| Yoga meditation is described to be an | | | | great Contemplations. The stages that |
| art and science of systematically, | | | | contemplation evolves are: |
| observing, accepting, understanding, and | | | | - Thought. Contemplation may start |
| training each of the levels of our | | | | with a verbal thought or process. |
| being, such that we may coordinate and | | | | - Reflection. Second is to deepen to |
| integrate those aspects of ourselves, | | | | quiet reflection |
| and dwell in the direct experience of | | | | - Intuition. Later bring intuitive |
| the center of consciousness. | | | | wisdom, and |
| The Yoga of today is not actually a | | | | - Knowing. Then lead to a formless |
| separate part of Yoga Meditation, simply | | | | knowing. |
| because for a fact Yoga is meditation. | | | | Like meditation, contemplation also |
| However, to differentiate Yoga | | | | moves inward, following the steps of |
| Meditation to the now popular belief | | | | moving inward from gross, to subtle, to |
| that Yoga is all about physical | | | | subtler, and to subtle-most. As the more |
| postures, Yoga Meditation is a complete | | | | external, gross, verbal way recedes, it |
| process unto itself and only a small | | | | leads to the very core of our intuitive |
| though useful part of which relates to | | | | being. |
| the physical body. | | | | Prayer |
| In Himalayan tradition of Yoga | | | | Although Prayers might be different for |
| Meditation, one systematically works | | | | people of different cultures and |
| with the senses, body, breath, the | | | | religions, prayer also evolves through |
| various levels of mind, and then goes | | | | stages: |
| beyond to the center of consciousness. | | | | - Repetition. Prayer may start by |
| The science of yoga meditation as taught | | | | being repetitive and standardized in a |
| by the Himalayan sages, is already a | | | | traditional way |
| complete science that has been divided | | | | - Relationship. Then shifting to a |
| into smaller pieces over time, each | | | | more verbal and spontaneous inner |
| having individual parts that has | | | | relationship |
| sometimes unfortunately been cut out | | | | - Feeling. Then developing to a |
| from the whole Yoga Meditation and has | | | | deeper, non-verbal feeling of love and |
| been given separate names and taught as | | | | devotion and |
| unique systems of meditation. | | | | - Communion. Transforms into still |
| Yoga Meditation of the Himalayan | | | | deeper communion. |
| tradition involves a broad range of | | | | Prayer also moves inward, progressively |
| practices and not only deals | | | | from the most external to the very core |
| systematically with all levels, it is | | | | of our being. Prayers for strength, or |
| also holistic. These practices include: | | | | for spiritual awakening, gradually come |
| Meditation | | | | to completion. |
| Regardless of what object is used, such | | | | Mantra |
| as breath, a visualize image, an | | | | Whether the Mantra is of a particular |
| internal point of focus, or a religious | | | | religious significance, such as a short |
| symbol, meditation evolves in stages. | | | | phrase or a spiritual language such as |
| - Gross objects . Yoga meditation may | | | | Sanskrit, or a seed syllable not of any |
| start with concentrating on identifiable | | | | particular religion or language, it also |
| objects or words. | | | | evolves through stages. Mantra usage |
| - Subtle objects. Second would be to | | | | deepens with practice: |
| shift to their non-objective form, such | | | | - Spoken. It may be spoken first |
| as light or sound which constructs the | | | | externally or internally |
| object | | | | - Heard. Later heard or attended to |
| - Bliss. Third would lead to the | | | | internally |
| subtler, joy-producing essence or | | | | - Feeling. Then later experienced as |
| meaning of the object, or | | | | a syllable-less feeling, or |
| - I-ness. Moving still deeper into | | | | - Pervasive awareness. Finally |
| the being-ness or existence itself. | | | | experiencing pervasive awareness that |
| Yoga meditation is systematic, moving | | | | leads to its source. |
| inward from gross, to subtle, to | | | | Mantra like the other practices of |
| subtler, and to subtle-most. Attention | | | | Meditation, Contemplation, and Prayer, |
| moves inward progressively, from the | | | | also moves inward. |
| most external to the very core of the | | | | The root meaning of Yoga Meditation lies |
| being. | | | | in the meaning of the word Yoga itself, |
| Contemplation | | | | which comes from "yuj" meaning to join, |
| Whether it is a reflection on the | | | | to bring together the aspects of |
| universal picture or an aspiring verse | | | | yourself that were never divided in the |
| from the sacred texts of one's religion, | | | | first place. Although some principles of |
| contemplation also evolves. One of the | | | | Yoga Meditation are contained within |
| focuses of Contemplation in the | | | | various religions, Yoga meditation is |
| Himalayan tradition is Mahavakyas or | | | | not a religion. |