| | |
Bodily movements, speech and mental functions are three-fold activities of our
organism. One of the facets of meditation practice is reduction or total cessation
of each of these activities. Three types of meditation practices thus ensure from
the trinity of activities. Kayotsarga, and its associates such as Kayagupti, Kayapratisamlinata
etc. come under one of these three types.
Kayotsarga literally means
‘abandonment of the body coupled with high degree of conscious awareness’. In
practice, it is conscious suspension of all gross movements of the body resulting
in relaxation of the skeletal muscles and drastic reduction of metabolic activities.
This physical condition results in relieving mental tensions and is an essential
precondition for meditation practice. It becomes, therefore, the first phase of
Preksa Dhayana must be practiced for a few minutes at the commencement of all
types of this technique. Apart from this, Kayotsarga may be independently practiced
daily for longer periods, If one learns and practices systematic relaxation everyday
he would remain relaxed, calm and unperturbed in any situation. Physically it
is more restful than sleep, and is the most harmless and direct antidote to psychosomatic
maladies resulting from tension. Spiritually, in this process, the lifeless body
is cast off, while the consciousness upwards freed from and outside its material
shell.
Method of Kayotsarga
Choose a comfortable position;
'Lotus-posture' is ideal, but other ones can also be adopted. Keep your spinal
cord, neck and head in a straight line without causing tension. For longer period,
lying flat on a hard ground on a blanket is more suitable. Relaxation commences
with the total cessation of the voluntary movements. Since breathing and relaxation
are linked together, be aware of your breathing. If it is shallow, hasty and irregular,
regulate it until it becomes even, slow and rhythmic. After this, it may be forgotten
altogether. Next persuade every muscle in each part of the body to relax by auto-suggestion.
Keeping the body entirely motionless, allow the mind to move in small steps keeping
in mind that the technique is that of patient persuasion, and not forced by strong
will-power. Autosuggestion is followed by an experience of relaxation in each
part. When the whole body has become relaxed, there is an acute and actual perception
of rest and relaxation, which is no longer autosuggestion, but is real experience.
Once this stage is reached, the body is cast off and forgotten, and the conscious
element reveals its separate existence. Thus Kayotsarga is not only total relaxation,
but actual perception of the self, quite apart from the material non-self i.e.
the body. |
