John Kaldawi- Spiritual Mantra

John Kaldawi was inspired by the various Spiritual Mantras available that brings various intended vibrations to the human body that is packed with life energies.  Mantra (which literally mean: “instruments of thought”) is a sacred utterance of words and sounds that has many spiritual powers.  The early Mantras were composed of Vedic Sanskrit language which goes back thousands of years into very early civilizations.  Mantras do not necessarily have a literal meaning, but are musically uplifting and have spiritual effects.

In Indian tradition, Mantra may come from RC (verses from Rigveda), or Saman (musical chants from Samaveda), or Yajus (words from Yajurveda), or Nigada (loud spoken Yajus).  Since early ages, Mantras took the center stage in the Tantric schools of India.

Doing more research, John learned that Mantras are neither unique to Hinduism nor to any other Asian or Western traditions.  Mantra is a structured formula for thoughts, a prayer, a sacred utterance and has supernatural power and effect.

John Kaldawi also learned that one of the most popular and effect Mantra is AUM Mantra, which is also known as “pranava mantra” which is the source of all mantras.  This mantra emphasize that before and beyond existence is only One reality “Brahma” and the first manifestation of Brahma expressed as AUM.  That’s why it is believed that AUM is the mother of all mantras.

History of Yoga – Part 2

John Kaldawi learned that in ancient times, yoga techniques were kept secret and were never written down or exposed to public view.  They were passed from teacher or guru to disciple by word of mouth.  In this way there was a clear understanding of their meaning and aim.  Through personal experience, realized yogis and sages were able to guide aspirants along the correct path, removing any confusion, misunderstanding and excessive intellectual contemplation.

Sage Patanjali’s treatise on raja yoga, the yoga Sutras, codified the first definitive, unified and comprehensive system of yoga.  Often called the eight-fold path, it is comprised of yama, self-restraints, niyama, self-observances, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, disassociation of consciousness from the outside environment, dharana, concentration, dyana, meditation and samadhi, identification with pure consciousness.

Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that in the 6th century BC, Lord Buddha’s influence brought the ideals of meditation, ethics and morality to the forefront and the preparatory practices of yoga were ignored.  However, Indian thinkers soon realized the limitations of the view.  The yogi Matsyendranath taught that before taking to the practices of meditation, the body and its elements need purifying.  He found the Nath cult and the yogic pose matsyendrasana was named after him.  His chief disciple, Gorakhnath, wrote books on hatha yoga in the local dialect and in Hindi.

John Kaldawi also learned that one of the most outstanding authorities on hatha yoga, Swami Swatmarama, wrote the “Hatha Yoga Pradipika”, or “Light on Yoga”, in Sanskrit, collating all extant material on the subject.  In doing so, he reduced the emphasis on yama and niyama from hatha yoga, thereby eliminating a great obstacle experienced by many beginners.  In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama starts with the body and only later, when the mind has become more stable and balanced, are self-control and self-discipline introduced.

History of Yoga – Part 1

John Kaldawi learned that the yoga we know today was developed as a part of the tantric civilization which existed in India and all parts of the world more than ten thousand years ago

Shiva is said to be the founder of yoga and Parvati, his first disciple.  Lord Shiva is widely considered to be the symbol embodiment of supreme consciousness.  Parvati represents supreme knowledge, will and action, and is responsible for all creation.  This force or energy is also known as kundalini shakti, the cosmic force which lies dormant in all beings.

Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that Parvati is regarded as the mother of the whole universe.  The individual soul is embodied and bound of name and form, and also liberated from the bondage of the world and united with supreme consciousness through her grace.  Out of love and compassion for her children, she imparted her secret knowledge of knowledge in the form of “Tantra”.  The techniques of yoga have their source in tantra and the two cannot be separated, just as consciousness, Shiva, cannot be separated from energy Shakti.

John Kaldawi also learned that yoga arose at the beginning of human civilization when man first realized his spiritual potential and began to evolve techniques to develop it.  The yogic science was slowly evolved and developed by ancient sages all over the world.  The essence of yoga has often been shrouded in or explained by different symbols, analogies and languages.  Some traditions believe that yoga was a divine gift revealed to the ancient sages so that mankind could have the opportunity to realize its divine nature.

 

Purpose of Hatha Yoga

John Kaldawi learned that the main aim of hatha yoga is to bring a balanced flow of prana in ida and pingala nadis.  The word hatha is comprised of two beeja mantras “ham”, representing the sun or solar force, and “tham”, representing the moon or lunar force.  To bring about a balance between these two forces, the body must first be purified by the shatkarmas.  The aim of hatha yoga is to balance these two flows so that neither the mental nor physical faculties and dominant.  During the twenty four hour period of the day, the flow of ida should predominate for about twelve hours and the flow of pingala for the other twelve hours.

Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that when ida and pingala nadis are purified and balanced, and the mind is controlled, then sushumna, the most important nadi, begins to flow.  Sushumna must be flowing for success in meditation.  If pingala flows, the body will be restless; if ida flows, the mind will be overactive.  When sushumna flows, kundalini awakens and rises through the chakras.

John Kaldawi also learned that all activities at the physical level, ida and pingala correspond to the two aspects of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.  Pingala coincides with the sympathetic nervous system and ida with the parasympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the stimulation and acceleration of activities concerned with the external environment and the deceleration of the organs which tend to utilize a lot of energy internally.  The sympathetic nerves speed up the heart, dilate the blood vessels, increase the respiration rate and intensify the efficiency of the eyes, ears and other sense organs.

The parasympathetic nerves directly oppose the sympathetic nerves for they reduce the heartbeat, constrict the blood vessels and slow respiration.  This results in introversion.  The flow of prana in ida and pingala is completely involuntary and unconscious until controlled by yogic practices.

Pranic currents and the Breath

John Kaldawi learned that the pranic currents, ida, pingala and sushumna, operate alternately.  The current that is flowing at any particular time may be gauged by noting the flow of breath in the nostrils.  When the left nostril has a greater flow of air, then ida nadi is predominant.  When the flow is greater in the right nostril, then pingala is predominant.  If the flow is equal in both of the nostrils, then sushumna is predominant.

Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that when the right nostril (pingala) flows, there is more vital energy for physical work, digestion of food and so on.  The mind is extroverted and the body generates more heat.  When the left nostril (ida) is flowing, mental energy is dominant.  The mind is introverted and any kind of mental work may be undertaken.

During sleep ida nadi flows.  If pingala flows at night, sleep will be restless and disturbed.  Likewise, if ida flows while taking food, the digestive process may be slow, causing indigestion.

John Kaldawi also learned that All activities are influenced by the flow of these nadis which alternate approximately every sixty to ninety minutes.  It is possible, however, to alter the flow voluntarily by using yogic techniques such as padadhirasana and pranayama.  For example, if ida nadi is flowing and there is physical work to be done, it is possible to redirect the flow of the breath to pingala nadi to obtain the necessary energy.  On the other hand, if study or mental work is required, the energy may be directed to flow through ida nadi.