I always seek inspiration for my meditation or breathing techniques in past practices and teachings.
In a time when we often seek scientific reasons or definitions for techniques, ancient practitioners and teachers experienced the same methods more intuitively and sensorially. They approached these practices with an ‘aloof’ attitude, connecting to subtle experiences of energy and consciousness.
A notable example is found in the techniques derived from the Vijnana Bhairava.
The Vijnana Bhairava, an ancient tantric text, delves into the essence of meditation and spiritual experience. It unfolds as a profound dialogue between the god Shiva and his consort Parvati. In it, Shiva imparts one hundred and twelve techniques to attain higher consciousness. Each method is a gateway to self-realisation, encompassing diverse approaches from breath awareness to contemplation of the infinite.
The Vijnana Bhairava encourages practitioners to transcend the ordinary and discover the boundless nature of their own awareness.
In this meditation, the visualisation of light and the movement of the breath are employed to invite the meditator to experience a profound connection with the body and our central structure, the spine.
This practice also elicits uplifting sensations such as warmth, nourishment, brightness, and energy flow, ultimately leading to a sense of peace.
The primary aim of this meditation, awakening the powerful energy moving along the spine, is to transform consciousness. It liberates us from an isolated perspective, fostering an experience of unity with all of life.
Expect to feel uplifted and revitalised after this practice.
Meditate on the energy, rising up from the base of the spine like the sun’s golden rays and becoming subtler until it dissolves at the crown of the head in the luminous Oneness.
– Verse 28: The Divine Book of Wisdom | Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
- Find a comfortable seat or lie down.
- Relax your body and visualise the spine.
- Be aware of the two points where the spine begins and ends and the spine in between.
- Now, shift your focus to the base of the spine and feel, visualise, or imagine a ball or light of energy.
- Continue visualising or imagining the energy ball or the sun’s warm glow until it becomes tangible and very present.
- When ready, inhale, guiding the ball of energy upward along the spine.
- Witness its slow ascent with each in-breath, concentrating on the subtle sensation of this rising energy refining itself, dissolving any lingering sense of self until it bursts and merges at the crown of your head into a field of pure light.
- Exhale, returning to the base of the spine.
- Repeat the visualisation, embracing the warm and nourishing sensations of the rising energy throughout the practice.