concentration meditation
The official website of the Divine Life Society
The Divine Life Society is the organization that Swami Sivananda founded in 1936 to spread his teachings and serve humanity. The official website of the Divine Life Society (www.dlshq.org) offers a wealth of resources on yoga, meditation, Vedanta, and other aspects of spirituality. You can find many of Swami Sivananda's books on concentration meditation available for free download in PDF format. Some of these books are:
Concentration and Meditation: This is one of the most comprehensive and practical books on concentration meditation by Swami Sivananda. It covers the theory, practice, and benefits of concentration meditation in detail. It also provides various exercises, techniques, tips, and examples to help you master concentration meditation.
Mind: Its Mysteries and Control: This is another excellent book on concentration meditation by Swami Sivananda. It explains the nature, functions, and powers of the mind in depth. It also teaches you how to control, purify, and transcend your mind through concentration meditation.
Bliss Divine: This is a collection of inspiring essays on various topics related to concentration meditation by Swami Sivananda. It covers topics such as the importance of concentration, the obstacles to concentration, the methods of concentration, the fruits of concentration, and the role of concentration in spiritual life.
The online library of Yoga Vidya
Yoga Vidya is a non-profit organization that promotes the authentic teachings of yoga and Vedanta in Germany and Europe. The online library of Yoga Vidya (www.yoga-vidya.de) offers a large collection of books on yoga, meditation, Vedanta, and other aspects of spirituality. You can find many of Swami Sivananda's books on concentration meditation available for free download in PDF format. Some of these books are:
Easy Steps to Yoga: This is a simple and practical guide to yoga by Swami Sivananda. It covers the basics of yoga philosophy, ethics, diet, breathing, postures, relaxation, concentration, meditation, and self-realization.
Practical Lessons in Yoga: This is another useful guide to yoga by Swami Sivananda. It covers the essential aspects of yoga practice, such as asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing), mudras (gestures), bandhas (locks), kriyas (cleansing), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (absorption).
Meditation on OM: This is a short but powerful book on concentration meditation by Swami Sivananda. It explains the meaning, significance, and benefits of OM (the universal sound symbol of God) in depth. It also teaches you how to practice concentration meditation on OM with various techniques.
The free PDF download link of Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda
If you want to download one of the best books on concentration meditation by Swami Sivananda for free in PDF format, you can use this link: https://www.dlshq.org/download/conmed.pdf. This link will take you directly to the PDF file of Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda. You can save it on your device or print it out for your convenience.
Conclusion
Concentration meditation is a type of meditation that involves focusing your attention on a single object. It is a powerful and beneficial practice that can improve your mental clarity, memory, learning, stress, anxiety, happiness, and peace of mind. Swami Sivananda was a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, yoga teacher, and author who wrote many books on concentration meditation. You can find his books on concentration meditation available for free download in PDF format on the official website of the Divine Life Society, the online library of Yoga Vidya, or the free PDF download link of Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda. If you want to learn and practice concentration meditation from one of the most respected and influential yoga masters of the 20th century, you should definitely check out his books and follow his instructions.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about concentration meditation and Swami Sivananda:
How long should I practice concentration meditation?
There is no fixed rule or limit on how long you should practice concentration meditation. It depends on your personal preference, availability, and goal. However, Swami Sivananda recommends that you practice concentration meditation for at least 15 minutes every day to see noticeable results. You can also increase the duration and frequency of your practice as you progress and feel comfortable.
What are some common obstacles to concentration meditation?
Some of the common obstacles to concentration meditation are:
Lack of interest or motivation: You may not feel interested or motivated to practice concentration meditation if you don't have a clear goal or intention, if you don't understand the benefits of concentration meditation, or if you don't enjoy the object of concentration.
Lack of discipline or consistency: You may not be able to practice concentration meditation regularly or effectively if you don't have a fixed time and place for your practice, if you don't follow a routine or schedule, or if you don't commit yourself to your practice.
Lack of guidance or support: You may not be able to practice concentration meditation properly or successfully if you don't have a qualified teacher or mentor, if you don't have a supportive community or group, or if you don't have access to reliable resources or materials.
Lack of patience or perseverance: You may not be able to practice concentration meditation long enough or deep enough if you expect immediate results or perfection, if you get easily frustrated or disappointed with yourself, or if you give up or quit easily.
You can overcome these obstacles by cultivating a positive attitude, a strong discipline, a good guidance, and a firm patience.
What are some other types of meditation besides concentration meditation?
There are many other types of meditation besides concentration meditation. Some of the most popular and effective ones are:
Mindfulness meditation: This is a type of meditation that involves paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and acceptance. It helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, sensations, and surroundings without judgment or reaction.
Metta meditation: This is a type of meditation that involves cultivating loving-kindness and compassion for yourself and others. It helps you develop positive emotions and attitudes, such as joy, gratitude, empathy, and forgiveness.
Transcendental meditation: This is a type of meditation that involves repeating a personalized mantra (a sound given by a teacher) silently in your mind. It helps you transcend your thoughts and achieve a state of pure consciousness and bliss.
Vipassana meditation: This is a type of meditation that involves observing the impermanent nature of reality with insight and wisdom. It helps you detach from your ego and attachments and realize the true nature of yourself and reality.
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