by Yoga In Nepal | Apr 10, 2022 | mantra
Chatu Brahmavihara
Buddhism is one of the most followed religions in the world. The teaching of Buddhism was started by Lord Buddha, and he showed the path of non-violence and peace. There are many teachings that Lord Buddha taught to the world and people who follow the path of Buddhism follow today. Among the many teaching that Buddhist follow is Brahmavihara.
Brhamavihara is considered the noblest emotion in Buddhism. There are 4 of the emotions in total and together they are known as chat Brahmavihara. Brahmavihara is made of two words Brahma which means the supreme or the creator and Varaha means to dwell or to live. We all feel lots of emotions and feelings, from negative to average to positive emotions there are all sorts of them. However, Buddhism says that among the emotions there are 4 which are the noblest and one must live life with those emotions.
The 4 chatu Brahmavihara are as follows: Metta (Loving-kindness), Karuna(compassion), Mudita (joy with others), and finally Uppekaha(equanimity).
Let us discuss the four emotions in detail.
Metta (Loving-kindness)
Metta is the first of the four Brahmavihara. It means loving and kindness. We are human beings, and we live in a society that is constructed by many people. Some are related to us by our blood, some by friendship, and some are unrelated to us. We feel strong love and affection towards those who are close to us and related to us. As the relationship gets longer the love and affection decrease.
Most humans love those closest to them and have little to no kindness and affection towards others. However, even if the animals love those who are related to them by blood then what difference remains between the animals and the conscious beings of us humans.
Metta of the Brahmavihara says that one needs to have love and kindness towards each and every one. In this world everyone is different not just by physical appearance but different also by behavior, way of thinking, knowledge, and so on. Some are characterized by their noble actions and good work, while others are known for their bad behavior and heinous acts. The one with noble emotion should see all of them equally and have love and kindness for all of them.
Karuna (Compassion)
Karuna or compassion is second of the 4 Brahmavihara. Compassion is one of the greatest gifts one can have as a conscious being. Compassion is the ability to feel and understand what another person is going through, generally compassionate people are able to feel and more importantly understand the pain another individual is going through. Like love and kindness, compassion is also reserved for the one close to us and not for all people and animals for most of us.
Lord Buddha himself is known for his compassion. He was compassionate to each and every one. When people have the gift of compassion instead of judging people can understand them. One can even look at the people who are thieves differently when they have compassion within them. Instead of getting angry at the one who stole one can understand what circumstances led them to do such an act. Lord Buddha himself praised the virtue of compassion as it is the root cause of various other good emotions and virtues.
Mudita (joy with others)
Mudita is the third of the 4 Brahmavihara. Mudita is the joy of others. This emotion is the reverse of jealousy, envy, and greed. We are all living our lives and have something different at our table of life than others. Some are good at their careers, while some have a good family life, and some are good at their studies.
Nobody has everything and everybody has something. In some aspects family and friends may be progressing a lot more than you. One needs to be happy for the progress of all and not just themselves. When people have joy with all others and not just by their achievements and progress of themselves then they will be forever happy. While in the opposite situation when one gets jealous of the progress and joy of other people will be forever unhappy and sad.
Upekkha(equanimity)
Upekkha is the last of the Brahmavihara. It is equanimity, meaning calmness and balance. It is said that we are more responsible for not what happens to us but how we react to what happens to us and that is what matters really. One needs to be always emotionally calm and composed. The individual who is able to keep himself calm and composed in every situation can see the world better and see the whole picture. When one is not emotionally composed than that individual can be manipulated by other individuals very easily.
Everyone cannot be emotionally composed each and every time. Sometimes one’s emotion gets out of the way due to various factors. It is hard to be emotionally stable with the one who has hurt you and caused many problems. However, it is best to be in a balanced state rather than in an emotionally disturbed state.
Being in a state of equanimity also aids one to get rid of the temptation and provocations of various kinds. One may face these situations at various points in life and be in a state of equanimity will aid you each and every time.
by Yoga In Nepal | Mar 5, 2022 | Yoga
Laughing Yoga / Yogic laughing
Incorporating laughter into your movement and breathing practice, laughing yoga aims to enhance joy, bring out your inner child, and assist you in letting go of the stresses of daily life. Yoga fans think that yoga reduces stress and lowers your chance of developing chronic illnesses, but you may wonder whether this is the case.
Importance of Laughing Yoga
Laughing yoga is a kind of yoga that is distinct in that it involves spontaneous laughter. This cutting-edge approach to the ancient yoga practice may be the only workout regimen that will simultaneously make you happier and healthier. It combines yogic breathing with laughter exercises to help you get healthier. Laughter is the best medicine, as shown by the following studies: look at the health benefits of laughing yoga to learn more.
1. It helps to lower blood pressure.
The relaxing activity and yogic breathing assist in lowering blood pressure levels.
2. It is an excellent kind of aerobic exercise.
Laughing Yoga may aid in weight loss by raising the rate at which your metabolism operates. To be more accurate, one hundred chuckles burn the same amount of calories as ten minutes of rowing. Additionally, the practice of laughing yoga has the additional advantage of massaging your inside organs.
3. It increases the quantity of oxygen taken in by the body.
It is possible to take deeper breaths and exhale more slowly when you laugh. Consequently, your body will be inundated with oxygen, which is very necessary for survival to take place.
4. It improves your capacity to focus your attention.
Your mind will be able to work more effectively due to all of the oxygen you are getting in when you are laughing. The upshot of this is that your brain will be more focused and engaged.
5. It contributes to the strengthening of your immune system.
Laughing from the belly will increase the flow of lymphatic fluid in our bodies and the number of lymphocytes in our bodies, which are the killer cells that keep us healthy and prevent disease. Therefore, your immunity increases in direct proportion to the number of lymphocytes in your body. According to their research, researchers at the National Cancer Institute in California and the Linda Loma Medical Center at Indiana State University discovered that laughing may boost the immune system by as much as 40 percent.
6. It helps you feel good about yourself.
After a nice chuckle, who doesn’t feel better about themselves? An intentional giggle is used to begin laughing yoga, but it rapidly becomes real as the practice continues. It has proven possible to develop such an infectious fitness routine. In response to laughter, endorphin is released into the body, referred to as the “happy hormone.” It also has the characteristic of acting as a natural pain reliever, which is beneficial, so if you want to get rid of the soreness in your body, attempt to laugh more often instead of less.
7. The respiratory system is benefited because of this supplementation.
Increased oxygenation of the lungs occurs when you laugh. This results in the lungs being revived and their function being reestablished.
8. Take efforts to enhance the overall health of your heart by exercising regularly.
When you laugh, your heart is filled with extra happiness. Because laughing causes the widening of your blood vessels, it increases blood circulation and makes your heart happy.
9. It aids in the development of pain tolerance.
Researchers conducted a study to evaluate the amount of pain tolerance a person has and its relation to laughing. The results of the study were published in the journal Pain. According to one research, laughing persons had greater pain tolerance levels than those who were not.
by Yoga In Nepal | Nov 20, 2021 | Yoga
Why learn Hatha yoga in Nepal?
Yoga learning is now available in many countries. Now, almost everyone can learn yoga. Most of the large and densely populated areas in the world surely have institute to learn yoga. Also, if nowadays if anyone has a good internet connection, they can learn yoga even on their own. This method is also widely popular and various online sources and teachers teach it very efficiently. There are many forms of yoga and technique also. When one sees yoga from outside it may only be postures and poses but it is more detailed than that. There are various forms of yoga such as Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Hatha yoga, and many more.
These yoga forms have various origins and are described in various books. Also, the learning of these yoga forms depends upon the location of the learning as authenticity and everything may depend upon it. People go to various places like Nepal, India to get higher knowledge in these forms and types. Talking about hatha yoga various people come are interested to learn Hatha yoga in Nepal and visit there to learn it from the gurus.
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga is a very ancient form of yoga that is described in various ancient books. The oldest mention of Hatha yoga in the written text was found to be written in the 11th century Amrtasiddhi. It is a Buddhist text. In both the Hindy and Buddhist texts, the mention and description of Hatha yoga can be found. It is said that hatha yoga and its techniques were created by Lord Shiva himself. Shiva Shamita, Gheranda Shamita, Hata yoga pradipika are the remaining three original books on Hatha yoga.
It is believed that there were more but only these three classical are available now. The books are described in such a manner that, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are talking and he is describing the yoga, hatha yoga, and other yoga forms in detail with its possibilities. When giving the knowledge to his wife Shiva has also warned that the knowledge of this purest form of yoga is not for everyone and this knowledge should be kept a secret.
Matsyendra is believed to be the founder of the Hatha yoga form of yoga. It is believed that Matsyendra was also the incarnation of Lord Shiva. He was one of the greatest yoga gurus to have ever been on to this earth. Later he was succeeded by his student Gorakhnath who was as accomplished as him in yoga. When talking about hatha yoga both are remembered.
Hatha yoga is one topic but if we get inside Hatha yoga we are going to find that there are two types of Hatha yoga:
- Yajnavalkya
- This consists of the eight limbs of yoga
- Kapila
- This consists of the eight mudras
Hatha yoga in Nepal
Hatha yoga is taught in many places of the world. However, still, people prefer learning Hatha yoga in Nepal. Hatha yoga is just an example people from around the world prefer to learn yoga in Nepal and India. Generally, not ordinary yoga practitioners but the masters who have dedicated their lives to master yoga and its secrets arrive here to learn more about the ancient techniques. Still, the place has roots in the ancient yoga and yogic methods which are not found anywhere else in the world.
Why hatha yoga in Nepal?
There may be several reasons behind why Hatha yoga in Nepal. Some may get here by chance or by the recommendations of other people. However, let us assemble the facts and logic behind the Why Hatha yoga in Nepal.
Following are the reasons for Why Hatha yoga in Nepal?
Origin of Yoga
The first reason why Hatha yoga in Nepal is because it is the place of origin of yoga itself.
Yoga was born in ancient India which is now present-day Nepal, India, and other surrounding countries. There is a myth and a fact behind the origin of yoga. The myth tells that yoga was gifted to humans by the gods. Similarly, the technique of meditation and the knowledge of Ayurveda was also the gift of the gods to humans. May it be true or not, maybe the techniques were developed by humans in time. One after another and generation after generation contributed to making yoga what it is now.
Whatever the case may be one thing is certain Yoga originated in this very land. Maybe it was gifted by the gods to the humans or maybe it was made by the humans. Whatever the case it is the product of this very land and the connection the yoga has in this land will be hard to match in any other place in the world so people come to learn Hatha yoga in Nepal along with other forms and techniques of yoga.
Sanskrit texts
Ancient yoga texts were written in Sanskrit. (Sanskrit is the ancient language of the South Asian region, which is believed to be the oldest system of language). Many people do not know Sanskrit. Even the people who have roots in Nepal or are currently living there do not know the language. Only the selective people know about Sanskrit and are fluent in them. People arrive in Nepal to learn Sanskrit and want to communicate with the ancient texts of the Hatha yoga themselves. This is also the reason people want to learn Hatha yoga in Nepal.
The three classics on Hatha yoga
This also is the reason people want to learn hatha yoga in Nepal. There is a total of three surviving classical books on Hatha yoga which were written many times ago and have been made to this modern world. Shiva Shamita, Gheranda Shamita and Hata yoga pradipika. They are the purest knowledge of Hata yoga. The book is now available everywhere with the help of the internet. However, just reading is not enough to understand that ancient knowledge. That is why people want to study Hatha yoga in Nepal. They want to understand the classical and they know that they can utterly understand it here.
Serene environment
Hatha yoga in Nepal or any other form of yoga the basic requirement for yoga is a peaceful and serene environment. Nepal is known in the world for its beautiful natural resources and scenery. Yoga as much depends on the surroundings as it depends upon yourself. Hatha yoga in Nepal is best as Nepal has such amazing places and destinations to practice yoga. Want to practice Hatha yoga deep in the forests Nepal has it, want to practice it in the high Himalayas they also have it.
In ancient times also when sages or gods wanted to perform the activities such as yoga, meditation, or other self-purifying acts they sought serene places mountains, and beautiful forests. The greenery and peaceful environment affect the psychology of the person itself and subconsciously makes them calmer and accepting. The serene environment may convince people for Hatha yoga in Nepal.
Hinduism and Buddhism
Hatha yoga not only belongs to Hinduism but to Buddhism also. This also may be the reason for Hatha yoga in Nepal. The first written mention of Hatha yoga ever to be found is in the Buddhist text in the 11th century. Hatha yoga is the product of both Hinduism and Buddhism there is no doubt about that. Also, Nepal is the country that is the perfect harmonical combination of the religions Hinduism and Buddhism. One who wants to understand Hatha yoga to the depth must understand Hinduism and Buddhism to some extent as well and where else to learn that except Nepal. That is why people choose Nepal for hatha yoga.
The gurus and experts
This land has produced many gurus, sages, and experts in the yoga field. Many people are involved in the field of yoga. Some people even have dedicated their entire life to know about Hatha yoga and other forms of yoga. The depth of their knowledge and skill in the field of hatha yoga is unparallel. They had amassed a great amount of knowledge from ancient books, texts, and scriptures. They had learned from their gurus and the masters before them. The skill and technique they have are nowhere in the world so Hatha yoga in Nepal.
Valuable knowledge and certificate
The world of yoga is ever-growing. New yoga techniques are being discovered; the lost ancient methods are being re-discovered. People are getting increasingly involved in yoga. It is no wonder that people also want to build their careers in the yoga field. They want to start their career in Hatha yoga also.
It has a good scope and people can expect good living standard from it. However, to do that also and to build a solid career people will need good and valuable certificated that guarantee their proper learning and amassing vast knowledge regarding the related field. The yoga certificates of Nepal are considered very valuable around the world. That is why people want to learn hatha yoga in Nepal and other forms of yoga in Nepal also.
Best Hatha training and retreat centers
A considerate amount of people are involved in this sector of Nepal. Various places provide teacher training for Hatha yoga in Nepal. They are very dedicated to their work and provide the best to the people who come to learn from them. They not only provide the hatha yoga retreat but also give Hatha yoga teacher training by which one can be a teacher himself of this art of yoga.
To be a yoga teacher one needs to have mastered the many disciplines, just amassing a vast amount of knowledge is not enough to be a teacher. The Hatha yoga teacher training and retreat centers give the best knowledge and training which people can use anywhere in the world. To get authentic knowledge with such good services is amazing. That is why hatha yoga in Nepal.
Passing of generation to generation
Nepal is a source of hatha yoga knowledge that may not be found in texts and the internet. Passing the knowledge in the written form is one method of passing information from one generation to another. However, there was also the tradition of passing the knowledge and techniques in the practical and verbal form. Some knowledge and techniques may not have made it to the outside world also.
Some sages have gained the knowledge from the masters and will pass to another student nothing more or less than that. By coming to Nepal, one may even fill the missing gaps that people did not know were there in the first place. That is why Hatha yoga in Nepal.
Connecting to the past
Hatha yoga is ancient knowledge and technique there is no denying this fact. The technique was created hundreds of years ago and through this and that by many methods were passed from one generation to another. Now, through the dedication of many people, it has reached here. However, in this passage of time, many techniques, and methods of hatha yoga or the main yoga may have been lost. It is only natural for the dispersion of knowledge by the passage of time. Also, we are not talking about the passage of mere few years.
We are talking about hundreds and maybe thousands of years. The knowledge we have now may have many blanks left. Looking logically, it is nearly impossible to regain the knowledge that has been lost. However, there may be one last hope to find that lost knowledge which is Nepal itself. The knowledge originated here and there may still be some traces of it left if one looks for it hard enough.
Some individuals are researching Hatha yoga. They are already masters and know very much about it. However, they want to expand their horizon of the hatha yoga they know and find out the knowledge that may have been lost. It is not easy to find what may have been completely lost and nearly impossible for the average individual. However, for the masters who have dedicated their entire life to the learning of the Hatha yoga can. The gurus come to Nepal to research and find more about the past by reading books, deciphering scriptures, and many other things.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 3, 2020 | Meditation
Vipassana The Buddha Style of Meditation
The literal meaning of Vipassana (Vipasyasana); ‘Vi’ means “in a special way” and ‘pasyana’ means “to see, observe”. So Vipassana means “to see observe in a special way”, “to perceive the things as it is”. It aims at seeing the things or situations in reality without any illusion or delusion. Vipassana tries to seek the truth. The explanation of Vipassana is given in Buddhist literature. The original literature regarding Vipassana, are in Pali language. It is somewhat similar to the Sanskrit language. Theravada tradition insights the three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering, and realization of non-self.
- “Impermanence (Anitya)” means everything in this world is temporary. No situation or matter remains permanent. Everything keeps changing.
- “Suffering (Dukkha)” is found everywhere in the world. People may illusioned by seeing pleasure. In fact, the world is full of illusion. However, Lord Buddha has given the techniques to get rid of sorrow.
- “Non-self (Anatma)” is an important reality. A person identifies himself with the situation or sorrow. Whenever he realizes that he is unattached to situations, events, misery, etc; then he can live a perfect life.
From The Meditation Buddha discover ultimate reality:
- There is sorrow in life.
- There causes of sorrow.
- There is a path to eliminate sorrow.
- Arya-astangik Marga ie “Eightfold noble path” is the way to eliminate sorrow.
Vipassana meditation was the technique for the Buddha to attain enlightenment. It is an ancient technique through which many people got enlightenment in the period of Buddha. This meditation has two bases:
o Consciousness on respiration
o Consciousness on body sensation.
And the purpose of being conscious is to create equanimity. So, Vipassana is also termed as “Samatha Meditation”. As it requires awareness, consciousness, it is also named as “Mindfulness Meditation”. Thus this meditation requires mindfulness and equanimity. Lord Buddha had discovered this meditation technique. He became fully enlightened at the age of 35. Then he started to teach this meditation to the mass of people.
For the practice of Vipassana meditation, a meditator sits for meditation and begins with the awareness of respiration keeping the torso straight and unmoved. The eyes are closed so that mind does not wander on external things. His backbone and head neither should lean frontwards nor backward. One must be at the present for the perfect practice of meditation. If the body is crooked forwards, the mind tends to shift to past experiences and thoughts. Similarly, if the body is leaned backward, the mind tends to fly with future imagination and thinking. So the alignment of the body must be straight to practice meditation.
Now, the meditator observes his inhalation and exhalation. Sometimes it may happen that the mind cannot identify the breaths. If so, he needs to inhale and exhale with his own effort. It makes to feel the breaths. Doing this he starts knowing the breath. Gradually, he starts knowing natural and spontaneous respiration. If the breath is faster, he just knows that the breath is faster without any judgment and reaction. If the breath is slower, he just knows it without any reaction and judgment.
The purpose of meditation is to get reality. If one starts to judgment or reaction then he misleads the path. When the meditator starts observing the breath, it becomes subtler and subtler. Sometime it may happen that breath has stopped for some moment. Whatever it may be one should just know the incoming and outgoing respiration. If it is inhalation, know it as it is. If it is exhalation, know it as it is. Never try to shift from reality. The mind is linked to respiration. So, this helps to explore the mind. Observation of respiration is a primary phase of meditation.
After this, the meditator starts observing the sensation of the body. He observes the sensation of the whole body from the top of the head to toes and vice-versa. Again, the meditator may experience different types of sensation like pain, pleasure, heat cold, perspiration, etching, tickle, pressure, soft, rough, vibration, etc. Whatever the types of sensation there may be, but the meditator should not generate any attachment or aversion to it. He should neither judge nor react on it. Just know the reality. Judgment and reaction are the barriers of the truth. Neither be happy with pleasure nor be sad on pain. They both are ephemeral. Never identify yourself with them.
The self is always unattached and free from all the bondage. Whatever the element is in the universe, those all are within the human body. So, knowing the element within the framework of the body one can understand the reality of the entire universe. Just with the study of the self, one can realize the whole world. Being mindful of the sensation of the body one starts understanding the reality. One can understand the law of nature. One can understand the principles of mind and matter. During the meditation, the mind may go in past and sometimes in future. We have nothing to do with past and future as these are not in our hands.
We are gifted with the present. So, we always try to remain on the present without dwelling on past or future. Whatever is being happened on respiration and sensation, we just become concentrated on it. Our work is- only knowing, feeling, or realizing in an equanimous manner. This activity gives the knowledge of mind and matter. As we understand the mind and mater including its law; we surpass across it. We transcend the physical world. Then we will realize these are changing, non-self, and sorrow. After this, we start knowing the metaphysical world.
After knowing the world of changing, non-self, and sorrow; we will know that world which is beyond sorrow and beyond changing. Continuous practice leads to ultimate truth and enlightenment. There are many paths that lead towards enlightenment. But the history and religious literature have shown that there were a maximum number of people who attained enlightenment at the period of Buddha through the practice of Vipassana.
For the Vipassana meditation, one-hour sitting is necessary, twice a day- morning and evening. In other times he works everything being conscious and mindful. He eats being conscious on breaths or the sensation, he moves being mindful, he sits being mindful, he speaks being mindful. Whatever he does, they all are done being mindful. He becomes conscious of his thoughts. So he is the master of the self.
Some of the people practice Vipassana meditation to get the health benefit. But practicing Vipassana meditation with aim of health is not good. Curing the various diseases, even HIV AIDS (scientific research has already discovered it) will be cured by this meditation, providing ultimate health is a byproduct. The aim always should be enlightenment, not health. For example- rice cover is byproduct while grinding the rice. So health is byproduct on the path of enlightenment. Nowadays the original technique of Vipassana is taught in the Vipassana center started by SN Goenka. It is taught in more than 50 countries with free of cost.
by Tirtha Acharya | Feb 10, 2020 | Yoga
In Sanskrit language, Utthita means extended and Trikona means triangle. Utthita Trikonasana means an extended triangle pose.
Steps to do Utthita Trikonasana
1. Stand in a straight pose like in Tadasana.
2. Slowly jump your legs about 4 feet. Set your arms parallel to the floor.
3. Turn your right leg in 90 degrees and set your left leg 45 degrees.
4. Set your left hand on the left ankle and shin.
5. Stay in this pose at least for 15 minutes.
6. Do the same process from the right leg.
Benefits of Utthita Trikonasana
1. It can improve the digestive system of our body.
2. It helps us to be rid of the stress.
3. It is helpful to the people who have an infertility problem.
4. It strengthens all the parts of our stomach.
Precautions
1. You don’t have to do this pose if you are suffering from diarrhea.
2. You should avoid this pose if you have a headache and low blood pressure.
3. If you have the heart problem, neck pain and high-blood pressure you have to apply special precautions while you do this yoga. For that, you have to consult with your yoga teacher.
