About Meditation

Meditation is the withdrawal of the outward-going perception of the senses into the mind, and the one-pointed focusing of the mind on the source of consciousness.

— Adi Shankaracharya

Meditation is an essential part of the spiritual practice (sadhana). The aim of meditation is to quieten the mind and, through the gateway of silence, recognize the Truth of what we really are. When the mind becomes still and thoughts subside, meditation (dhyana) occurs spontaneously. It is a state of deep relaxation, empty of all the contents of the mind.

Free open silent meditation sessions are offered daily at 19:00 – 19:50 (except on Thursdays and Fridays and during Retreats) throughout the Rishikesh seasons.

The doors of the meditation hall will open at 18:45 and close at 18:55 (sharp). All participants are kindly requested to be present by 18:55. Please be on time and carefully read the rules and guidelines here, prior to attending a meditation session.

Current season:

February 25 – March 25, 2023

 

Meditation time:

19:00-19:50

(Please be seated by 18:55)

 

No meditation on Thursdays and Fridays, and during Retreats


Meditation as Choiceless Awareness

Simply watch the fluctuations of the mind without touching anything (asparsha). There is no need to try to stop the modifications of the mind—we should just ignore them. By remaining as a neutral witness of thoughts, sensations and perceptions, the natural stream of mental activity gradually slows down and eventually comes to rest.

At some point, the background within which everything is appearing is experienced. One comes to know that which is prior to the mind, the subject of all relative awareness, the true Self or Pure Awareness. This is our Natural State—who we really are. In this stateless state there is peace, harmony, a sense of wholeness, and deep contentment—it is beyond words. This is “the Peace that passes all understanding”.

Ideally, we sit comfortably on floor cushions but one can also sit on a chair. The main thing is that the body is still and relaxed, the spine is straight and the breath is flowing naturally.

If choiceless awareness is too difficult, one can take a point of concentration to focus the mind on; this can be a mantra, a sacred symbol or just the natural breath. Our breath is always present and can be used as a powerful tool to take one eventually back to the Source.

Group meditation is valuable as the energy field created helps to focus the mind.


These Satsangs are coordinated by the Ashram Team and ‘Les Amis d’Ajatananda Ashram’, in partnership with Eveil Conscience, and will take place in French, with simultaneous translation into English. You will therefore be able to listen and see Swamiji in full screen and follow his teaching which will be based on a text from the Advaita tradition and followed, as in every Satsang, by a question and answer session.

Please note! In order to participate, your registration is mandatory. Please click on the ‘Register Here’ button below the description of the event to access the registration form.

To support the teaching of Swamiji and the Ajatananda Ashram, we will maintain the principle of conscious donation. If you wish to do so, you will be able to make your donation at the time of your registration.

The Zoom link, guidelines for the meeting and the text that will be commented on by Swamiji will be sent to you the day before the event. We suggest you either print the text or display it on an additional device during the Satsangs.

We invite you to keep your camera on and display your first and last name as your username for the duration of each Satsang as a sign of your full participation. Please kindly read our Additional Guidelines here.

If it is impossible for you to attend any of these Satsangs due to your professional obligations or time zone differences, please feel free to to contact us by following this link. We will do our best to offer you an alternative option.

CLOSE THE WINDOW

These online Satsangs are coordinated by the Ashram Team and ‘Les Amis d’Ajatananda Ashram’, and will take place in English, with simultaneous translation into French. You will therefore be able to listen and see Swamiji in full screen and follow his teaching which will be based on a text from the Advaita tradition and followed, as in every Satsang, by a question and answer session.

Please note! In order to participate, your registration is mandatory. Please click on the ‘Register Here’ button below the description of the event to access the registration form.

To support the teaching of Swamiji and the Ajatananda Ashram, we will maintain the principle of conscious donation. If you wish to do so, you will be able to make your donation at the time of your registration.

The Zoom link, guidelines for the meeting and the text that will be commented on by Swamiji will be sent to you the day before the event. We suggest you either print the text or display it on an additional device during the Satsangs.

We invite you to keep your camera on and display your first and last name as your username for the duration of each Satsang as a sign of your full participation. Please kindly read our Additional Guidelines here.

If it is impossible for you to attend any of these Satsangs due to your professional obligations or time zone differences, please feel free to contact us by following this link. We will do our best to offer you an alternative option.

CLOSE THE WINDOW

The Meditation Hall is the Heart of the ashram and a place for spiritual seekers to connect with their true being. The aim of the following guidelines is to assuage any distraction for the meditators and preserve the isolation, quietude and sacrosanctity of the place.

  1. Respective seats in the hall should be occupied at least five minutes prior to the scheduled time to avoid any disorder or confusion.
  2. In any case and at any time we should refrain from talking in the hall at all and be considerate of others’ silence by maintaining a quiet demeanor even while in the premises of the ashram.
  3. Anybody who suffers from an anxiety disorder should prefer not to practice meditation in the Meditation Hall.
  4. Please refrain from wearing strong smelling colognes or fragrances and body or hair oils so as not to cause distraction and discomfort to other meditators.
  5. Respecting the Indian culture guests and visitors should dress simply and modestly with their shoulders and knees covered whilst in the ashram.
  6. It is advisable to abstain from attending meditation sessions during common cold or flu conditions. This will be a difficult phase to detach from body-consciousness and go any deeper in meditation besides being a disturbance in practice for others in spiritual pursuit.
  7. Mobile phones or alternate communication/entertainment devices should be switched off completely. Even vibrations or lights could be an unwarranted disturbance.
  8. Please do not bring any drinks, eatables or bags into the meditation hall. However, any valuables and identity documents should be taken care of in one’s possession. The ashram will not be held responsible for any damage or lost items.
  9. We should avoid stretching legs, pointing our feet towards the murti altars and leaning on the walls. There are chairs to facilitate those who cannot for long sit cross-legged on the floor due to back ache or any physical discomfort.
  10. During the meditation we ask you to abstain from deep breathing, pranayama, yogasanas, japa on bead threads or any other practice that may be a cause of inconvenience for co-practitioners.
  11. Falling asleep or snoring while in meditation is to be attentively avoided.
  12. It is ideal not to leave the hall during the meditation session.
  13. We should always be mindful, sensitive and considerate of fellow seekers in all our activities so as not to cause any avoidable sounds or actions to the discomfort of others within the hall or without and help maintain an atmosphere conducive to inner contemplation.

Thank you for your kind understanding!

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