Radio Sri Chinmoy

How to have powerful meditative experiences whilst singing

Shane Magee — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:32:21

Singing is one of the things that come most naturally to man, and also one of the things that is capable of touching his inmost depths and bringing him into a space of beauty and joy inside himself. Sometimes we have these experiences unexpectedly, and we tell ourselves there is no way to make them happen again. It is true that such meditative experiences may not be systematically at one's beck and call, but we can definitely create favourable circumstances for them to happen. Here are a few tips you might like to try out:

1. Sing from the heart

We might be the best singer in the world, but if our minds are wandering whilst we are singing, judging our performance or wondering what everyone else is thinking of us, then our performance is useless from a meditative point of view. Instead, try to focus your attention on the heart centre, that place in the middle of the chest where you can feel the essence of your being. Try and feel that your voice is coming from this source inside yourself, and do deeper and deeper to find out where the source of the song is. You can even hold your hand in front of your chest, or fold your hands in prayer position (called the anjali mudra in Indian philosophy) - you will the physical vibration of your voice around the heart centre against your hands, and this will help you focus your attention until you can feel the spiritual vibration.

2. Power and stillness at the same time

Meditative songs are certainly not meek and timid - "the soul cannot be won by the weakling", as the Upanishads say - but the trick is to balance singing powerfully with having tremendous balance and poise at the same time. One trick someone once told me is to imagine that inside yourself you have a bowl of water filled absolutely to the brim, and you are trying not to spill it whilst singing. This kind of balance will only add strength to your singing instead of take it away - a strength built on a foundation of stillness.

3. Meditate before singing

It really helps if you have a period of silence just before the singing practice or performance where you focus on bringing your attention to the heart centre. It can also be a good time to bring whatever qualities you want to manifest in your singing to the fore. Meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy recommends some qualities in particular to focus on during singing such as consciousness, soulfulness, oneness, confidence, perfection and gratitude, and his students will often meditate on these qualities before a singing performance.

4. Group oneness.

When you are singing in a group, the singing will be so much more powerful if you can feel your oneness with the other members. Feel that just as the drop enters into the ocean and becomes one with the vastness of the ocean, your voice is part of one giant group voice. This can make you feel part of a tremendous vastness and power which is nothing other than the vastness and power inside your own soul.

The author has his own personal meditation site at http://www.shanemagee.com

7 Things to do whilst sitting in a traffic Jam

Tejvan Pettinger — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:34:45

An exotic traffic jam in Calcutta, India

Traffic Jams are a fact of modern life. Everyone spends more time in congested traffic, than we would like. Yet, unless we have our own private helicopter, chances are we will continue to endure the almost daily grind of spending time in traffic jams. The problem is that traffic jams have little going for them; we just waste time sitting in the confines of our car. Almost inevitably, sitting in long queues of traffic brings to the fore feelings of boredom, restlessness, frustration and even anger. Yet, should we allow an unavoidable traffic jam to spoil our peace of mind? Here are some things we can do to help pass the time, without becoming depressed and frustrated.

1. Look on the Bright side of Life.

True, this journey from Leeds to London may take 2 hours longer; but, at least it’s not going to take 3 days like it did in the 1700s.

I may be wasting time, but, at least I’m not wasting time and getting wet, like the cyclist over there. (If you are the cyclist; at least you can dodge through the traffic and cycle on the pavement. Also, you are less likely to be unfit and obese like all those miserable drivers)

2. Smile at other Drivers.

Have you ever noticed that in a traffic jam, all the other drivers look miserable? Try smiling at other drivers. If you can make others smile, maybe you will brighten up their day. Smiling can even give you an incentive to be happy.

3. Relax

Don’t put yourself under pressure. If your going to be late, there’s nothing you can do about it. Being anxious about the time lost will just make yourself miserable. Try to enjoy the moment, wherever you are. If you are tense and want to relax, just spend some time being aware of your breathing; this can help you to relax.

Top 5 Ways to Save Time

Abhinabha Tangerman — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:10:14

We live in a fast-paced world. Time is money, we say. In fact, time is the greatest wealth - worth more than millions - if we learn how to properly utilize it. For it is time and time alone through which you will be able to fulfil your life's dreams - and not money! So it's good to stay alert and not let that precious time slip through your fingers. Treat time like your best friend and it will serve you well. You wouldn't waste a good friend now, would you? Here are ten ways how we can have more time on our hands.

1. Change your activities regularly.

If you feel you're stuck on a certain project and your inspiration has dried up, just stop what you're doing and start doing something else instead. If you change your activity you will not spend unnecessary time in dead end streets and keep the inspiration flowing naturally. It will save you lots of time. And as spiritual philosopher Sri Chinmoy remarks, "Rest is change of activity," so while doing something different you are also getting some rest and relaxation.

2. Structure your day carefully.

A lot of time is lost in the nooks and crannies of the day. If you draw up a plan of action and stick to it, you will channel our time purposefully and be more successful in reaching your daily goals. Write up your goals for the day early in the morning when inspiration is still fresh. If you are successful in achieving those goals, you can look back on a meaningful day in the evening and smile!

3. Cut back on television

Television: the unparalleled window to the big wide world. Just sitting back you can keep in touch with all that's happening out there. But what will be happening in your own life? Not much, if you spend most of your time in front of the telly! If you really want to leave your unique stamp on this world and offer something truly meaningful, then devote most of your time to meaningful things. Create something: sing, play, dance, paint, write or compose. Organize something. Heal something. Live. Don't be lived. I don't say throw away your TV set; just use it carefully and consciously.

Who is the Buddha?

Tejvan Pettinger — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:36:14

The Buddha

In Asia, the Buddha is widely revered as an enlightened being, who both attained Nirvana and offered a path of liberation to others. In the West, the principles and practices of Buddhism have gained increasing acceptance as people look for a way to overcome the limitations and suffering of modern life. Who exactly was the Buddha? Why does the Buddha retain such great affection and inspiration, 2,500 years after his birth?

The Buddha was not born as an enlightened being. He was born as a Prince, Prince Siddhartha. As a young man, Prince Siddhartha received every privilege and worldly comfort that a man could aspire to. His father, wished to protect the young prince from every possible sign of suffering and death. Thus Siddhartha was brought up in Palatial comfort, shielded from the misery and suffering of the world. As a young man, he married a beautiful wife and together they had a son. However, there came a point in Buddha's life when he felt curious about the outside world; he had a strong desire to see life outside the palace. Thus, in disguise, Siddhartha left the palace and wondered around the streets of the Kingdom. To the great distress of Siddhartha, he came across many experiences, which previously had been shielded from his view. In his wanderings around the streets, at first hand he witnessed death, suffering, illness and old age. This disturbed and worried Siddharta; his comfortable world view had been turned upside down.

However, on his way back to the palace, Siddharta came across a yogi in meditation. This intrigued the young prince and he demanded to speak to the yogi. However, much to the shock of Siddharta, the yogi showed no inclination to speak to Siddharta. Even when the yogi was offered a pot of money, the yogi remained motionless absorbed in his own meditation. Prince Siddharta started to see something most inspiring and illumining in the yogi. He realised that this yogi was gaining a joy and happiness that was not of this world. Deep inside Siddharta, he felt a compelling desire to seek for the hidden meaning of life. Thus, Siddharta resolved to leave the comfort of his palace; he left his own wife and son to go and meditate as a sannyasin (wandering monk) in the forest.

Seven ways to deal with anger

Abhinabha Tangerman — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:07:06

Anger is a dangerous thing. Not only many relationships, but entire nations have been destroyed by human anger. Although anger can be of the quickest, there are ways to deal with it succesfully. Here are seven practical tips:

Slowly count to twenty-five.

Anger is like a ferocious storm that wants to take you on its poweful and destructive wings. If you can stay cool, calm and collected and slowly count to twenty-five, the storm will blow over and you'll be safe.

Jog in place.

If the anger-bugs have bitten you, immediately start running or jogging in place. Also you can go out and really run for ten or fifteen minutes. Your vigorous exercise will make you so exhausted that you will soon find all your anger has disappeared. This is not just cock-and-bull. Try it out yourself!

Repeat a mantra very fast.

As soon as you feel yourself becoming angry, start repeating a mantra in quick, successive repetition. The harmonious energy which the mantra invokes will enter into the anger itself and completely nullify it. It is important to say the mantra quickly, for the speed of the mantra must outpace the speed of the anger.

How to Create a good impression

Tejvan Pettinger — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:46:04

Dress Well.

There is a saying "don't judge a book by its cover" however, in practise this is exactly what people do. First impressions do count, we judge others on their dress and outer appearance. The clothes we wear can be a statement of our personality; therefore, we should dress in a way as to how we want people to judge us. If you dress like a beggar, don't be upset, if people formulate their opinions based on these outer impressions.

Smile.

The power of a smile should not be underestimated; a smile can change out outer expression completely. A genuine smile indicates we are happy, it puts the other person at ease. If we look at people who are smiling, and those who are not, we get quite a different feeling.

When all else fails

Try to smile.

To your great surprise

You will succeed.

- Sri Chinmoy

Be a Good listener not a Good Talker.

Usually when people dominate the conversation, it is their ego that is talking. Everyone wants to have their say, but people always appreciate a good listener. It is said God gave us two ears and one mouth for a good reason. When listening we should also pay full attention. People can subconsciously tell if we are not paying any attention.

Poise.

When we are anxious over meeting a new person we have a tendency to rush things, speaking and acting in haste. This does not create a good impression. If we can learn to slow everything down, we will come across as having poise and peace of mind. Everything we do can be slowed down. It is also important to avoid fidgeting, this makes everyone feel a little nervous. If you are lacking in poise try relaxation and meditation techniques to slow down the mind.

Remaining sane in the 21st Century

Kate Carvalho — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:25:26

Despite unprecedented technological, intellectual and scientific progress, society is suffering - depression, fatigue, psychological disorders and disease have reached pandemic proportions. We have become so out of sync with the laws of nature that we have lost focus on what is truly important in our lives - happiness, health and inner wealth. More than ever it is time to stop and listen to the message of nature and return back to the ancient wisdom. So if you feel your sanity waning and want to tune into the real reality just follow these handy hints on remaining sane in the 21st Century.

Step 1 - Meditate

So much emphasis in the 21st Century is placed upon external sources of happiness and fulfillment. Meditation is the ancient practice of silencing our mind and turning our awareness inwards. The secret of secrets is that abiding happiness, satisfaction and indeed the purpose of life can only found within. How to access these jewels? Meditation is the only answer. Just a few minutes of meditation each day has the power to transform your entire life, provided you practice on a regular basis. Popular meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy offers his insight into the world of meditation:

"Meditation is absolutely necessary for those who want to have a better and more fulfilling life. If you feel that you are satisfied with what you have and what you are then you need not enter into the field of meditation. But if you feel that there is a barren desert deep inside your heart, then meditation is the answer. Meditation will give you inner joy and peace of mind."

Thought of the Day

Tejvan Pettinger — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:09:57

"Thought of the Day" is a weekly Radio Show presented by Sanjay Spettigue. Sanjaya offers words of inspiration on a variety of spiritual themes from ideas such as "Soap Operas and life" to "The great Spiritual Masters". The Radio Show is originally published on local Ipswich radio programme. Sanjaya has been a meditation student of Sri Chinmoy for 30 years.

Selected Episodes

Thought of the Day Archive

Thought of the Day on Lord Buddha

Thought of the Day - Sports and Inspiration

Advice and Music for Relaxation

Tejvan Pettinger — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:07:59

In modern society there are so many pressures on our time and lives that it can seem difficult to be able to find time for relaxation. Even if we do find time we may have so many thought and anxieties going through our mind that it seems difficult to be able to switch off and enter into a more relaxed frame of mind. Many people consciously want to be able to relax and these are a few strategies that will help the process of relaxation.

Music for Relaxation at Radio Sri Chinmoy

Relax Through Breathing. Our breathing is an important bearing on our state of mind. When we are anxious, unconsciously our breathing will become more forceful and heavy. To practise relaxation we can try a breathing exercise of concentrating on our breath. We should try to slow down our breathing and focus on our breath and nothing else. Slow rhythmic breathing is a very natural and spontaneous exercise. It will definitely help us to relax.
Live in the Here and Now. A lot of our mental energy is taken up with thinking about the past or worrying about the future. We should try to make a conscious effort to give less importance to the future and let go of the past. There is an old saying that goes something like. 80% of our worries don’t come true. There is nothing I can do about the other 20% so therefore there is no need to worry at all. Try to remind yourself of this idea throughout the day.
Working with plants or animals. It can be very therapeutic working in a garden. Even if we have only a windowsill we can grow plants. When we take care of other things like plants and a garden it enables us to become less self absorbed and so we lose a lot of our mental tension, enabling us to become more relaxed. Similarly spending time with animals may help a lot.
Music for relaxation. The power of music should never be underestimated in effecting our mood. It is worth hunting for music which really helps us to relax, this may be classical music or new age music. To some extent music is a personal choice, but you can intuitively feel which kind of music helps you to relax. Download your favourite tracks to an ipod so you can listen travelling on the tube or bus. It will definitely help to drown out the busy noise of city life.

How to Overcome Fear

Tejvan Pettinger — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:04:18

To a large extent we all experience fear at some times. It appears within modern society there are many things to fear. Often our fears are exaggerated or not even true. However our thoughts are very powerful. If we are fearful about certain situations it can often be the case we create a situation where these events actually occur. Therefore we should be very careful to avoid fear in our lives.

To avoid fear we can consider the following suggestions:

Avoid having a fear of failure. Often we set ourselves very high standards, but then we fear that we will not achieve perfection. We should not fear failure, instead we can look upon failure as a necessary experience in order to make progress. We can easily go from fear of failure to gaining happiness from making courageous steps at our own self-improvement.

Meditation and Stress

Tejvan Pettinger — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:00:20

Meditation is an ancient tradition which enables the practitioner to reduce stress and increase his / her sense of inner well being. Meditation works by reducing our attachment to our thoughts. By being able to switch off from our daily activities we can reduce our stress levels, and over time experience a sense of inner peace.

"Meditate Silently.

You will be able to create
A totally new life
For Yourself."

Sri Chinmoy

Stress occurs because we have many pressures on our time. These demands can come from; work, family, friends and financial pressures. We get stressed because we feel it is difficult to cope. As a consequence we can spend a lot of time thinking about our problems. However thinking about the magnitude and scale of our problems doesn’t help us to reduce our stress levels. In fact thinking can make the situation worse. We just feel confused and helpless about our myriad problems.

Meditation can help Reduce Stress in various ways.

In Meditation we make a concerted effort to remain only in the present instance. In meditation we are not thinking about the past or the future.
Meditation teaches us to control and reduce our thoughts. When we live in the mind and are constantly thinking, it is impossible to have real peace of mind. However through meditation we can elevate our consciousness beyond the realm of the thinking mind. By meditating on our heart we feel that we are not the slave of our thoughts.